Retford Park is the grand and beautiful National Trust house situated on Old South Road of Bowral. Gifted to the community by James Fairfax in 2016, every corner of Retford Park is looked after with meticulous love and care.
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The opulent rooms of the showcase Fairfax’s collection of art in varied styles and mediums. The house has a lovely nostalgic feeling and fills you with lots of creative energy.
For the past two months Retford Park has allowed for five high school students from Bowral High School and Wollondilly Anglican College to utilise this energy to take part in a community mentoring project, called ‘Ignition’ and though this is the pilot year, it is hoped that this will become an annual event.
Each student was assigned to a volunteer community mentor who helped develop, refine and bring project ideas to life.
The purpose of the project is to encourage community engagement, particularly among young people, with Retford Park.
The students were given free reign to come up with some truly exciting ideas and events that will be taking place during the Retford Park open weekend on November 3 and 4.
This Saturday, November 3, Nicholas from Wollondilly Anglican will host an art workshop for students in years 5 and 6, called “Recycled Art at the Park”.
Students will use recycled materials to make Christmas wreaths and collages they can take home.
The workshop is a free event that will run from 10am to 12pm. To register, email Nicholas at: nicholasjefferys@student.wac.nsw.edu.au.
On Sunday, November 4, there will be a variety of events taking place.
Chloe, from Bowral High School, will host an art expo called “Free Your Mind”, featuring art, stories and poems along the theme of mental health awareness.
Also that day, the Retford Park cafe will be taken over by another Bowral High student, Aleece, renaming it “Fine and Dine” for the day.
Aleece will prepare a unique menu, providing beautiful and fresh food to everyone who chooses to come to Retford Park.
Leyton, another Bowral High student, will be photographing people throughout all the hidden corners of the park. Talking to people throughout the day, Leyton will use conversation to encourage participants to engage with the idea of community and communication.
Not only can the community and visitors enjoy in at the splendour of Retford Park this open weekend, but they can support the youth of the Southern Highlands by engaging in these activities and workshops.
- Retford Park open weekend: 10am to 4pm this Saturday and Sunday, November 3 and 4, 1325 Old S Rd, Bowral.
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