Men’s Sheds Making Antarctic Festival Penguins

Media release – Australian Antarctic Festival, 4 April 2024

MEN’S SHEDS JOIN ANTRACTIC FESTIVAL IN COOL PROJECT

Two respected Tasmanian initiatives have joined forces in a project aimed at promoting Tasmania as a gateway to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

Twenty Tasmanian Men’s Sheds Association establishments throughout Tasmania are assisting the Australian Antarctic Festival by producing 12,500 30-cm MDF penguins to be painted by school children from around the world.

Australian Antarctic Festival Director, Mr Andrew Brassington, said the Penguin Project, part of the 2024 Australian Antarctic Festival, will see these penguins sent to over 175 schools in most Australian states and territories, and in a few countries globally.

“The primary-school age children will paint and decorate their penguin which will be returned to the festival along with all its ‘friends’ from the same school.

“The penguins will then be mounted on a platform with each participating school’s efforts forming part of a ‘rookery’ to be displayed at Macquarie Wharf No 2 during the festival.” Mr Brassington said the penguin rookeries have been a big hit with families at previous festivals, and this year it should be bigger and more colourful than ever.

Tasmanian Men’s Sheds Association President, Mr David Seen, said that the men’s sheds are thrilled to be contributing to this effort.

“The men involved in this project are really enjoying the challenge because they know it not only brings a lot of joy and pleasure to the children decorating the penguins, but it also helps Tasmania promote its historic and ongoing links with the Antarctic.

“Depending on the size of the sheds involved and the equipment they have, the penguins may be produced using hi-tech laser devices or good old-fashioned methods such as a jigsaw, bandsaw or fret saw,” he said.

The Australian Antarctic Festival will be held across the Sullivans Cove waterfront from Macquarie Wharf No 2 around to the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies opposite Salamanca Place from 22 to 25 August 2024.

Further information is available at www.mawsons-huts.org.au/antarctic-festival/.

Featured image above – Penguin rookery from a previous Australian Antarctic Festival.