A once plain brown shed wall at Mary Carroll Wetland has been transformed into a colourful mural celebrating the wildlife, plants and people who care for the popular wetland.
The artwork, painted by local artist Massiel, was unveiled last week with support from the City of Gosnells through its grants program.
Massiel said the mural was inspired by the wetland itself and the volunteers who spend their time caring for it.
“The inspiring was us working here. Well, the park mostly, and every time that we came to work, we enjoy what we’re doing,” she said.
“When we were walking, I was taking pictures… and then I tried to pull both together. So if you walk around the park, you will see all everything in the picture.”
The mural features parts of the wetland’s landscape, native plants, birds, fungi and volunteers at work.
Massiel said she hoped the mural would encourage people to care for the environment.
“Everyone needs to take care of our environment,” she said.
“If you come here, try to enjoy the walk and take care of our park too.”
She said the project took about two to three weeks to complete, working on it mostly on Tuesdays when she had spare time.
Massiel, who describes art as a hobby rather than a job, said she felt proud seeing her work permanently displayed.
“I feel proud of myself and to be part of this group,” she said.
She said public art could help inspire people to look after nature.
“It can show the native plants that we have and we need more plants,” she said.
“If you take care of them, we are going to have more not just the plants, but the animals, birds, insects… all are important for our environment.”
Friends of Mary Carroll Wetlands chairperson Unice Robinson said the idea came after Massiel showed the group one of her paintings.
“She was so lovely. I thought, yeah, we could take away all that brown and give us a beautiful picture, something nice when people come into the car park,” she said.
Ms Robinson said the group sent a photo of the proposed artwork to the mayor and chief executive, who approved the idea.
She said grant funding from the City of Gosnells was important in making the project happen.
“We haven’t got the funds ourselves, so we did need to have a grant,” she said.
She said the mural was more than decoration.
“It does really have all the aspects of our wetland in it,” she said.
Long-time member Jan said the group had wanted artwork on the shed wall for a long time.
“We’re so very, very proud of the wetland, and we all understand the importance of the wetland, and we all want to share the wetland,” she said.
Jan said she hoped the mural would encourage more people to explore beyond the nearby all-abilities playground.
“A lot of people come because of the new, wonderful facilities here,” she said.
“But then, as they walk from the car park there, they think, ‘Oh, well, there’s more here than just the playground.’”
She said the mural had become a talking point among visitors.
“You get total strangers who will stand in front of the mural and start talking about it to other total strangers,” she said.
Jan described the wetland as a place full of life and change throughout the year.
During autumn and winter, volunteers plant local indigenous plants. In warmer months, they spend their time watering and weeding to help young plants survive.
The group also picks up rubbish, talks with visitors and helps educate school groups and community organisations.
“Eunice is really big on education,” Jan said.
“We have lots of interaction with school groups… and big companies like Rio Tinto.”
Jan said the mural captured the heart of the wetland.
“Mary Carroll Wetland is a basin which holds water. Some years it dries up,” she said.
“When the water is here, it attracts all sorts of birds. The bird life is amazing.”
She said the group especially looks forward to seeing swans arrive and breed each year, while also enjoying visits from black cockatoos, ibis and many species of ducks.
“It’s a way of sharing the wetland with all the people who come here,” she said.
“It adds colour, life. And we are also very proud of Massiel.”
The mural now welcomes visitors as they enter the car park, offering a bright first glimpse into the natural beauty and community spirit of Mary Carroll Wetland.
