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 Jindabyne resident Jan Owens, have made to their communities through the arts by featuring them on the cover of the 2009/10 Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories.

Jan was thrilled to learn she would appear on the cover of the Cooma 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.

As a volunteer with Snowy River Arts for the past four years, Jan has been instrumental in coordinating the annual Easter Lake Light Sculpture Exhibition. As well as attracting artists and sculptors from across the region to Jindabyne, Jan aims to involve all community members by providing art workshops so they can develop their own pieces for the festival.

Jan has dedicated much of her time developing a number of community arts projects that are now tourist attractions in their own right including the Art Trail from Jindabyne to Thredbo Valley Distillery, Lake Crackenback Resort and Thredbo. Jan is also an accomplished artist and regularly shares her talents with young members of the community, teaching visual arts at Jindabyne Central School.

“Over the 35 years I’ve been working in the visual arts, my goal has always been to encourage our Snowy Mountains community members to become actively involved in art, whether it be through the festivals I coordinate, the workshops I run with the elderly or teaching children at our local schools. I am really thrilled to see so many people participating in our arts initiatives,” said Jan.

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 Jan 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 Pages® and White Pages® directories.”

“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.”

“Jan is a fine example of a creative Australian who, through a love of the arts, is helping to inspire others and foster art and culture in the local community,” Ms Blackley said.

Jan replaces Monika and Brad Spalding on the cover of the Cooma 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 21 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.