New Murals in Gippsland, Yarram bring colour in a tough year!

• Yarram Bakery – Liem

Liem settled in Yarram in 1983 as a refugee after the war from Vietnam. He has never forgotten the welcome he received from the then Fraser Government as a boat person fleeing persecution. He remembers vividly the warm welcome into Australia, people with open arms. “All this time I have worked hard and have been trying to figure out how I can every say thank you in a public way to Australia for taking me in. When Wayne asked me if I would get involved with a painting on the wall of my business, I thought, this is my chance to say thank you Australia. That’s all I wanted. To say thank you.” – Liem, bakery owner.

• The Federal Coffee Palace – Ralph the Bullock Driver

The Federal Coffee Palace has a unique place in the history of Yarram and is highly visible as you come into town from the South. Ralph was the obvious choice to adorn the wall, he was an enormous character and represents the early settlers that made this area what it is today. Ralph took his Bullock Train from Walhalla to Port Albert for the 150th Anniversary of Port which was quite a journey. He even made shoes for the Bullocks out of old car tyres! He also used to bring the Bullocks down from Binginwarri to take part in the Tarra Festival each year. In the early days, some of the Bullock Trains had pairs of 16 which was quite remarkable.

• Drakefords – founder and new owner
  

This mural reflects a transition in the history of this store – which is about to enter a new chapter of life as ‘The Bean Pedlar,’ importing and roasting coffee beans from all over the world. On the right-hand side of the Heesco artwork is Victor Hugo Mattern, one of the sons of Franz Peter Mattern who established the original hardware store in 1887. The other side of the mural shows new owner Robert Drakeford along with his parents dog, a coffee field and coffee beans. In a show of hope, they can’t wait to open ‘The Bean Pedlar’ and hope it will be a new cultural meeting place that conjures memories like Robert had growing up in Yarram as a child.

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  Beta Electronics Building – Kara Healey, first female park ranger

This mural depicts the iconic Corrigan Suspension Bridge at Tarra Bulga National Park. The image of Kara Healey is included on the mural to recognise her important role in the history of Tarra Bulga National Park. Kara came to the Park in 1949 and after the death of her husband Jim, she became the first female park ranger in Victoria in 1952. As well as being the Park caretaker Mrs Healey collected an impressive range of specimens from the Park and sending them to places like the CSIRO and The National Museum of Victoria. The image of the lyrebird is a reminder that the National Park is a home to many native animals. One of the most popular is the Lyrebird and many visitors are lucky enough to see one on the walking trails that intersect the Park.