By Tyler Wright
A book written by students in the hills affected by the June 2021 storm event has been released to the public.
‘Wildings Playground’ was published by Kid’s Own Publishing in 2022 as the final result of a project led by Yarra Ranges Council in partnership with Sassafras Primary School for children aged eight to 12.
The student’s illustrations are inspired by the environment of the Dandenong Ranges, featuring Kangaroos meeting in the front yard, an echidna wandering down the street and wildlife enjoying the playground.
Yarra Ranges Council community recovery officer Michael Colling said the project was focused on reconnecting children with the space they live in after the traumatic storm event that damaged 177 properties across the Yarra Ranges 23 months ago.
“Parents and families didn’t want any mention of the storm at all…this was about celebrating space and the community that these children live in,” Mr Colling said.
Every primary and pre school in storm affected areas in the Hills – including neighbouring towns Mount Evelyn and Montrose – have received copies of the book, as well as local maternal child health centres.
The 13 eastern regional library centres also have two copies each, available for anyone to access within their local community.
Mr Colling said the community has been “blown away” by the level of detail the children have put into the book.
“This is all about taking that fear away from the trauma that they went through, making them feel safe and making them love the place that they live in again…and that shines in this book,” Mr Colling said.
“Kids love looking at the pictures and hearing the story about all the animals and what they get up to.”
Mr Colling was living in Montrose during the 2021 storm.
“We lost power for 10 days. We had a huge gum tree come down and crash through the back fence,” he said.
“All our neighbours were displaced for 10 days. The kids were with their grandparents.”
Mr Colling said his family read ‘Wildings Playground’ knowing how important it was for his children to celebrate their environment.
He said bringing children along in the recovery journey is “critically important”.
“We know that there are still many on that recovery journey after the Black Saturday fires from 2009.
“It’s an ongoing process, which is why council is committed through its recovery team and through working side by side with the community…working with the existing community groups that are on the ground, existing support services, seeing how we can work and walk with them side by side to build community resilience and build community strength.”
‘Wildings Playground’ was also supported by the state government.
