RAYMOND Terrace’s flying foxes are getting their moment in the spotlight, with a giant lantern being created for this year’s Illuminate Raymond Terrace.
The lantern took shape at Marketplace Shopping Centre during a four-day community workshop from 11 to 14 September, where locals could drop in and lend a hand.
It then made its way to Boomerang Park for Illuminate Raymond Terrace on Saturday 19 September.
The flying fox wasn’t a random choice.
Local students were asked to create lanterns around what they loved about Raymond Terrace, and flying foxes kept appearing in their designs.
Local schools have been a big part of this year’s event.
“Students were encouraged to create lanterns inspired by what they love about Raymond Terrace, with flying foxes emerging as a common theme across their designs,” a Port Stephens Council spokesperson said
“As a nocturnal animal, the flying fox is also a natural fit for Illuminate, which is a night-time event centred on light and creativity.”
Ikara Celebratory Events Artistic Director Phillip Relf is behind the design of the giant lantern and is working with locals to bring it to life.
Mr Relf said the flying fox came up repeatedly in community consultations.
“They were trying to find some sort of image which reflected the local area, and the flying fox kept coming up,” he said.
Raymond Terrace locals know them well; the town has been home to a flying fox camp for more than a decade, with grey-headed flying foxes among them.
Flying foxes travel at night looking for food. Along the way help pollinate native plants and spread seeds. Grey-headed flying foxes are listed as a threatened species.
Mr Relf understands there are mixed feelings about them.
“They are noisy, and they can be smelly, but they’re vitally important to our natural forests,” he said.
“Anything which brings bats into public attention and makes us think and care about them can only be a good thing.”
For Mr Relf, the best part is that the finished lantern is a community collaboration.
It will join the students’ lanterns at Illuminate, turning a familiar Raymond Terrace resident into something locals have helped create.
By Althea GUINSBERG
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