Collie’s latest work of art was officially unveiled on Friday, when Aboriginal custodian Joe Northover shared a heartfelt storytelling of the people whose images were featured in a new lifelike mural painted in town.
The mural, which adorns the front wall of the Collie Shire offices on Throssell Street, features the faces of historical figures Jimmy and Mary Meares, Ray Davis and his F father Mr Davis, and Jack Slaven and his wife.
It was an emotional day for Mr Northover, who told the crowd of attendees he was proud to see the work come together after so much effort by those involved.
He added having a mural in Collie which honoured Aboriginal people from history played an important role in remembering the rich cultural heritage of the area.
“Our people have been immortalised, and so we can remember them, and they look down upon us as we go past,” he said.
“It’s a wonderful thing now for this to happen and to be here, on the centre stage of this community… on the building that represents the Shire of Collie."
The day also marked the launch of a series of events that will take place over the next 12 months, which uses the 125th anniversary of Collie’s Gazettal as an opportunity to celebrate the town’s rich and diverse history before and since European settlement, and to look ahead to its future.
A total of $100,000 in funding from the Collie Futures Small Grants Program will assist the Shire of Collie to bring together a program of existing and new events celebrating Collie under the Kaya Collie – Celebrating our Past, Sharing our Future banner.
To find out more about the Collie Mural Trail – which now includes more than 40 murals and continues to grow – visit www.colliemuraltrail.com.
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