The Wandong community came together to celebrate the launch of the Train of Life public artwork, created by local artist Tai Snaith. The event marked the culmination of the Wandong Public Art Project and was attended by community members, school representatives, Council staff, and some of Tai's close friends and family.
Councillor Timothy Hanson welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of public art in reflecting local identity and history. He was joined by Wandong Primary School student leaders Alyssa and Annabelle, who shared thoughtful reflections on their town's flora and fauna, and how the sculpture beautifully ties these elements together. They highlighted the special connection between the artwork and their school's logo - a baby echidna, or puggle.
Artist Tai Snaith spoke about her creative process and the inspiration behind the work, drawing on Wandong's railway heritage and the resilience of both echidnas and the local community following the Black Saturday fires. She also gave a behind-the-scenes look at how the three distinct echidnas were crafted.
Despite the weather, the event was warm and meaningful, with memorable interactions between the artist and local students. A short film and interview with Tai will be shared in the coming weeks, offering further insight into the story behind Train of Life.
Council thanks everyone who joined the celebration - the sculpture now stands as a proud and lasting symbol of Wandong's spirit.
