Year 1 teacher Christine Cook, and teachers-aid Casey Ginns, worked together last year spoke about how they could improve the school’s grounds.

“We looked out and we saw an area that was grey, plain and dusty,” Mrs Cook said. 

“It started as just a conversation on how we could improve it.

“The stage area just outside the kindergarten room and thought it would be great to create something that the kids could interact with and we came up with a map of Ulladulla.” 

The creative pair took a month of planning and one week to paint the project on the surface.

They had assistance from artist Joel Tarling and Inspirations Paint Ulladulla, and supplies for the project were funded by the Ulladulla Public School P and C. 

The mural that covers the stage area is a topographical map of Ulladulla complete with Ulladulla Public School, the location of Funland and sporting ovals. 

Mrs Craig said they wanted to capture the children’s imagination so they took some creative licence with section of the map. 

“That’s why there is a sea dragon in Millards Creek and we have mermaids near the lighthouse,” she said. 

“We have also included a little history with the approximate location of shipwrecks with the dates that they occurred. 

“We even have indigenous aspects with native language around the mural.”

Mrs Cook said the map fit in with the infants curriculum and gaves them an opportunity to play creatively. 

“The idea behind the project was to get kids to interact in the playground differently,” Mrs Cook said.

“With kids who have so much technology in their lives they have an opportunity to sit down and create their own games. 

“It also gives them a great sense of belonging and you often hear them saying ‘This is where I live, where do you live?’” 

The creative duo plans to continue with beautifying the school ground with a Pigeon House mural and interactive chalkboard planned for the near future. 

“Concrete is so boring and it was probably like that for 25 years. It’s great to see more colour in the playground,” Mrs Cook said 

“The most rewarding part of all of this has been watching the kids enjoy the map.”