A PLAN in February by the Sawyers Valley Residents and Ratepayers Association (SVRRA) to paint the town water tank has come to fruition with the completion of a mural reflecting local flora and fauna, the town’s timber history and an ANZAC memorial by Mount Helena artist Tayla Beynon.

SVRRA President and project coordinator Jen Schwagereit said the Shire of Mundaring provided great support by taking on the necessary preparation work on the very old concrete tank to ensure the stability and longevity of the mural for years to come.

“The 50-year-old-tank was leaking and flaking paint so it was sanded back and repainted, the shire will also be applying an anti-graffiti coating,” she said.

“The project aims to reflect the well-known wildlife that locals love to see in everyday life as well as the local flora with the banksia grandis and spider orchid.”

The ANZAC memorial seen from the east side is a tribute to the six local men who fought in both World Wars and never returned home.

“We have a historical portrait of local man Robert Kent who was a sleeper hewer and firewood contractor in the early 1900s. He also enlisted in WWI and was part of a large early pioneer family,” she said.

She said grants were obtained from the Mundaring Community Bendigo bank and the Shire of Mundaring, without these grants such projects could not be undertaken.

“The Bendigo Bank gave the biggest share – $7500 which is what we were quoted for the flora and fauna and the ANZAC part which was actually the reason for starting the mural,” she said.

“Then members wanted a historical element,  so our two councillors John Daw and David Grills advised us to approach the shire for an additional $3000 to add the timber worker and his horse – horses also being an important part of hills life.”

The SVRRA’s next project is to plant more native shrubs along the Great Eastern Highway.

The shire has recently upgraded the reticulation on the oval and extended it to water the verge plants as well.

The association also plans to add an information sign next to the mural to highlight the pioneer families in the area and to acknowledge the former existence of their old hall which stood on that site from 1914 to 1970.