The seat has been designed by a group of 2006 year 11 students at Bulahdelah Central School and carved by local wood carvers, John Startin and Ray Towers.

It will eventually be the last of eight seats that will be situated in Stroud St, depicting the history of the Bulahdelah township.

The Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce initiated the seating project as part of their plan to make Bulahdelah a place where tourists want to stop.

“The project enhances the idea of the chamber to work with different groups within the community for the betterment of the community,” Bulahdelah town project coordinator, Nita Eadie said.

The seating is unique to Bulahdelah with local timber used for the seats, local carvers and businesses used to create and sponsor the design and local history depicted on the seats.

A team of students from Bulahdelah Central School took up the project last year as part of the Red Cross Youth Challenge.

Coordinated by Sarah Coluten the group fundraised, came up with the idea for the carvings and decided upon the slogan to be put on the plaque that would represent the youth of the town.

The carvings depicted on the seat are of students, studying, playing sports and the school emblem.

The slogan represents the way the youth tie in with the past and present.

The slogan reads, ‘Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.’

A large number of students and teachers from the school turned up for the event.

Principal Bob Brenton and deputy principal Roger Horton also attended.

Great Lakes Council has supported the project saying Bulahdelah showed great initiative in knowing what they want for the town.

Mayor, John Chadban, general manager Keith O’Leary, economic development officer Deb Tuckerman, deputy mayor Jan McWilliams and councillors Len Roberts, Carol MaCaskie and Linda Gill all attended the unveiling of the seat in Bulahdelah.

Also in attendance was the Red Cross youth coordinator for this area, Deborah Keyatta.

Over the next year another seven seats will be carved and placed along the main street.

These seats will depict key community issues and historical events that have occurred throughout the history of the town, such as the towns mining and timber history and the waterways that run through the town.

The chamber is looking for other groups to sponsor a seat.