Public art should be a matter of local pride, say Bomaderry residents.
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And they've put their money where their mouth is. Pride of Bomaderry commissioned a mural by local artist Dr Gillian Rhys.
Chris Neale, chairman of Pride of Bomaderry, said it was part of the group's push to brighten up the suburb, and increase community pride.
"\We've done all the other murals here, and this theme is about how Bomaderry was at the beginning," he said.
"When they first put the rail line through here it was mostly dairy farms, and the railway was to bring produce away from the area.
"We're looking at other themes for other walls in the town, trying to brighten the place up and make it a nice community place."
He said commissioning local artists helped support the community, and came at a lower cost.
Dr Rhys said, love it or loathe it, public art brought the community together.
"We always reflect ourselves through art, and when it's in public, it's right there for people to see and critique," she said.
"Like or not like, it always sparks conversation as well as bringing a bit of brightness."
She said the mural captured a point in time - but included current issues.
"The main cows in the mural are Illawarra shorthorns, and they were bred to be suitable for both meat and dairy," she said.
"Certainly, farming for meat needs to be rethought in Australia as far as our environment goes, so this is historic and current."
She has worked on the mural since mid-Janaury, and said the hours were well worth it.
"So many people walking past are smiling and saying they love the cows, it just makes people feel good," she said.
Pride of Bomaderry will hold an opening for the mural on Saturday, March 16 at 12 noon, with drinks and nibblies.
