A wall mural at the Tungamah Information Centre has become the most recent addition to the Murray Silo Art movement.
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The Tungamah Silo was the first to be painted in Northeast Victoria by Sobrane who is the first Australian female silo artist in February 2018.
This has led to the establishment of the Melbourne to the Murray Silo Art Trial that currently has six silos with five located within a short drive from Yarrawonga.
The Silo Art Movement has been responsible for the transformation and rejuvenation of not only silos but also turning walls and other objects into street art.
Local painter Riley Milbourne was commissioned by the Tungamah KickStart Group to paint a large-scale artwork to transform the front wall of the information centre.
The Tungamah Kickstart Committee was formed in September 2017 by the Tungamah community and Moira Shire Council to complete projects in Tungamah for the community, with the ultimate goal of building a small Splash Park in the Boyd St Park.
The Tungamah Information Centre opened in March 2021 operated 100% by volunteers in an unused building owned by Moira Shire and leased to the Kickstart Committee which is located close to the Silo Art Trail.
Mr Milbourne’s work has turned the old unused Maternal Health care centre into a vibrant visual art display featuring water and birds, some of the unique features of Tungamah. This is the second piece of art at the centre with Sobrane painting a sunflowers and birds mural in 2022.
The major cost of art projects is the paint, and this is where the local Bunnings Store in Yarrawonga was able to support by suppling spray paint and a tin of undercoat, so Mr Milbourne was able to complete the mural.
Bunnings Yarrawonga Activities Organiser Tim Roadley who assisted Mr Milbourne with paints and painting products said that the wall art rejuvenates the area.
“I’ve lived in this district for close to 35 years and understand the importance of our community having vibrant public spaces with the Silo Art Movement and its associated Street Art Murals helping to rejuvenated towns like ours,” Mr Roadley said.
“Bunnings is proud to be supporting the project and local artists in a small way that contributes to the people and communities we live in.”
The Silo Art roadtrip attracts many visitors to the centre for information on the silo art and what is in the area.
The volunteers at the centre also sell souvenirs, gifts, locally made crafts and products.
The committee raises funds from Bunnings sausage sizzles, football/netball gates plus the support of local businesses, raising over $30,000 so far incredible for a small town of about 420 residents.
The Kickstart Committee have a Family Fun Day in March each year with the third one coming up in March 2024, made possible by a grant from Moira Shire and run by volunteers.
This is a totally free event providing a BBQ, coffee, snow cones, fairy floss, jumping castle, water slide and trackless train for kids with 300 plus people attending each year.