Pilbara outdoor cinema gets unlikely helping hand for its furniture

Some bright new furniture has made its way into the Wickham Picture Gardens and those who have lounged on it while watching a movie might be surprised to find out it was made by prisoners. Inmates at the Roebourne Work Camp constructed six Cape Cod Adirondack chairs and three-day beds for the outdoor cinema from old bits of donated scaffolding timber. Acting superintendent of Roebourne regional prison Tania Woolgrove said the environmentally friendly program helped prisoners develop construction skills. “Important community projects such as making the seating for the Wickham Picture Gardens helps our prisoners develop skills that will help them find work and reduce the risk of reoffending when they are released,” she said. “Prisoners learn basic construction, how to read a blueprint, and plan the work needed for the particular job. “At the same time, it’s a way of giving back to the community and the prisoners are proud of these achievements. “The chairs and daybeds they made were from old scaffolding timber donated by local companies so it was cost-effective and saved the timber from landfill.” As part of the program prisoners often do gardening and general maintenance work. Prisoners are currently making new picnic tables for the Stars Foundation at Karratha Senior High School, which supports Indigenous girls and young women to attend and remain engaged at school.