The winners of this year’s ‘Waste Into Art’ competition for schools were announced on Wednesday evening at the official opening of the exhibition at the Macleay Valley Community Art Gallery in Gladstone.

Prizes were presented to the winning schools by Mayor Councillor John Bowell.

The event is organised by Kempsey Shire Council and is supported with financial sponsorship from Midwaste and JR Richards and Sons.

Kempsey Shire Council’s Waste Coordinator, Owen Moon said that organisers were amazed at the high standard of entries received from local school students for this year’s ‘Waste Into Art’.

“Every year the quality of work and the thought that goes into producing these it just gets better and better”, said Mr Moon.

“It is National Recycling week next week (9-15 November) so the timing of this exhibition is perfect.”

“Many of the pieces in this year’s Waste into Art exhibition have not only been made of recycled materials but also cleverly incorporate powerful environmental messages.”

>> Go to Waste into Art 2009 Photo Gallery

“We would really love as many people as possible to come along and have a look at this exhibition, which is on until 15 November, because it really does show the remarkable things that can be done with the bits and pieces that usually end up in our waste bins,” concluded Mr Moon.

The Macleay Community Gallery in Gladstone is open Thursday to Sunday from 10.30am until 4pm and the ‘Waste into Art’ exhibition runs until Sunday, 15 November.

Winners of Waste into Art 2009 Competition

Overall Winner

"Wasteline" by Sam Borg and Josh Elton, Kempsey High School

E-Waste Winners

Infants
"Everybody" by Year K/2, Stuarts Point Public School

Primary
"Is it a Waste of Time?" by Amy Robinson, South West Rocks Public School

Secondary
"Mars Lander" by Jacob Baines, Macleay Vocational College

E-Waste High Commended

Secondary
"i-Family" by Katie-Rose Hoskins, Tyrone Donovan and Luke Rogers

Paper Product Winners

Infants
"Space Junk" by Class 2S, West Kempsey Public School

Primary
"Yesterday's Waste - Tomorrow's Art" by Year 5/6 Extension, Kempsey West Public School

Secondary
"Recycle and Save" by Matt Harper, Kempsey High School

Paper Product Highly Commended

Infants
"Milkey Waste" by Class 2S, Kempsey West Public School

Primary
"The Human Face of Waste" by Class 3/4D, Kempsey West Public School

Secondary
"Recession Chic" by Class 8VA6, Kempsey High School

Mixed Media Winners

Infants
"Pedal Power" by the Bright Sparks, Kempsey West Public School

Primary
"Con(shoe)merism threatens our Environment" by Year 5/6 Extension, Kempsey West Public School

Secondary
Joint Winner - "Landscape in Ruins" by Emily Walder, Melville High School
Joint Winner - "Gut Full of Plastic" by Toni Ritchie, Kempsey High School

Mixed Media Highly Commended

Infants
Artificial Flowers by Class 2/3, South West Rocks Public School

Primary
"Eco Spider" by Jhye Cockram, South West Rocks Public School

Secondary
"Wasted Words" by Year 7, Kempsey High School