Katanning Lakeside Eco Centre gifted crocheted sun shade

The Lakeside Eco Centre in Katanning has a stunning new crocheted pergola, thanks to the work of two volunteers, Bev and Ron Lockley.

Opened by Shelley Payne MLC in 2022, the Lakeside Eco Centre is an initiative of the Friends of Piesse Park Community that aims to rehabilitate the Piesse Park Lake and provide educational opportunities for children.

The crocheted sun shade was knitted by Mrs Lockley and her sister in Perth and follows on from the Yarn Art in the Park exhibition hosted by the centre as part of the Katanning Bloom Festival 2022.

“When we had the Art in the Park, we had a lot of wool donated by community members and we were crocheting all sorts of things to go on the trees,” Mrs Lockley said.

“My sister in Perth sent me all these pieces and I had so much wool I kept crocheting, going round and around, then I added her knitting in as the spokes and I thought, ‘this really looks like an umbrella’,” she said.

The shade was installed by the Lockleys and will provide shelter for children visiting the Eco Centre playground.

“It can last a very long time – there are some that have been up locally for two years, when they get a bit sad you can take it off and wash it, turn it around and off you go again,” she said.

The eco centre hosts activities for children over the school holidays and runs a yearly program that includes a kids club, bush walks, environmental information sessions, art exhibitions and habitat regeneration.

“Everyone can have a play,” Mrs Lockley said.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends of Piesse Park and becoming involved with the various activities and projects undertaken at the Charles Street centre can visit the cafe or send the Friends of Piesse Park a message via its Facebook page.