Blown away by Castaways win

Safety Bay artist Carol Clitheroe was still in shock on Monday morning, two days after she was named Castaways Sculpture Awards' major winner for 2015.

Clitheroe said she had never expected to win the $5000 Alcoa Major Award, which is handed down each year for the best sculpture with an aluminium element, for her piece, Blow Your Troubles Away.

She said the installation, made from drink cans, fishing line and volley ball posts, represented a fond childhood memory of blowing dandelion seeds into the wind to make a wish or tell time.

"I can't believe it - I won an award about three years ago but I have never won the major award," Clitheroe said.

"It hasn't quite sunk in yet.

"I don't know how the judges choose winners as there are so many amazing pieces."

Judges Connie Petrillo, arts manager at St John of God Hospital Murdoch, Sandra Murray, art curator of Bankwest, and Bronwyn Berman, visiting Castaways artist from Sydney, said the winning work was an imaginative and well-resolved conversion of materials.

The trio agreed Blow Your Troubles Away had a whimsical narrative and was visually outstanding in the landscape.

Castaways curator Lyn DiCiero said Clitheroe's work was always engaging and beautiful and it was lovely to see her win the major award after eight years of commitment to the event.

She said the fact Clitheroe lived locally was extra special.

Singleton Primary School principal Bevan Ripp said students of all age groups worked very hard on their Flock of Birds project, which was named the primary school section winner.

Winners *

Alcoa Major Award: *Blow Your Troubles Away, Carol Clitheroe

Fremantle Ports Award: *The Painted Sky, Daniel IIley

City of Rockingham Award: * Drum Roll, Eileen Macpherson and Milan Mercavic

GDF Suez Kwinana Award: *Footprint, Gail Farquhar

Sustainable Living Award: *Screen, Stella Onderwater

Waste Authority Collective Art Award: *Wachiman, Barbara Bozsik and Marcia Espinosa

Primary School section: *Flock of Birds, Singleton Primary School

Secondary School section: *Time For a Change, South Coast Baptist College