The Clergate Public School Year 2 student said she spent a long time on the watercolour dinosaur and felt “great” when her teacher said her piece, along with 49 others, had been selected to hang in the hospital as part of an initiative called Operation Art. 

“I like dinosaurs because I like that they are extinct and that they were real a long time ago,” Mathilda said. 

Operation Art is an initiative of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in association with The Department of Education and Communities.

The program gives students the opportunity to design artworks for sick children to aid the healing process.

The carefully selected 50 finalists were revealed at the 2014 Operation Art opening exhibition at the Armory Gallery last week. 

The exhibition showcases more than 700 artworks created by students from kindergarten to year 10.

Only two students in the central west were selected in the top 50.

The second student is Amberley McLuckie of Mullion Creek Public Public School. 

Art teacher Sharon Kloete said both Mathilda and Amberley were extremely talented and it was a “great honour” for them to have their art chosen. 

“What I did as their teacher, I suggested they pick an artwork that they would like to see hung to brighten a sick child’s day,” she said.

“We were only allowed four from each school and it was a tough decision.”

Operation Art co-ordinator Lisa van den Dolder said the artworks in this year’s exhibition displayed an array of talent that highlighted why the program was so successful.

“The entries in this year’s exhibit are extraordinary,” she said.

“Whether it is a painting of a purple, glittery gecko or a drawing of a chicken driving a bus, each of these artworks reflects what Operation Art is all about, cheering up children in hospital.

“Research shows that bright, colourful, optimistic artwork can play a vital role in the healing process and we are so grateful to have so many students helping their peers towards recovery.”

The exhibition is open daily between 10am and 4pm. Entry is free.