Creativity comes in a surprising range of shapes and sizes in Australia and is often the inspiration behind people becoming involved in their local community. This year, Sensis is celebrating the contribution creative Australians, such as Toowoomba residents Damien Kamholtz and Rachel Price, have made to their communities through the arts by featuring them on the cover of the 2009/10 Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories.

Damien and Rachel were thrilled to learn they would appear on the cover of the Toowoomba directory after being nominated by members of the local community to represent the entire region as the epitome of this year’s theme – Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities.

Together, Damien and Rachel run a creative collective called Play on Play (PoP), offering innovative arts activities to the children of Toowoomba and the greater region, encouraging positive social change and environmental awareness through their artistic projects. Damien and Rachel have coordinated themed community festivals to celebrate children’s art, promoting the importance of creativity in the lives of children and its role as a community development tool.

“Art is such an effective, inclusive and interactive forum for instilling valuable messages about the environment and community for people from all walks of life. We have had a really great response to our programs with children of all ages and abilities coming along to join in the creative fun,” said Rachel.

As well as teaching infants and adolescents, Damien and Rachel run professional development courses, art classes and programs for adults experiencing disabilities. The pair has conducted art programs in aged care settings and also facilitated a series of ‘work for the dole’ schemes creating public artworks.

Group Manager, White Pages®, Jane Blackley, said the theme Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities provided Sensis with a great opportunity to recognise Australians who are helping to build stronger community relationships through their advocacy of the arts.

“Right across the country, there are people like Damien and Rachel making amazing contributions to their communities through the arts so this year we thought we would put the spotlight on them by featuring them on the cover of the Yellow™ and White Pages® directories.”

Group Manager, White Pages®, Jane Blackley, said the new theme provided Sensis with a great opportunity to recognise Australians who are helping to build stronger community relationships through their advocacy of the arts.

“Whether it’s performing, teaching, hosting exhibitions, raising money or administering arts programs, this year’s cover subjects are all dedicated to establishing ways for local people to become involved in the arts and to share and develop their creativity.”

“Damien and Rachel are fine examples of creative Australians who, through a love of the arts, are helping to inspire others and foster art and culture in the local community,” Ms Blackley said.

Damien and Rachel replace Lori Mackay on the cover of the Toowoomba directory, who was featured last year as part of the Celebrating Australian Flavour theme.

With the 2009/10 Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directory commencing distribution on Saturday 7 February, Ms Blackley encouraged residents and businesses to recycle their old directories.

“In most areas, Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories can be recycled as part of normal kerbside recycling services, but if people are unsure they can log onto www.recyclingnearyou.com.au to find out about recycling services available in their local area,” she said.

About Sensis

Sensis is Telstra's advertising business and Australia's leading directories information resource, helping Australians find, buy and sell. Sensis delivers innovative and integrated local search and digital marketing solutions via print, online, voice and mobile channels to connect Australians 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sensis' powerful, multi-channel portfolio provides an unparalleled local information source incorporating the White Pages® and Yellow Pages® directories; the MediaSmart digital advertising business; the Whereis® digital mapping business; the Citysearch® entertainment and lifestyle website; the sensis.com.au search engine; the 1234 operator-assisted, premium voice information service; and the accommodation website gostay.com.au. Sensis is also a partner in some of China's most popular websites including real estate and home furnishings website, SouFun.com; auto websites Autohome.com and Che168.com; and digital devices websites IT168.com and PCPop.com.cn.