While competition is ongoing in other Shire Council areas, Lachlan Shire Council has completed judging for their local Sims Metal 2023 community art exhibition and competition – Waste 2 Art with the worthy winners continuing on to the final exhibition at Blayney Shire Council later this year.

A council spokesperson said, the competition represents a creative and innovative approach to the reduction and reuse of waste in Lachlan Shire Council. The competition challenges perceptions about ‘rubbish’ and celebrates the reuse and recycling of waste through arts and crafts.

This innovative approach to waste education, has seen some spectacular and creative artworks over the years and this year is sure to be no different as individuals, schools, and community groups take up the challenge and create a new life for materials that would otherwise have been thrown away or considered useless.

Lachlan Shire Council Mayor, John Medcalf said, “Waste 2 Art gives people the chance to explore and share their waste reduction message, and is a wonderful opportunity for the entire Lachlan Shire community to showcase their creativity.

“The competition challenges peoples’ perceptions about ‘rubbish’ and celebrates the reuse and recycling of waste through arts and crafts.”

This year’s theme is Textiles & Fast Fashion and the local winners have their entries on display at the Condobolin Library until June 23rd.

The competition categories have been created to challenge and stimulate the imagination, and have sections across all school levels as well as the community,

This year’s winners for Lachlan Shire are

Primary 2D - Anastasia Phillips - Lyla

Primary 3D - Anastasia Phillips – Madison

Primary Functional – Addison Crammond – The Aussie Hat

Hayley Egan's External Bouquet won the Theme Waste Award and the Open 2D sections for Lachlan Shire's Waste to Art Awards

High School 2D – Mischa Preuss – Flower

High School 3D – Amelia Pearson, Rachel Grimmond, Eli Heffernan, Justin McDonald – The Goat

High School Functional – Damon Reardon – Homeless

Community 2D – Mark Phillips – Palius Tinius

Open 2D – Hayley Egan – Eternal Bouquet

Open 3D – Eryn Mullins – Setting Sail

Open – Functional – Catherin Morgan – Fabric Bowl

Theme Waste Award – Hayley Egan – External Bouquet

These artworks will join others from the Western Plains to vie for overall recognition, though, finding alternative use for rubbish is a reward for the environment in itself.