Council consulted with YYNAC, with its board of Elders determining they would like to recognise two significant Yorta Yorta female Elders in a new mural, being the late Aunty Violet Harrison and late Aunty Mary James. Both ladies are highly regarded local Yorta Yorta Elders and were heavily involved in supporting the local Aboriginal community and abroad.
The mural on the GVW wall, overlooking the CBD, will be painted by returning artist Matt Adnate who has also painted the murals on the GVW walls on Fryers Street and Stewart Street and the DHHS wall on Welsford Street. Matt Adnate is highly regarded amongst the local Aboriginal community due to his previous work and positive dealings within the region.
Mayor, Cr Kim O’Keeffe, said she was excited that the next mural of the Aboriginal Street Art Project would recognise a further two significant female Aboriginal leaders.
“We always get excited when a new piece of artwork is being introduced to our municipality that continues to recognise the efforts of the local Aboriginal community,” she said.
Local Yorta Yorta Elder Uncle Lance James, who is the son of Aunty Mary James, said that he was thrilled that both ladies were deservedly being recognised.
“Both Mum (Mary James) and Aunty Violet dedicated a significant portion of their lives to various local initiatives to support our community and they would both be humbled by the honour of featuring in a mural as part of this great project,” he said.
GVW has kindly offered their wall on Welsford Street for this mural given their ongoing support for both the Aboriginal Street Art Project and the Aboriginal community the project continues to recognise.
For more information on the Aboriginal Street Art project, please visit our Aboriginal Street Art project page.
More information regarding Aunty Violet Harrison
Aunty Violet Harrison was born on 24 January 1906 at the Cummeragunja Mission and was the mother to 13 children. She was one of the founding members of the Rumbalara Cooperative, one of the founding members of what was at the time the Shepparton Aboriginal Keeping Place and a long standing member of the Greater Shepparton Aboriginal community.
More information regarding Aunty Mary James
Aunty Mary James was born on 5 October 1913 at the Cummeragunja Mission and was the mother to 14 children. She was one of the founding members of the Rumbalara Cooperative, one of the founding members of the Shepparton Aboriginal Funeral Fund, one of the founding members of the Community Care Program through the Methodist Church, a member of the Rumbalara Housing Board, one of the founding members of the Shepparton Justice and Police Liaison Unit and one of the founding members of what was at the time the Shepparton Aboriginal Keeping Place.
