Moruya Cubby

This multipurpose cubby structure (market day canteen, puppet show stage, outdoor classroom, general play space) was created with full school community participation as an initiative of the P and C. All students mixed traditional sun-dried earthen "mud" masonry recipes with their hands and feet to live music performed by students and musicians at musical mud stomps. Students participated in these events with their teachers during school and with their parents after school. The opening event took place down at the local markets and bricks were transported back once dry. Music was a central and key element to the project under the leadership of a musical director assigned to the job which included engaging other local professional muscians. The mud mixtures were used to made bricks and "cobs" to build and sculpt the walls. An artist was hired to sculpt decorative features into each wall. Handmade clay, milk and lime based paints were mixed onsite and applied by students, teachers and parents and others. The after school care centre was involved. High School students were also involved as part of their education and worked with the architect, builder, engineer, musical director and artistic director. Local businesses took up every available sponsorship opportunity to donate all the project's materials and their delivery.  The structure is a hallmark of environmental sustainability. The foundation was made with local stone and gravel. The walls were made of sun-dried earthen masonry mixtures, the roof frame was built with locally milled timber and the roof was made of Australian made tin with plastic and wooden insulation. The construction followed the BCA (Building Code of Australia) via a Master Builders Contract with the Assets Department of the NSW Dept of Education. Funding came from several different sources with different purposes attached to them. Besides the goal of building the structure there were educational and community engagement goals. Another major goal that was achieved was to include those with special needs and disabilities.

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