Arts for All committee member Sharon Evans, Arts for All secretary Christie Molinaro, Arts for All president June Wood, Jimmy Dvate, Cobram Community Enterprise representative Rob Mory, Debbie Dopper, Moira Shire Council community development officer Phillippa Slinger and Regional Arts Victoria community capacity building manager Nikki Ralston.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
With a dip, brush and spray, Cobram’s Mivo Park has turned over a new leaf in its history.
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Families, artists and local dignitaries assembled in the shade of the trees on the morning of Saturday, November 23, to mark the completion of a long-awaited mural on the park’s amenities block.
Community members gathered to listen to Cobram Community Enterprise’s Rob Mory speak about the group’s involvement in the project.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Before the mercury could climb into the high 30s, guests were treated to a buffet of sandwiches and speeches from those involved in the community-led project.
The mural at the park is only the latest in a palette of works spearheaded by local group Arts for All.
Arts for All president June Wood said the group was grateful for the opportunity to undertake the project with visiting artist Jimmy Dvate.
She expressed her gratitude to the community for its support, and said it was a beautiful outcome.
“We were very lucky to have Jimmy come to our town,” she said.
“The realism of Jimmy’s artwork is amazing.
“It’s beautiful. I think people love that, and they can connect with it because they’re local animals too.”
Jimmy Dvate applies the finishing touches to the mural.
Photo by
Owen Sinclair
Plans for the project first surfaced in 2022, when Arts for All revealed it had opened discussions with Moira Shire Council to beautify a public space in Cobram.
And once Mivo Park’s amenities block was nominated earlier this year, the group ran an online survey to learn what the community wished to see on the walls of the building.
Now complete, the mural spans the four walls of the amenities block.
The mural reflects artist Jimmy Dvate’s interest in biodiversity conservation and features the recognisable countenances of several fauna and flora endemic to Australia.
The larger-than-life creation is visible from beyond the borders of the park proper.
The project was driven by Arts for All with the support of a Community Strengthening Grant from Moira Shire Council. Bendigo Bank also supported the project through its Community Enterprise Foundation and funds raised during an Easter raffle by the bank’s Cobram branch.
Now, Arts for All has its eyes cast to the future. The group hopes to continue its mission of installing accessible art across the district.
Mrs Wood said the community had signalled it was keen on the next project by the group.
“We get often asked, after we’ve finished [a mural], ‘What’s the next one?’” she said.
“There’s heaps more that could be done around town.”
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