THE faces of two Wimmera children will be forever painted in history as part of the Silo Art Trail.
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Horsham’s Curtly McDonald, 9, and Savannah Marks, 2, feature on the now completed silos at Sheep Hills.
International artist Adnate painted the Indigenous-themed mural, which represents the passing of knowledge from generation to generation.
The silo will be one of six completed in the region as part of Yarriambiack Shire’s Silo Art Trail.
The children feature on the silos with Wimmera Elders Ron Marks and Regina Hood.
Curtly’s mother Tammy McDonald said her son was so excited to be included in the painting.
“He went to school on Friday and told everyone he was on a silo,” she said.
“He was so fascinated by the whole process.
“We went up to Sheep Hills one day and Curtly had a chat to Adnate and asked him how he had done the painting – and that was before he knew he would be on there.”
Mrs McDonald said Adnate took photos of a range of children, but they didn’t know who would be chosen to be in the final design.
“We were waiting on the edge of our seats to find out,” she said.
“We didn’t know it would be Curtly until the first photo went up of his face, before it was finished. His image has been altered slightly but I knew straight away it was him.”
Mrs McDonald said it was a special honour because the mural would be there for many years to come.
“It’s great they chose people who are part of our area and actively involved in the community,” she said.
Savannah’s father Lachlan Marks said his daughter was still too young to understand her achievement.
“Her and about three other children had their photos taken to be on the silo,” he said.
“We were so surprised that she got picked – I’m pretty speechless about the whole thing.
“A few kids had their photos taken, so we knew she had a chance, but we didn’t know for sure.”
Mr Marks said it was great to see young children from the region up on the silos.
Future silos will be painted at Lascelles, Roseberry and Rupanyup.
Silos at Brim and Patchewollock are already complete.
Member for Mallee Andrew Broad said the completed silos have already shown how a creative project could transform an area and its community and ignite exciting conversations.
“The Silo Art Trail have already attracted thousands of regional, interstate and international visitors to the region since the Brim silos were completed in December last year,” he said.
