Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education)
Incorporated pursuant to order of Council earlier this day:
I am so pleased to note that Heywood’s Indigenous war memorial mural is now complete, and that it is being really well received by the south-west Victorian community.
This project is all about remembering the contribution that the Gunditjmara have made to Australia’s war effort.
And yes, it is long overdue.
The project is a large-scale memorial painted on the Heywood water tower—a project that emerged from the Leadership Great South Coast group, benefitting from broad-scale support, including a $45 000 state government creative arts grant.
The main design features Lovett brothers Frederick, Leonard, Herbert and Edward—four of the twenty-one Lovetts who have served Australia—and the first Indigenous Australian Army officer, Captain Reg Saunders, who served not only in World War II but also in Korea.
Adnate is an internationally acclaimed lead artist who brought extensive experience and passion to the project, with an oeuvre that includes large-scale murals around Australia and the world.
Working with Adnate and Campbell Roberts were Koroit Indigenous artist Levi Geebung and renowned Gunditjmara artist Tom Day.
Tom Day’s influence on the mural is best seen in his representation of lava flows, and the possum skin cloak on the mural.
The project showcases the Heywood area and the World Heritage-listed Budj Bim Cultural Landscape with fish traps and eels.
Still to come are a reflective garden at the base of the water tower and a smoking ceremony area.
I congratulate everyone involved in this mural, from its inception to completion, and I look forward to the official launch.