Busting graffiti vandals

Inspired youth brighten up areas defaced by aimless young people

l CAIRNS REGION

| Nick Dalton

YOUNGSTERS have been painting colourful murals in public places in a bid to dissuade graffiti.

Native wildlife and vibrant colours have been splashed into artwork in three suburbs as part of Cairns Regional Council’s youth urban art project at Smithfield, Redlynch, and Mount Sheridan.

Smithfield State High School students worked with local artist Violet Shaban to paint a new mural at the pedestrian underpass along the Captain Cook Highway.

The art project is funded by the council, working with local artists and young people to reduce graffiti and tagging and increase community pride by adding a burst of new colour to highly visible public spaces.

The project allows local young people to learn new skills, clean mural sites, and paint artistic designs.

Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan said the murals positively engaged local young people and brightened up suburban sites.

“The murals are a fantastic way to give young people an opportunity to inject creativity and pride into really visible public spaces,” she said. “Smithfield State High School students worked with a wonderful local artist to bring vibrancy to the pedestrian underpass which is used by many students each day.

“I have no doubt these students will take pride in seeing this colourful artwork before and after school.”

The 2023 project adds up to 21 murals from Babinda to the Northern Beaches since the pro- gram started in 2018. The murals, led by artists Ms Shaban, Daniel ‘Wally’ Wallwork (Redlynch), and Sharon Wedel (Mount Sheridan), were hand-painted or sprayed. This year’s project featured young people from the youth justice department’s Transition to Success Program as well as students from Smithfield High School, Holy Spirit College and Newman College.

On behalf of St John’s Greek Orthodox Parish, St John’s Community Care, Redlynch Daycare Centre, we would like to thank everyone for attending, volunteering, and sponsoring our Annual Greek Festival. This event was such a success because of your contribution. We had over 7,000 people attend 2023 Greek Festival.

The feedback was positive, everyone enjoyed the Greek food, sweets, music, dancing, entertainment Zorba lessons, plate smashing, honey puff eating and olive spitting competitions, Belly Dancing, church tours and children’s activities.

We hope to see you all again next year in 2024 ! Ευχαριστώ - thank you