Community
10 October, 2025
Strong support for Petyan Yarns
RESIDENTS are being reminded the Petyan Yarns art display will be continuing following a strong positive response at the recent Come and Explore Day.
The display was put up by artist Nicky Schonkala in the days leading up to the event, with a total of 11.6 kilograms of yarn used to create the 45 pieces on trees, fences, benches and railings just outside the Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Information Centre.
Ms Schonkala said she has been thrilled with the positive response from the community.
“One person commented they even stopped, got out of their car and touched the textiles, which is a win-win,” she said.
“When I was installing, some people new to town came along intrigued.
“I told them about the project and the process, and they were fascinated.
“I think it’s a really positive thing to see the community engaging.
“There is a bit of a history to knit installations in Camperdown from another woman who used to do some beautiful works in the avenue.”
The display focuses on the various colours of the Indigenous season of Petyan, which is the season of wildflowers – including colours from lilies, banksias and orchids.
Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Management Committee member Noni Harris Wallace said a number of wildflowers have bloomed in recent weeks around the information centre garden and in the reserves.
“It’s all volunteer planted and maintained from 2000 onwards, so it ties in very nicely and highlights the flowers that are out now,” she said.
“The committee has been really happy with it.
“It’s really beautiful and highlights the space really well.”
Petyan Yarns also ties in with the Indigenous seasonal calendar mural created by proud Gunditjmara and Kirrae Wurrung people Brett Clarke and his mother Pat, which shows six seasons.
Alongside Petyan – which runs from late August to mid-November – the mural also shows Paleempeel (the butterfly season), Kuuyang (the season for eels), Moron (the honeybee season), Weelan (the season of the cockatoo) and Wuurnongh (the season of the nesting birds).
Ms Schonkala said she is pleased to see the way Petyan and the Indigenous seasons are becoming a part of everyday language through education and awareness.
“I’ve had some emails relating to something else but talking about using Petyan in the normal dialogue now,” she said.
“Someone said it’ll be perfect because it’s Petyan season. I thought ‘hey, it’s a thing’ – it was always a thing before we came along, but we’re embracing it and using it.
“The backdrop makes such a difference – to have this vivid, intense green and everything else just jumps out from it, we’re just lucky.”
While the installation is intended to stay until mid-October, the committee is considering continuing the display longer as long as the pieces remain in good condition
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