BELLINGEN, NSW— After a series of vandalizations led to the removal of beloved chess tables, Bellingen youth took the lead to design and build new ones, demonstrating their pride and connection to their town.
Young people in Bellingen came together this month to celebrate the installation of brand-new chess tables on the much-loved Church Street. The tables were designed, built and installed by youth from the community, marking the result of a strong collaboration between the Bellingen Youth Hub, local police, Bellingen Shire Council and local businesses.
This collaboration resulted in a simple finding: If you want young people to feel they belong, let them help build the town itself.
The project was born as a part of the 2023 YOUth Speak program developed and facilitated by the Neighborhood Centers of Bellingen Shire, after the original chess tables were removed by Council in response to a series of vandalisations. The YOUth Speak program included a series of forums and surveys that consulted hundreds of teenagers from across our Shire. The findings revealed a desire for young people to create their own safe and inclusive spaces.
The YOUth Speak program engaged and facilitated young people to develop youth-led projects that aligned with the key priorities raised throughout the program’s consultations. The chess tables project was steered by passionate local teenagers, such as 18-year-old Willa Herron, a leader of the project, who played integral roles in conversations with Council around the installation.
‘’We had the previous Deputy Mayor Ellie Tree come to our school and sit with a group of us, where we decided that the chess tables needed to be re-instated,” said Miss Herron.
“A group of my friends and I presented the idea to important members of the community, like Mayor Steve Allan. We spoke to him about how we didn’t want the chess tables to just be taken away.”
While the original tables had previously fallen into disrepair, preserving their history in the town and reinvigorating the outdoor chess tables as a place for generations of teenagers to gather and share each other’s company was something the young people involved were keen to do.
17-year-old Jet Hapgood, a key member of the working team throughout the design and implementation phase, agreed, saying:
“It’s important that we were a part of the project because we are the people who use the space.”
For the youth involved, this project was more than just building furniture. The project represented pride, their connection to the community, and the legacy they will leave the town.
The Bellingen Youth Hub’s Michael Mooney and colleague Kylie Selig were heavily involved in steering the project, facilitating the construction of the tables using the downstairs space of the Youth Hub as a workshop. A Hub volunteer, Steven Denshire, led the construction sessions, supporting young people to build the tables with their very own hands.
“The project is a symbol of what can happen when we come together and work together towards an aligned goal” said Mr Mooney.
“I am so thrilled with how much support came from the community, from the generous financial donation from Kombu Wholefoods, and support from other businesses like IGA and Zaatar who provided us with food and drinks to fuel the hard work. Bellingen High School also stepped in with support, helping to make the rebuild a true community-wide effort”
Youth Hub staff are currently in conversations with businesses along Church Street, who are planning on storing sets of chess pieces for locals and visitors to use on the new tables.
Kevin Doyle, Kombu Wholefoods owner, was proudly present at the installation of the new tables. The local business provided key funding and ongoing support for the project.
“Our young people need to feel like they are being heard,” Mr Doyle expressed.
“They need to have spaces in town where they feel comfortable and proud of where they live. I am so thrilled to have been a part of this.
The Story of the Tallowwood
Another key contribution to the project came from long-time local Tim Fraser, who provided the wood for the project that he salvaged after a 2017 storm felled a 250-year-old Tallowwood tree on Kalang Road. From the harvested tree, two planks were donated to the youth-led chess table project. For Tim, who has called Bellingen home for 45 years, the contribution is deeply personal.
“I spent a lot of time hanging at the chess tables as both a youngster and an adult. To be able to give something back to that place means the world to me,” Mr Fraser said.
“I’m honoured to be part of this – hopefully this sows the seeds for more youth projects in town. I love it.”
The restored tables now stand as an invitation for locals and visitors alike to gather, play, and share stories – just as generations have before.
Group of young people and Bellingen Youth Hub Volunteer Steven Denshire working on the tallowwood tabletops.