New mural greets Balaclava Rd

By Caleb Francis

Dec 1, 2022

Happiness: Teachers and students from Dolena Young Kindergarten sitting in front of their new mural, which was painted by George Manioudakis. Photo by Megan Fisher

A new mural has been painted on Dolena Young Kindergarten’s Balaclava Rd-facing wall.

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Kindergarten teacher Paula Gullick said Dolena Young was a “beautiful” kindergarten, but anyone who drove past would not have realised this because of the previously plain façade.

Now, the wall is full of colour.

Wholesome fun: Dolena Young Kindergarten’s mural depicting the facility’s backyard. Photo by Megan Fisher

“This mural shares aspects of our backyard, which is a hidden treasure to those driving past,” Mrs Gullick said.

Mrs Gullick and other educators at the kindergarten brainstormed ideas to make the front of the kindergarten more appealing, and they wanted to share what the backyard space looked like.

In conjunction with artist George Manioudakis, they developed a piece of art that was transformed into a mural.

Mr Manioudakis, who has worked on several murals in Shepparton, said “murals bring a vibrancy to our streets”.

“People are tired of blank spaces,” he said.

The aspects of the kindergarten he incorporated into the mural included its blue fire hydrant, its two chickens and its big tree.

Mrs Gullick thanked parents who helped fundraise for the project, and she commended fellow kindergarten teacher Beth Ivory, who was “instrumental” in initiating the project and contacting Mr Manioudakis.

To find more of Mr Manioudakis’s art, visit his Instagram page @manofdarkness.