Australian Conservation Foundation to host kids art showcase at Bondi Pavilion

Children in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have been celebrated for their inspiring artworks depicting endangered species, with the art to be displayed at Bondi Pavilion.

Eastern suburbs student Bonnie Milston’s artwork.

After seeing pods of whales in the wild off the coast of Sydney in July, eastern suburbs kids were inspired to capture the awe-inspiring day in art.

Now two students have been recognised for their submissions to Australia’s biggest wildlife art competition for children.

Bronte Public School students submitted 180 of the 300 entries by kids from the east to the Australian Conservation Foundation’s (ACF) Wild At Art competition, with two students recognised with awards.

Bronte Public School’s Lexie, aged 12, won for best written work for her contribution on whale sharks, while 12-year-old Griffin from Maroubra won for his artwork ‘Hug the Slug’ in the ‘most unusual’ category.

Australian Conservation Foundation’s (ACF) eastern Sydney community leader Stephen Lightfoot, said the initiative was developed to inspire kids to use their imagination and creativity to better understand conservation.

Participants of the workshop with their beautiful artworks of the Southern Right Whale. Picture: supplied.

“It’s really good to get the kids thinking and learning about the threats to nature and get families involved,” Mr Lightfoot said.

In July the ACF’s whale watching event saw more than 80 people join Kingsford Smith MP Matt Thistlethwaite and Waverley mayor Paula Masselos at Botany Bay.

Southern Right Whales seen at Fowlers Bay, South Australia. Picture: Fowlers Bay Whale Tours.

‘It was like the humpback highway,” Mr Lightfoot said of the incredible showing on the day. “When you see them, breaching and tail slapping up the coast, it’s just awe-inspiring. It was just a beautiful moment”.

Afterwards the kids entered stories and artwork inspired by their whale watching, adding their imaginative contributions to the eye watering 6800 entries Australia-wide.

Thanks to Waverley Council the incredible artworks will now be made public for the wider community at a children’s art showcase at Bondi Pavilion, celebrating the Southern Right Whale.

The event to be held Saturday November 4 from 1pm to 4pm at Bondi Pavilion, is set to feature an arts and crafts station, with speakers and attendees including Coogee MP Marjorie O‘Neill, Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane and Wentworth MP Allegra Spender.

Leader of the Australian Conservation Foundation’s (ACF) eastern Sydney community Stephen Lightfoot, pictured at a community event. Picture: John Appleyard.

Leader of the Australian Conservation Foundation’s (ACF) eastern Sydney community Stephen Lightfoot. Picture: supplied.

“Southern Right Whales can be seen off the coast from Sydney from June to August as they head north to breed in warmer waters,” Mr Lightfoot said of the focus of the ACF’s advocacy.

“We chose the Southern Right Whale because it’s a threatened species that visits our area every year, and we’re trying to raise awareness of the threatened species and extinction crises that Australia is facing.”

Artwork by Eva Binder. Picture: Supplied.

Artwork by Charli Tano. Picture: Supplied.

Artwork by Darsh Varma. Picture: Supplied.

Artwork by Caitlin Duong. Picture: supplied.

Artwork by Bonnie Milston. Picture: supplied.

Artwork by Celeste Osorio. Picture: supplied.

Mr Lightfoot said the conservation group believed strongly that empowering kids with knowledge about endangered species would drive change with the next generation.

“We’re trying to raise the profile of this issue and get people thinking about it and talking about threatened species, and this is a really good way to do it.

“[These] kids will grow up and start to take a role in the governance of our society. And. they’re going to be more environmentally aware than [our] generation was, where all these problems have now become apparent.

“We’re leaving it to the next generation to fix but they’ll be in a much better place to fix it, because they’ll understand what needs to be done.”

ACF’s nature campaigner Peta Bulling said young people “care deeply” about extinction and climate change.

“This year’s entries show young people love nature and are demanding better protection for our unique species and the habitats they need to survive.”

See all the winning entries HERE.