The competition organised by the Tidy Towns and Urban Landcare Committee aims to encourage the community to reuse waste materials and turn them into artistic wonders.

With a theme of 'Our Heritage, Cr Judi Smith said the guidelines are open to interpretation.

"The theme this year is 'Our Heritage' so we want people to interpret what that means to them whether it's along the lines of pioneering, environmental, farming or aboriginal; we're really encouraging diversity."

Art teacher at St Raphael, Inel Date said it has become a tradition for students to enter the RAFCA competition, with students enjoying the process.

"We've actually made it part of the curriculum and they do them at home and then bring them in," she said.

'We also have an exhibition after the event and I've got a sculpture from a previous, very talented student at home.

"I'm just amazed each year at the creativity of the artworks."

Grade seven students, Amy Grant, Julia Cains, Madeleine Cain, Matt Wilkinson and grade 8 student, Darcee Nixon have been hard at work building, sculpting and painting this year's creations. Old plough points formed the hooves for Darcee Nixon's horse sculpture, with a mane and tail made out of plastic bags completing the final look.

Grandpa's farm turned up the treasures for Madeleine Cain, with old chicken wire, a washing machine pipe and pine needles all coming together to create her emu sculpture.

Once again, grandpa came through with the materials for Matt Wilkinson's piece, using a toy gun to complete his entrant, 'Ned Kelly.' Wood from dad's work site and an old paint tin with bearings for eyes completed his sculpture.

Amy Grant built her entry of "an aboriginal defending the English" with wire, stockings, socks and rubber bands while emu eggs were carefully constructed using paper mache techniques by Julia Cains.

A prize-giving day will be held Sunday 19, May from 10am until 1pm at the Cowra Aquatic Centre, a chance for the community to marvel the creations and have their vote for 'People's Choice.' An official prize money presentation will be held at 1pm.

"It'll be a fun family day with lots of entertainment, the town band will be playing, there will be dancing, stalls, coffee, ice-cream and we're encouraging everyone to come along," Cr Smith said.

"People can vote in the People's Choice for $1 with all money going to the Cowra Boy Scouts.

"There'll also be an opportunity for kids to make small sculptures and young kids can make jewellery out of natural bush materials."-

All entries to the RAFCA competition will be accepted from Wednesday 8, May to Friday 10, May between 10-3.30pm at the Aquatic Centre in Taragala Street.

For more information visit http://www.cowraregion.com.au/home/?id=3441