Colourful projects near completion

TWO projects to brighten up otherwise dull infrastructure in the Surf Coast are making progress, with traffic signal boxes and bus shelters to be transformed soon.

In one of the projects, the Year 9 woodwork class at Surf Coast Secondary College created six surfboard-shaped blanks in March, which were signed by many of the male and female surfers at the Rip Curl Pro over Easter.

The “surfboards” will be laminated and then installed on sides of the two bus shelters closest to the college in Torquay North.

In a separate but equally colourful project, art students from Surf Coast Secondary College and Lorne P-12 College have been working with VicRoads and the Surf Coast Shire on “Art Boxes”, which will see traffic signal boxes in Torquay, Jan Juc, Anglesea and Winchelsea decorated with artworks.

The installation of both projects will take place later this year or early next year.

Surf Coast Secondary College teacher Andy Forssman said the students first took part in a series of workshops to improve their digital imaging skills before designing the Art Boxes.

“We have focussed on wildlife and marine life and combined layers of imagery with a selected colour to create a vibrant, eye-catching image.

“On the side panel, each box will feature one letter, making the word ‘SURF COAST’, so it’s a bit playful in that visitors can see different boxes and piece together the words.”

The Quay Residents Association’s John De Witt is co-ordinating both projects. He said the “surfboards” were stunning and the Art Boxes produced by the two schools were far beyond expectations.

“The educator and students’ artworks they produced are brilliant, and respect the ethos of the residents and global visitors travelling the Great Ocean Road, Surf Highway and Princes Highway in Winchelsea.”