{"id":307551,"date":"2021-10-19T21:08:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T11:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=307551"},"modified":"2021-11-12T19:14:51","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T09:14:51","slug":"rockos-artwork-hits-the-streets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/10\/19\/rockos-artwork-hits-the-streets\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocko’s Artwork Hits The Streets"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cherbourg artist Uncle Robert “Rocko” Langton with his rolling artwork which will be seen on local streets (Photo: CASC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 19, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cherbourg artist Robert “Rocko” Langton has works on display all over the South Burnett … but now one of his paintings has taken to the streets, literally.<\/p>\n

Rocko’s artwork, developed with assistance of a bunch of Cherbourg children, is now proudly wrapped around one of Cherbourg’s police vehicles.<\/p>\n

The brightly coloured van was unveiled in a special ceremony at Cherbourg State School on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

And the young artists who worked on the design were presented with matching shirts by the current officer-in-charge at Cherbourg Station, Acting Sergeant Rob Firman.<\/p>\n

Inspector Chris Pemberton said the project aimed to break down the barriers that sometimes exist between children and the police.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And if the reaction at Cherbourg State School is any indication, the project is working.<\/p>\n

“The kids are really proud of what they have achieved and will get to see (their artwork) every day in the community,” Inspector Pemberton said.<\/p>\n

“It’s a great day when the police and local community get to celebrate a partnership with such a beautiful piece of artwork.”<\/p>\n

Uncle Rocko told Cherbourg Radio the artwork included a carpet snake and an owl – the Wakka Wakka totem – and two Elders, a man and a woman.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The schoolchildren added their handprints and did the dots, representing the people of Cherbourg.<\/p>\n

“They loved doing the artwork … especially their handprints on the canvas,” Uncle Rocko said.<\/p>\n

He said the children had run around the vehicle when it pulled in, looking for their handprints.<\/p>\n

There are also handprints from some of the local police and schoolteachers.<\/p>\n

Nanango-based JS Signs measured the vehicle and made up the stickers based on the original painting.<\/p>\n

Cherbourg Mayor Elvie Sandow said the project had been a long time coming but she hoped it would build a relationship between the kids, the police and the Cherbourg community.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“With a bit of artwork on the truck, they might look after it and understand that it’s here to keep our community safe,” Mayor Sandow said.<\/p>\n

Another program has also re-started recently in Cherbourg in a bid to build a relationship between local children and police.<\/p>\n

Police Rangers now meet at the school every Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

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Inspector Chris Pemberton … “the kids are really proud of what they have achieved”\u00a0(Photo: CASC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Uncle Rocko Langton with some of the young artists who took part in the project (Photo: CASC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Police officers from Murgon and Cherbourg join with the artists and Cherbourg State School students (Photo: CASC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Take a closer look at Uncle Rocko’s great artwork, courtesy of Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council:<\/strong><\/p>\n