White Pages Covers Program

Creative Australian Pat De Carle Recognised for Inspiring the Central Coast Community

May 14, 2009

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Creativity comes in a surprising range of shapes and sizes in Australia and is often the inspiration behind people becoming involved in their local community. This year, Sensis is celebrating the contribution creative Australians, such as St Huberts Island resident Pat de Carle, have made to their communities through the arts by featuring them on the cover of the 2009/10 Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® directories. 

 Pat was thrilled to learn she would appear on the cover of the Central Coast directory after being nominated by members of the local community to represent the entire region as the epitome of this year’s theme – Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities.

 Pat is the Director of Hospital Art, a volunteer organisation that coordinates arts projects within care facilities, providing visual therapy for patients and sprucing up the décor of hospitals and nursing homes throughout the Central Coast.

 Pat and the other Hospital Art volunteers provide a paint-by-numbers styled canvas to the patients of nursing homes, hostels and hospitals, and then coach them through the process of creating works of art.  The final pieces are then given to the facilities for them to exhibit.

 “Since 1999, Hospital Art volunteers have collaborated on over 11,000 painting templates for patients in over 200 nursing homes and 13 major hospitals across New South Wales. You really can’t put a value on the therapeutic benefits that Hospital Art workshops provide to participants. Everyone involved has such a great time,” Pat said.

 In 2000, Pat was awarded the Australia Day Cultural Award by Gosford Council for her work in establishing Hospital Art. Pat has also developed Hospital Art groups on the Sunshine Coast, Lake Macquarie and Cowra.

 Group Manager, White Pages^®, Jane Blackley, said the theme Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities provided Sensis with a great opportunity to recognise Australians who are helping to build stronger community relationships through their advocacy of the arts.

 “Right across the country, there are people like Pat making amazing contributions to their communities through the arts so this year we thought we would put the spotlight on them by featuring them on the cover of the Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® directories.”

 “Whether it’s performing, teaching, hosting exhibitions, raising money or administering arts programs, this year’s cover subjects are all dedicated to establishing ways for local people to become involved in the arts and to share and develop their creativity.”

 “Pat is a fine example of a creative Australian who, through a love of the arts, is helping to inspire others and foster art and culture in the local community,” Ms Blackley said. 

 Pat replaces Peter Buteux and Ellie Walker on the cover of the Central Coast directory, who featured last year as part of the ‘Celebrating Australian Flavour’ theme.

 With the 2009/10 Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® directory commencing distribution on Saturday 16 May 2009, Ms Blackley encouraged residents and businesses to recycle their old directories.

 “In most areas, Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® directories can be recycled as part of normal kerbside recycling services, but if people are unsure they can log onto www.recyclingnearyou.com.au to find out about recycling services available in their local area,” she said.