Goldfields prisoners to help support local Kalgoorlie-Boulder businesses through insta-worthy backdrops

Goldfields prisoners are helping to support Kalgoorlie-Boulder businesses by making insta-worthy backdrops to attract shoppers to the city’s main streets. As part of the project, Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison staff and inmates designed and constructed the Olympic backdrop hanging in St Barbara’s Square on Hannan Street for a Raygun-inspired photo competition. The competition is among the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s KB-Activ8 initiatives aimed at enticing people into supporting local businesses. Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison offender services assistant superintendent Scott Mortley said the project had a positive impact on prisoners. “This partnership presents a great opportunity for the people in care at Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison to give back to the community and to have an active stake in the success of something bigger than them,” he said. “This project has motivated both staff and prisoners to enthusiastically support the community and local businesses. “The people in care at the prison get a real sense of accomplishment and take a huge amount of pride in creating something for the public to enjoy. “It’s been great to see the prisoners encourage their own family members to go to St Barbara Square to see the finished product they worked so hard on.” Mr Mortley said the backdrop was one of many the prison would produce in the coming months. “Staff and prisoners work together to come up with plans and ideas for the Instagram backdrops to go on display at St Barbara Square,” he said. “Prisoners working in the woodwork shop made the backdrops for this month’s Olympic rings-themed piece, and women in care at Unit 4 were involved in painting the boards. “Prisoners employed in the woodwork shop and metal shop constructed and painted the rings.” KBCCI president Garry Symonds said the initiative was designed to help “liven up” the CBD. “By adding the backdrop, we hope to attract people to St Barbara Square, where they can bring family, grab a coffee, have some lunch, pop into a local shop and have their photo taken using the Olympic backdrop,” Mr Symonds said. “The photo competition will allow participants to have some fun in the CBD and have their pictures taken using the backdrop created by the great work of our collaboration partners. “The winner will receive a KalDollar$ voucher which can be spent at local participating stores.” The community is invited to submit photos with Raygun-inspired poses in front of the backdrop to KBCCI’s social media pages. Raygun is Australian Olympics breakdancer Rachael Gunn, whose performance in Paris went viral on social media. The competition winner will be announced on Monday, September 2.