Children’s visions for their community have been translated in to a prominent mural, unveiled last week at Nambour Community Preschool & Kindergarten.

“We’ve been able to work with artist Jess Foulds, and share with her our vision for our community and our connection to country  based on what the children have shared with us,” said Kindergarten co-director Katrina List. “Jess has taken those words and turned them into a truly magical, inspirational piece.”

Katrina was grateful for a $1000 grant from Sundale Community Foundation which enabled the kindy to connect with Kerry Neil from Triballink who introduced Jess. Katrina said the mural encouraged connection with the country and with the things that mattered to the children “like Petrie Creek and the wildlife in our world”.

“We teach the children the Kabi Kabi way of only taking what we need and giving back to our earth,” she said. “So we’re very proud to be a part of teaching the next generation about caring for their country as well.”

Jess said the mural reflected the wildlife on land around the kindy. “I was told  about the wildlife that lived at the kindy and around the kindy,” she said. “Petrie Creek, which everyone knows is our main creek around here, is full of turtles. And the trees out the back are full of the red-breasted honeyeater.”

The mural features on the wall of the kindy on the corner of James and Howard Street.

“It’s wonderful that between us we have created something like this,” said Kerry. “Jess is a fantastic artist and she’s a very, very, very beautiful person.”

Earlier the kindy also hosted the official launch of a new book “Kabi Kabi Kids” illustrated by Jess and written by Kerry.

“To have Kerry do the first public read of the story with our yellow group was a special memory where he shared the children in the story are his family,” said Katrina.