Students at Leitchville Preschool have a new art installation to admire, and it’s one they can be proud to say they have been a part of.

The artwork features a long-necked turtle, the Yorta Yorta totem, and showcases fine and intricate dots, lines and curves in colours that represent the local environment.

Preschool teacher Kim Mason focused on capturing the input from the students and educators during the planning process, and said that the preschool continues to strive to embed First Nations culture, perspective and ways of knowing and doing in their preschool program.

Tobie Cameron, a Kalkatungu man, was commissioned to paint the artwork, and visited the preschool to discuss the concept, design and process with students and staff, and to guide them through their involvement.

“The children were engaged during Tobie’s first visit as they chose their own handprint colour and watched Tobie begin to create the main image of a turtle,” said Mrs Mason.

Tobie completed the painting at his studio at Mystic Park.

Tobie explained that handprints represent connection and holding onto moments, and the students’ handprints added the finishing touch to the artwork.

The completed artwork, titled ‘The long-necked turtle under the moonlight’ was unveiled to the students on October 17 and will hang permanently at the preschool.

Tobie has been painting indigenous artwork for five years and is self-taught.

“Everything I try and paint comes out of my bloodline or something; it’s all in there, I guess. It just kind of shoots out when I paint. It’s a bit of a gift I’ve got, so I’m going to use it anywhere I can.

“I enjoy it every day, and every opportunity I get like this is great,” he said of collaborating with the preschool.

The artwork took around 18 hours over a couple of months to complete, using acrylic paints and dabbers.

“Each section of the green dots took about an hour, the bigger parts an hour and a half. The turtle shell took an hour with the lines, and the limbs were another hour with the dot work,” said Tobie.

Leitchville Preschool was recently awarded the exceeding rating under the National Quality Standards rating process, and Mrs Mason says they look forward to continuing to strengthen their cultural competencies through future collaborations with Tobie and their local Keso Maurice Day.

“Leitchville Preschool has a strong connection to nature through its bush kinder program, our interest in local and world environments and its flora and fauna, and a commitment to economic and environmental sustainability as we actively look after today’s world for tomorrow,” Mrs Mason said.

The art installation was funded by the Preschool Parent Advisory Committee fundraising budget and the Gannawarra Shire Council.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 31 October 2024.