Portarlington Senior Citizens building gets a makeover with new mural

A MURAL celebrating life on the Bellarine Peninsula has been painted on the Portarlington Senior Citizens building by local artist Heather Duff.

The painting, which overlooks the W.G. Little Reserve, was officially launched yesterday (Saturday, January 6) at an event officiated by Bellarine MP Alison Marchant.

Duff she said wanted the mural to be “a joyous piece” that encouraged locals to put “the woes of the world behind them”.

“I’ve lived on the Bellarine, on and off, all my life.

“I’ve seen the Bellarine when it was literally wild… right through to now. It’s just in my skin.

“It’s a very diverse culture now so we made sure that that was represented, but really it’s a celebration of being grateful for where we live.

“It’s a simple message but it also comes from the heart.”

The piece was funded by the Portarlington Community Association (PCA) and the Portarlington Senior Citizens club and took more than five months to complete.

Titled “The Fish Thieves (of Portarlington)”, Duff’s mural is the latest addition to the town’s vibrant public art collection.

It joins, among others, ‘Bellarine Vines’ located beside Portovino wine bar, “Weedy Sea Dragons” beside HIVE homewares on Newcombe Street, and “Native Flora & Fauna” near the Portarlington waterfront.

“For the past four years we have been actively promoting public art in our little town to create a sense of belonging and place attachment,” PCA vice-president Diane Kolomeitz, said.

“As vice-president and the driving force behind the initiative, I have been lucky enough to be successful in writing some grant applications that, together with some fundraising, have funded the art.

“Some other local groups like the Portarlington Neighbourhood House, Port Arts and the Portarlington Senior Citizens have also involved themselves in the initiative.”

To draw inspiration for the mural, local residents were invited to contribute ideas and talk with Duff about what Portarlington meant to them.

The Senior Citizens group was involved in the discussions and fishing was a popular theme.

“Some of the stories were just divine,” Duff said.

“What did come through from all the meetings with senior citizens was just the beautiful sense of escape and that quintessential Aussie dream of getting away on holidays with family and friends and gathering at the beach.

“That’s all I did all my childhood.”

The Portarlington Senior Citizens building is at 65 Newcombe Street, Portarlington.