By Cam Lucadou-Wells
If you were to design a City of Casey future, what would be in your cloud-capped vision?
A sample of Maramba Primary School students have lit their imaginations and thought big for a forward-thinking film at Bunjil Place Gallery.
The forthright – and sweet-toothed – students put forth a donut factory, a candy-laced house, a stadium for “everyone” and a giant school running from Prep up to university.
One boldly stated he’d build a “whole new world”.
The 10 students talked about what community meant to them, what they liked about their community as well as dreamed about Casey’s future buildings.
The film was made by Tiny Empire Collective with the brief of giving young people a voice into the development of Casey.
It was screened as part of an Archi-KID zone – with a building block play area – within the gallery’s opening exhibition, Designing Bunjil Place.
Gallery director Georgia Cribb says it’s part of a sustained push to engage with young visitors.
“The thing we’re most proud of is the way young families have spent time here.
“It’s designed to be very family-friendly so children and their friends can enjoy the exhibition.”
Casey mayor Geoff Ablett who presented certificates to the students was particularly taken by a student’s observation that everyone should fit in, belong and have a say in Casey.
He was impressed by how young people in the film embraced multiculturialism.
“If you really want to make a change, you can put your hand up to be a councillor yourself or a politician,” he told them.
He added most politicians worked very hard – despite the profession not getting universal rave-reviews.
“Our 11 councillors all live here. We have to have the ability to put ourselves in the shoes of someone else so we can help to the best of our ability.”
The exhibition closed on 3 December.
