Cunningham Downs Mural

Mural Unveiled at Cunningham Downs

Students and staff from St Joseph’s College joined residents of Cunningham Downs Retirement Village on Friday 27 June to unveil a vibrant new mural – an artwork that embodies creativity, shared history and a powerful collaboration between generations.

Now proudly displayed in the village’s communal hall, the mural is the result of a unique partnership between the Year 9 Design class  and the Cunningham Downs Hall Committee.

Over several months, students worked closely with residents to design and paint the large-scale piece, which reflects the rich history of Echuca Moama.

Under the guidance of St Joseph’s Arts Learning Leader Allison O’Brien, the project invited students to respond to a real-world design brief: to create an artwork that would bring colour, joy and a sense of identity to the shared space.

“This wasn’t just an art task – it was an experience rooted in empathy, connection and purpose,” Mrs O’Brien said at the unveiling.

“Students consulted directly with residents, designed with intent and painted with care – often outside of class time.”

Mrs O’Brien noted that the students were very conscious of depicting the landscape of Yorta Yorta Country with care and respect for the Traditional Owners, while also reflecting on the early years of Cunningham Downs, drawing on stories shared by residents throughout the design process.

“The result is not only a beautiful work of art, but a testament to what’s possible when young people are trusted with meaningful, collaborative work.”

Bob Baker, President of the Residents Committee, first approached the school with the idea and both he and his wife Beth, who have been living at Cunningham Downs for six years, are absolutely thrilled with the end result. 

“We’d been staring at this big blank wall, and I thought – how wonderful would it be to see some great artwork there,” Mr Baker said.

“With that idea in mind, we reached out to St Joseph’s College to see if their students might be interested in taking it on as a project as we already had a connection with them through some previous projects. 

“We were lucky to receive a generous donation from the Moama Bowling Club to help cover the costs, and from there, things really took off. 

“Watching the students bring this vision to life has been such a joy. Their talent and energy – it’s given residents something to talk about and a reason to get out of the house. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed building this relationship with the school, which will leave a lasting mark on our community.”

Beyond its visual impact, the mural project offered genuine wellbeing benefits for all involved. 

Residents enjoyed the liveliness and conversation sparked by students working onsite, while the students themselves developed not just design skills, but empathy, confidence and a greater understanding of the role of public art.

Year 9 student Ben McRae said the design aspect of the project was a highlight.

“It was really interesting to work through the process of agreeing on a design with the residents,” he said. 

“For us to be able to have a say and be appreciated for our work – it felt really rewarding.”

“This mural has become so much more than paint on a wall,” Mrs O’Brien added.

“It’s a shared achievement, a cross-generational connection, and a powerful example of how art can unite and uplift a community.”