HAND-carved native animals have found a new home among the sandpits and gum trees at Torquay Kindergarten, adding a tactile and imaginative layer to outdoor play.
Local wood sculptor Glenn Romanis – whose work can be seen across Torquay – worked with the kindergarten’s parent advisory group and the teaching teams to choose the right sculptures for the space.
“[Romanis] came to the kinder to chat to us, to understand what it was that we wanted,” kindergarten teacher Meredith Dick said. “It was great sharing our ideas and we were very excited to see Glenn’s vision when the sculptures arrived.”
The installation spans two outdoor areas, with a pair of echidnas in one space and a turtle placed alongside Romanis’s existing seed pod canoe in another.
“Not only are the sculptures incredibly beautiful, the natural wood and animal aesthetic sees them fit seamlessly into our playground,” Dick said. “They feel like they have always been here.”
The children have quickly embraced the new additions, using them as climbing features, conversation spots and characters in imaginative play.
“The children talk to them, climb on them, lay over them and sit on them to have conversations and quiet moments,” Dick said. “They add so much value to our spaces, connecting us to nature, creativity and community.”
Romanis and his wife Flick have a personal connection to the kindergarten, with all three of their children attending.
He said he was honoured to create something for the kindergarten for which his own children have fond memories.
Torquay Kindergarten committee president Amy McElgunn said the sculptures are a reflection of the dedicated and passionate community around the kindergarten.
“Our kinder is such a beautiful little community, built on the generosity and fundraising efforts of families over many years, so it’s wonderful to see some of that money invested into something permanent that the children and families can enjoy well into the future.”
She acknowledged the work of former committee president Cassi Benning and the families and volunteers who helped fundraise for the project and bring it to life.
