Parkes Shire's annual Waste 2 Art Exhibition and Competition officially opened on Saturday 28 June at the Parkes Library and Cultural Centre, with over 100 attendees joining Mayor Cr Neil Westcott to celebrate 79 imaginative entries from across the region.
Waste 2 Art continues to inspire the community to rethink their relationship with waste by showcasing creative works made from reused and recyclable materials. This year's theme - Toys - encouraged participants to explore how discarded or pre-loved toys can be reinvented, repaired, or repurposed into powerful visual statements. Many works delivered strong environmental messages, highlighting the role we can each play in reducing landfill by repairing, reusing, and sharing.
The exhibition will remain on display until Thursday 31 July, after which winning works will progress to the Waste 2 Art Regional Showcase in Dubbo.
"To everyone who contributed - congratulations," said Mayor Neil Westcott. "This exhibition is a wonderful celebration of creativity, talent, and commitment to sustainability in our community."
Category Winners
Category |
Title of Work |
Artist Name/s |
Community 2D |
Cuteness |
Lisa Dwyer |
Community 3D |
Metal Rob |
Glenn Sloane |
Community Functional |
Brooching the Subject |
Sharyn Preisig |
OPEN 2D |
Flashy Flamingo |
Helen Standen |
OPEN 3D |
Owl 2024 |
Ronda Sharpe |
OPEN Functional |
Bugz Hotel |
Lana Hood |
HIGH SCHOOL 3D |
Cameron Pfaff |
James the Red Engine |
Pre-School |
Codie Boehm |
The Opal Bug |
PRIMARY 2D |
Balls, Buttons and Beads |
Stage 3 Middleton Public School |
Primary 3D |
Orizuru – Paper Crane |
Nate Sharwood |
Primary Functional |
KW Hobby Horses |
KW and Ms Ware, Parkes Public School |
Yearly Theme - TOYS |
Hey Little Ant |
Yr 2 Dolphins Middleton Public School |
Scrap Metal |
Metal Rob |
Glenn Sloane |
Special Awards
Parkes Shire Council Environment Award
Awarded for outstanding contribution to PSC's Strategic Plan to promote recycling and waste reduction.
Name |
Category |
Title of Work |
Deb Jones and Helen Standen |
Open 3 Dimensional |
Refuse and Stop the Flow |
Packers Prize
Selected by the curators of the exhibition.
Name |
Category |
Title of Work |
Michelle Hazelton |
Open 3 Dimensional |
Upcycle for a Better World |
Take the Challenge Award
Recognising a piece that challenges our thinking around waste.
Name |
Category |
Title of Work |
Helen Standen |
Open 3 Dimensional |
I Give a Crap |
Highly Commended Certificate
Name |
Category |
Title of Work |
Victoria St Children's – Gindhaany Room |
Pre-School |
Puzzle Art |
Milla Harris and Emily Wild |
Primary Functional |
Elf and Fairy Village |
KH and Ms Howard Parkes Public School |
Primary 3 Dimensional |
Robot Toyshop |
Yr 2 Dolphins Middleton Public School |
Primary 3 Dimensional |
Hey Little Ant |
Joey Hazelton |
Primary 3 Dimensional |
Dinosaurs are Extinct! What next? |
Scarlett Gosper Chambers |
Primary 3 Dimensional |
Sunflower |
Joel Hazelton |
Primary 3 Dimensional |
Elephants are Mammals |
Michelle Hazelton |
Open 3 Dimensional |
Upcycle for a Better World |
Margot Jolly |
Open 3 Dimensional |
Jolly Little Thing |
Helen Standen |
Open 3 Dimensional |
I Give a Crap |
Helen Standen |
Open Functional |
Mangy and Moth eaten to Magnificent once more |
Liz MacRaild |
Community 2 Dimensional |
The Snakes and Ladders of Waste |
David Ryan |
Community 2 Dimensional |
Hang Up |
Shane Spicer |
Community 2 Dimensional |
The Orange is my Favourite |
Lisa Dwyer |
Community 3 Dimensional |
Blooms |
Bernard O'Bryan |
Community 3 Dimensional |
Sid and Monkey |
Cherrie Hornery |
Community 3 Dimensional |
Untitled |
Kay Gardiner |
Community 3 Dimensional |
Garden Fairy Costume |
Max Davison |
Community 3 Dimensional |
Woody Woodpecker |
Max Davison |
Community 3 Dimensional |
Old Red |
Kim Chambers |
Community 3 Dimensional |
The Wrecking Yard |
Sue McGrath |
Community Functional |
The Toy Caddie |
Carolyn Butler |
Community Functional |
Blanket Bears |
We thank all artists, schools, and community groups who participated in this year's competition. Your creativity and passion are helping to raise awareness about sustainability and the importance of giving waste a second life. We encourage everyone to get involved again next year.
The 2026 theme will be officially announced at the Regional Waste 2 Art Opening on Saturday 27 September at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo - and everyone is invited to attend.
