WITH the Anzac centenary in mind, the Parklea Pakenham and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show invites all primary schools and kindergartens in the Cardinia shire to get creative for their annual art display.
Two commemorative Anzac trophies donated by the Pakenham RSL will be awarded by RSL president Gary Elliot to the most creative primary school and kindergarten.
This is the first time the Anzacs have been the inspiration for the annual art display which will be judged on Thursday 19 March.
Pakenham Springs Kindergarten is incorporating recycling and history as they paint their poppies for canvas.
“Our four, four-year-old groups are making a field of poppies from recycled soft drink bottles,” Pakenham Springs Kindergarten teacher Carly Schubert said.
“We are cutting them in half, painting them red and sticking black crepe paper in the middle, it is our first time and we are very excited,” Ms Svhubert said.
However, the Anzac theme has been a little difficult to navigate, she said.
“It’s been a bit of a tricky concept to introduce, we have spoken more about what’s happening today and why our quality of life has improved due to others’ sacrifices,” she said.
Henry Family Children’s Centre in Pakenham is also in the running to win, working on a special art piece close to the heart of teacher Kylie Simioni.
“We are basing our art display off an old embroidered postcard from the war, which says, ‘My Darling’ with flowers and a butterfly embossed on the front and reads: To Ruby, Much love Les,” Ms Simioni said.
The postcard was sent from Kylie’s distant relative Les to his sister Ruby.
“It makes me feel proud to know that my family was out there doing their part and we have enjoyed teaching the children about the Anzacs and how they communicated,” she said.
“The children are weaving the postcard on a loom and learning about the different ways of communicating compared to emails and text messages today.”
Exhibits must arrive at the Pakenham Hall by 4pm on Thursday 19 March and will stay on display until Saturday 21 March.
“All works must be three metres wide by 2.2 metres high,” sponsorship and attractions co-ordinator Janette Young said.
Each display is due to also go on show once again at the dawn service on Anzac Day at the Pakenham Hall.
