Livingstone Shire Council Unveils Love Livingstone Street Flags
The streets of Yeppoon are being infused with vibrant colours and creative flair as the winning flags from the inaugural Love Livingstone Street Flag Contest were unveiled today.
This contest aimed to foster community engagement and artistic expression, with over 120 designs submitted and more than 3,000 community votes cast to determine the winners.
The unveiling event at Yeppoon Town Hall celebrated the talent and creativity of local artists, whose designs will now be proudly displayed along prominent streets throughout Yeppoon. The winning artists, their families, and Councillors gathered to witness this special moment.
Councillor Lance Warcon said the contest has showcased the incredible artistic talent within our shire and it's wonderful to see residents actively participating in such a positive initiative.
"Art has the power to bring people together and inspire and we’ve certainly seen that in this case,” Cr Warcon said.
“Congratulations to all the artists who contributed their time and creativity to this project."
Co-Chair of the Recreation and Culture Committee, Councillor Andrea Friend, said these flags not only beautify our streets but also reflect the spirit and resilience of our community.
“The contest has highlighted the unity and creativity of Livingstone Shire, and I am delighted to see the winning designs come to life," Cr Friend said.
The winning designs, chosen by the community, represent six themes: Nature, Active Living, Arts and Culture, Connection, Community, and Resilience. The winners and their designs are as follows:
Nature Theme – "Prickly Sunset" by Nicole Thornton
Active Living Theme – "Catching Memories" by Linda Weedon
Arts and Culture Theme – "Sunny Afternoons" by Marion Williams
Connection Theme – "A Tapestry of Coastal Life" by Caitlin Lever
Community Theme – "Emu Park Jetty" by Alana Read
Resilience Theme – "Tropical Endurance" by Nikki Wex
Sadly, one of the winning artists, Marion Williams, passed away in late April. Her daughter, Melissa, along with Marion’s loved ones, attended the unveiling and shared how meaningful this recognition was for their family.
"Mum was so passionate about her art, and this contest meant a lot to her. It's bittersweet, but seeing her artwork up on the flags is a beautiful tribute to her memory," Melissa said.
Artist Linda Weedon said it's an honour to have her work displayed in such a public way.
“My acrylic painting was inspired by my Dad fishing at Putney Beach and I'm happy that the community connected with my design," Linda said.
Caitlin Lever, whose design won the Connection theme, said being part of this contest has been an incredible experience.
“In my artwork, I combined four of my favourite paintings that have been inspired by the landscapes and seascapes of Livingstone, each paying homage to our beautiful coastal region,” Caitlin said.
“It's wonderful to see so many people come together to celebrate local art."
Councillor Friend said Council received overwhelmingly positive feedback via the voting form and we are excited to continue this initiative.
“The feedback received from voters, was that they loved the opportunity to be involved in this initiative and would like to see it become an annual tradition," Cr Friend said.
The Love Livingstone Street Flag Contest is set to become an annual or bi-annual tradition.
“Based on additional feedback received, future contests will have junior and senior categories and the submission period will be promoted more widely.”
“Keep an eye out for the flags when you’re next in Yeppoon CDB!”