A talented group of Year 3 and 4 East Gippsland students have joined forces with a local artist and an ACU academic to publish a picture book that celebrates the spirit of Swifts Creek, a town navigating a period of change with creativity, pride and community strength.
This is Swifts Creek was written and illustrated by local students in partnership with artist Deborah Mazzallo-Martinez and the Great Alpine Gallery.
ACU literacy expert and project collaborator Ondine Bradbury said the book captures the stories, landscapes and shared identity of Swifts Creek through the eyes of the town's young students.
The project was developed as part of the Swifts Creek Future initiative, supported by the Victorian Community Forestry Transition Program, to explore community-led ways of strengthening social and economic opportunities during periods of transition.
"The picture book project strengthens local identity and resilience by bringing together students, local community and literacy academics to explore shared stories of place," Dr Bradbury said.
"It contributes to social recovery while building pride and connection across generations by elevating community voice and celebrating the region's unique character."
Dr Bradbury said the book provides a lasting cultural artefact for the region.
The project brought together Swifts Creek P–12 School, Swifts Creek Future (Education and Skills Working Group), Australian Catholic University and Monash University.
Artist Deborah Mazzallo-Martinez, who collaborated with the students throughout the artistic process, said the project revealed remarkable creativity among the young illustrators.
"Drawing inspiration from our surroundings and their poetic storytelling, students developed their ideas through guided inquiry and reflection, constantly refining their process," she said.
"This project championed individual perspectives whilst demonstrating the shared sense of place and belonging within our community,"
Classroom teacher Alannah McCormack said the program strengthened both literacy learning and student confidence.
"The teaching was a set of cohesive lessons that enabled kids to immerse themselves in text but also have the agency to direct their own writing in the way they wanted," she said.
One of the students said their favourite part was learning more designs of how to draw and learning more about the community.
This is Swifts Creek has so far raised more than $1000 for arts education initiatives in Swifts Creek and broader East Gippsland. The exhibition will be on show at The Forge Theatre in Bairnsdale as well as the Bairnsdale Library in March.
