THE Wandong community has welcomed the launch of the Train of Life artwork, created by local artist Tai Snaith.
The event marked the culmination of the Wandong Public Art Project and was attended by community members, school representatives, Mitchell Shire Council staff, and some of Tai’s close friends and family.
Councillor Timothy Hanson welcomed attendees and spoke about the importance of public art in reflecting local identity and history.
He was joined by Wandong Primary School student leaders Alyssa and Annabelle, who shared thoughtful reflections on their town’s flora and fauna, and how the sculpture beautifully ties these elements together. They highlighted the special connection between the artwork and their school’s logo – a baby echidna, or puggle.
Artist Tai Snaith spoke about her creative process and the inspiration behind the work, drawing on Wandong’s railway heritage and the resilience of both echidnas and the local community following the Black Saturday fires. She also gave a behind-the-scenes look at how the three distinct echidnas were crafted.
The striking sculpture of three echidnas crafted from bronze, charred red gum and concrete, symbolises the vital role of the railway in shaping Wandong and Heathcote Junction, and the resilience of the community and native animals through natural disasters.
Despite the weather, the event was warm and meaningful, with memorable interactions between the artist and local students. A short film and interview with Tai will be shared on line in the coming weeks, offering further insight into the story behind Train of Life.
The sculpture now stands as a proud and lasting symbol of Wandong’s spirit and as a powerful symbol of connection-past, present and future.
