Three Townsville artists have painted a mural along the Richmond airport terminal building.
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The mural features iconic aspects of Richmond’s history and present industry.
Norah Kersh, grazing in the region since the late 1970s, has designed the mural while daughter and professional photographer, Rosana Kersh is managing the project and artist and writer Alex Christopher will interview locals.
Published children’s book writer and illustrator Norah Kersh says it’s wonderful to be back in Richmond again.
“Seeing the open downs country and hearing the bird noises at sunset – I’m home again,” Norah said. “I’m excited to be painting here again – it’s a special place to me as I raised my children here.”
Norah said she set to work as soon as she knew she was coming to do the project.
“Papers scattered on my floor back in Hervey’s Range – lots of ideas, sketches and drawings, that I eventually translated to bits of tin I had lying around as that’s the surface of the wall outside the airport terminal,” she said.
“I kept things from my memory of living here: the Artesian Bore and the Flinders River. I want the painting to be emblematic of the town.”
Rosana Kersh, who grew up on Bora, a sheep and cattle station, will document the painting through photos.
“It’s great that the council wanted Mum to paint the mural. It’s relevant for her to paint it,” Rosana said.
“There’s icons of the area: its history of an inland sea, of dinosaurs, of Aboriginal heritage, of the industries here. The painting includes symbols that represent aspects of the region and the colours are really true to the landscape here.”
Alex Christopher is coming to the project with fresh eyes having never been to the town. “I grew up near Richmond in NSW, and my partner goes for the Richmond Tigers, so I feel somewhat of a local,” Alex said.
“I was so excited to see the expansive landscape when I first arrived and was caught up in the vast dramatic clouds above the straw coloured plains.”
“I’m looking forward to painting icons of a town I will grow to know more intimately over the week; and to meeting the locals and interviewing them.
“When we scoped out the wall for us to paint there was a vivid rainbow – a good omen I thought for the beginning of the painting project.”
Richmond Shire Council CEO Peter Bennett, said they were appreciative of Norah for agreeing to come home for this project.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
