Community takes innovative approach to COVID-19 messaging

Families and students from Santa Teresa recently participated in a ‘Car Bonnet Art Competition’ as part of efforts to keep health and safety information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the forefront of the communities daily lives.

Jason King, from Santa Teresa, crouches beside his family's entry into the 'Car Bonnet Art Competition.' Picture: SISTER LIZ WEIMERS

Families and students from Santa Teresa recently participated in a ‘Car Bonnet Art Competition’ as part of efforts to keep health and safety information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at the forefront of the communities daily lives.

Sponsored by the Catholic Church Santa Teresa, Atyenhenge Atherre Aboriginal Corporation (AAAC), CatholiCareNT, Literacy 4 Life and Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School – each participant was given a car bonnet to use as a canvas, employing culturally relevant imagery and messages written in language to warn against the spread of the virus.

2020 is in full swing at LACS. So much has changed since 2019. 75% of our Classroom Teachers are new and we have many...

Posted by Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School on Tuesday, 14 April 2020

Describing the competition as an opportunity for his partner and two eldest girls to come together and compete in as a family, Jason King said their goal was to make sure the messaging was the hero of the bonnet.

“We wanted big words so people could read it from a distance,” he explained.

“We didn’t want to just say ‘stay home – coronavirus,’ so we said it was about respecting our people and stopping the virus from coming into the community and keeping the community safe.”

On display near the local football club, Mr King said the family’s bonnet had received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with workplaces noting the messaging was clear and not “distracting.”

Full access to our journalism – just $1 for the first 28 days.

The ‘Car Bonnet Art Competition’ had also attracted the attention of the National Museum of Australia, with the illustrious institution looking at acquiring some of the bonnets for a new social media project to record pandemic experiences across Australia.

“For me, as soon as I heard that I thought ‘I hope they get ours - that would be amazing’,” Mr King said.

“It is a historical moment, and for Santa Teresa itself it would be great for the community to get our name out there.”

‘Car Bonnet Competition Winners’

• 1st Place: Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School - Senior Ladies and teacher Indi Parr.
• 2nd Place: Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School - Middle One and teacher Ray Ireland and Junior Four and teacher Mark Wisemantel.
• Third Place: The Hayes Family
• Highly Commended: The Young Family, Jasmine and Cecelia, Literacy 4 Life, The King Family and Jocelyn.