By Grace Frost
The Kilmore Mosaic Artisans Group, MAGs, donated a three-panel mosaic as a token of gratitude to Kilmore District Health, KDH.
The mosaic, titled ‘Now and Then’, depicts the history of Kilmore District Health, with reference to a multitude of services, staff, facilities and patients at different stages of life’s health journey.
A team of eight women, led by project coordinator Marina Villani, worked on the project for two years between COVID-19 lockdowns before finally seeing it installed in KDH’s main entrance in July.
Completely unfunded, the artists described the project as representing “a labor of love and appreciation for our very special hospital and its role in our community.”
Ms Villani recalls first contacting Sue Race, then KDH Managing Director, in February 2020 to offer a mosaic as a token of appreciation.
“Sue didn’t hesitate. The foyer unfortunately needed brightening up and we agreed on a three panel mural which would cover an area 1.4 meters high and three meters wide,” Ms Villani said.
“As a group, we wanted to create a piece where people would look, discover, revisit and rediscover.”
Finally seeing the vision come to life, Ms Villani and members of Kilmore MAG say the finished piece reflects the extent of Kilmore Health’s role in the community.
“There are so many details hidden right there in plain sight,” Ms. Villani said.
Kilmore District Health chief executive Arish Naresh said the health organization was grateful to receive the mosaic artwork and display it in the hospital’s main entrance to welcome visitors of the establishment.
“The artwork is a beautiful representation of the evolution of the healthcare system and its importance to the community,” he said.
“The health service exists because of the generosity and leadership of community members who donated their time, effort and gifts such as the artwork we received from Marina.”
‘Now and Then’ is not the first mural produced by the Kilmore MAGs, who first came together in 2017 to create and donate mosaic artwork to the community.
‘Reflections of Kilmore’, completed in December 2018, hangs in Oddfellows Cafe, while the ‘Pyalong Poppies’ mural was donated to the Pyalong Neighborhood House in recognition of their service to the wider community.
Ms Villani said MAG’s latest achievement ‘Now and Then’ reflected the team’s hard work, perseverance and growth as artists.
“The band started out as an enthusiastic gathering of raw learners, but in this latest work you see the skills and accomplishments of five years of unwavering dedication and learning,” she said.
“Now and Then” features mostly glass, with each piece individually cut to size, as well as stone, fused glass detailing, glass photos, murini and embellishments.
Members of Kilmore MAG who produced ‘Now and Then’ under Ms Villani’s direction were Sue Gibbs, Jill Mattei, Joan Grindley, Leanne McKenna, Elaine Findlow, Kerry Nugent and Glenda Farnay.