By Casey Neill
Students celebrated social inclusion and different abilities through artwork at Keysborough College.
They participated in Wallara’s Picture This art competition, which is now in its fifth year.
“In previous years the invitation to participate was extended to local schools to encourage their students to think about disability and what social inclusion for people with different abilities really means,” Wallara spokeswoman Karen Scholey said.
“This year, Keysborough Secondary College was given an exclusive opportunity for their students to get creative and Wallara was delighted to receive over 100 entries from students of various ages.”
Judges visited the school on Tuesday 6 September to select a winner.
The panel included Greater Dandenong Mayor and former Keysborough College student Heang Tak and Penny Neophitou from Navarone Panels, who has supported Picture This since its inception by applying the winning artworks to Wallara’s fleet of buses.
“Given the extremely high level of entries, the judging panel had a difficult time in choosing the winner,” Ms Scholey said.
“However they decided on 12-year-old Emily Saab’s eye-catching ‘we are all unique’ design, which will be unveiled on one of Wallara’s buses at the annual concert at Frankston Arts Centre on Saturday 22 October.”
Keysborough Secondary College arts area learner leader Erin Rabot said it was a pleasure to be involved in Wallara’s Picture This art competition “as its echoes our school motto of respect, diversity and excellence”.
“Respect for difference, diversity of people and abilities and working to achieve better in our community,” she said.
Dandenong-based Wallara was established in 1959.
It supports more than 450 adults with different abilities at 30 sites throughout the south east through community day services, residential and supported accommodation, part-time and full-time employment, training and workplace opportunities.
