News

Young artists donate helmets to community

By Rowan Frazer

Sep 28, 2026

Sergeant Morgan Hadjialexiou with Art Shed participants and helmet designers (back, from left) Ikah Wereta, Elka Lilford Hansen, Lola Aitken, Chris Plant, Hazel Bensch and Emily Plant; (front) Tanner Bensch and Stella Hansen.

The power of art and looking out for others was on full display last week, thanks to the Yarkuwa Art Shed’s helmet project.

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Eight of the junior artists donated five hand-painted and decorated bicycle helmets to the Deniliquin Police Station.

The intention is that the helmets will then be redistributed by police to young people in the community who don’t have helmets.

The helmet designs were created by the Art Shed children - aged 8 to 15 - and incorporate artwork and Wamba Wamba Perrepa Perrepa language.

Each helmet also includes the Kids Helpline phone number - 1800 551 800 - in recognition of the One Door Mental Health and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation funding provided to support the project.

Sergeant Morgan Hadjialexiou with the helmet donations.

On handing over the helmets, the Art Shed members were greeted by Constable Cameron Staples and Sergeant Morgan Hadjialexiou who gave them a quick tour of the station.

Art Shed co-ordinator Jo Nathan said the idea of the project was to combine art and learning, and “how they can give to the community”.

One of the student designers, Elka Lilford-Hansen, said it was exciting to see how their work could making a difference.

“It feels pretty good. It is even more exciting knowing that someone else is going to get to use them,” she said.