Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown)—Creativity is such an important outlet, but can often feel inaccessible for many.

Tingira Heights mother and daughter team Ulanda and Caroli de Villiers want to create a world that empowers people from all walks of life to unleash their inner artist. They founded Kwas Studio in Warners Bay—in a nod to their South African heritage, the name "kwas" is the Afrikaans word for "paintbrush".

Fittingly, Ulanda and Caroli run acrylic painting workshops for everyone, regardless of age. Their commitment to sharing the joy of creativity is amazing, and they were recently named Lake Mac Art Leaders at the 2022 Lake Mac Awards. Ulanda and Caroli were named among the four finalists in their category, which is awarded for outstanding demonstration of leadership skills and contribution to the arts.

With more than 90 per cent of attendees having no past painting experience, they are rightly proud that their studio is able to showcase hidden talents and overcome insecurities. Congratulations to Ulanda and Caroli! Very well deserved.

A Community Recognition Notice is an opportunity for an MP to submit a short statement praising the work of an individual or group in the local community. If you have any ideas about people I can recognise with a Community Recognition Notice, please email and let me know!