Title: Warabrook Windy Day

Artist: Laura Weynton

I love the escape from the busy city, the feeling that I’m home in the perfect place. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a peaceful break that would be considered a massive privilege in today’s hectic and chaotic world. I connect with my breath, listening to it and with the breath\breeze of the trees. through movement meditation, I feel grounded in the earth around me, knowing that despite my disabilities and background, this is one place I feel safe to co-exist, stretch, exercise and wander, sit with the ambient natural environment and feel a sense of belonging and connection.

Title: The Eastern Long Neck Turtle catching the early morning sun

I created this collage of the Eastern Long Neck Turtle using leaves I collected while walking around my neighbourhood that is set within the wetlands. I love the wetlands because it provides a safe and welcoming environment for those flora and fauna to call home. I enjoy spending lots of time walking around the wetlands, observing and photographing the local flora and fauna, turtles, blue-tongues, and frogs. The community should be experiencing the wetlands more, so that they can have a deeper understanding, connection and appreciation of our local natural environment.

Title: Soft light as the day turns

Artist: Aksara Harriram

A moment is history, a picture forever. We live in a world where things move so fast and progress for progress’s sake becomes a focus. What of the little moments in the presence of those that we care about? What about instead of rushing forward to goals we just sit and wait? Halt. A moment of being present. This work represents all that is key to living a life of less urgency and a focus shift to more simple things. The wetlands is a place of solace and contemplation. The scene depicted in my illustration is one of serenity where merely sitting and watching the wildlife flit across the water allows you to pause, meditate and appreciate life’s wonders.

Title: What I see in my backyard

I love walking past my backyard into the wetlands. On my walks around the wetlands I spot something new every time including a darter bird, swamp hen, Australian Flame tree bottle brush, reeds, flowers, ducks and the lookout.

Title: Bird in flight

I love walking around the lake with my brother and grandfather. We like to play in the playground and the gym. We always look out for the water dragons.

Title: Egret in flight

Artist: Michael Hannah

Our house fronts the small lake so we get to see how it changes day to day in all weathers. We especially love the golden evening light in winter. I love to walk around the lake with our grandchildren and point out the birds, lizards and plants. The egret in my painting only shows up a couple of times a year. It is such a beautiful, sleek bird and I was lucky enough to take a photo as it took off recently. We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in Newcastle because we feel so close to nature here in our wetland.

Title: Warabrook Wetlands

Artist: Ian Fletcher

I’ve portrayed landmarks and natural features that I have observed while regularly walking around the Warabrook Wetlands. I love the animals of the wetlands, notably the birds. My Mum moved to Warabrook 5 years ago and the wetlands became her happy place. Coincidently, my wife and I bought a house in Warabrook 2 years ago and the wetlands became our happy place too. I love the walks with them around the wetlands and the wildlife that we spot. On the rarest occasions, seeing the buff-banded rail and a rakali on the banks.