ISSUE 102, April 6, 2006: The students of Glebe Public School have helped in the global campaign to promote harmony between nations when renowned Indigenous artist Elaine Russell painted a ‘Buddy Bear’ at the school recently.
‘United Buddy Bears’ is an initiative promoting a message of tolerance and understanding among nations and is made up of 124 ceramic bears, standing two metres tall with each representing a member state of the United Nations. The exhibition was on display at Circular Quay.
Elaine was chosen to paint one of the bears. The exhibition also raised vital funds and awareness of UNICEF and its work to help the world’s most vulnerable children.
Aunty Elaine decided to share the experience of painting the bear with her grandson Dylan, who is in Year 3 at Glebe Public School, and also with the whole school community. The children were invited to see the bear, who they nicknamed ‘Buddy Love’, being painted.
“They just loved him”, said Elaine. “The teachers printed little outlines in the same shape of the bear and all the children did their own interpretations of him”.
Glebe Public School Principal, Vicki Pogulis said that while they painted their own designs alongside Aunty Elaine, the students discussed values such as respect for each other, working together and compassion.
“It gave them some background about UNICEF, and it also had them looking at the wider picture as far as the world is concerned.”||Elaine Russell’s Buddy Bear was one of the first ones to be sold, raising $12,500 for UNICEF. Glebe Public School will receive a miniature version of a Buddy Bear for display.
The students of Glebe PS have now visited ‘Buddy Love’ along with all the other Buddy Bears at the exhibition in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay.
The bears are now travelling around the world spreading their message of peace and goodwill and will even make a special appearance at the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany.