‘Save our piano’: Eastern suburbs students launch campaign
“We can still make a difference.” Determined Adelaide students have vowed to save a much-loved piano freely played by passers by for almost a decade.
A group of Glenunga International High School students have launched a campaign to save a public piano that has been sitting outside Burnside Library for almost two decades.
Students say locals of all ages have been able to freely tickle its keys since 2008.
But after years of serving the community, the piano that was once carefully painted with heart designs and the words “play me” has become dirty, damaged and fallen into disrepair, with many of its keys no longer working.
Samo Selan, one of the students campaigning to save the piano, says it has been an important piece of public culture, with many people interested in playing it.
“This piano has been here for basically two decades,” he said.
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“I mean, every time somebody goes to the public library, it’s just been well-loved, as you can see by all the grime. It’s been there for ages. Even my mum, I spoke to her, and it was there when she was younger. It’s something that needs to be preserved and kept alive.”
Selan said damage to the piano was significant enough that it would likely need to be replaced entirely, potentially at a high cost.
“We’ve spoken to the Burnside Council. They said, based on what they know, it’s going to have to be replaced entirely. So, if they were to get it replaced, I think the cost would be roughly maybe $2800 at most,” he said.
"We know nothing about fundraising, starting campaigns, but I mean, if no one wants to do it, then someone has to."
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“We’re really new to this, and we’ve never really done anything like this before,” he said.
“Our goal for this is first to raise awareness among our friends and peers and maybe start a campaign within our school as well, and just maybe do a fundraising event for our school.”
Selan says the campaign was being facilitated by himself and two other students, and they hoped to inspire other young people to stand up for their local communities.
“Our main goal is to obviously fix the piano,” he said.
“Our secondary goal is, I guess, trying to show other younger people that even though we’re barely anything in the timeline of this world, we can still make a difference. We’re trying to encourage other younger people to make a difference within the communities ourselves.
City of Burnside Council CEO Julia Grant said the council was considering options for repair or replacement and welcomed the students raising awareness.
“Pianos that are kept outdoors are subject to rapid deterioration due to exposure to weather, including weather fluctuations and moisture,” she said.
“While indoor pianos can last for decades, outdoor pianos typically have a lifespan of around two to five years before requiring replacement.
“Following the outcome of the current assessment, council intends to explore opportunities to invite potential donations of a suitable replacement piano. Any support from local students or community groups in raising awareness or contributing to a replacement would be welcomed.”
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