A SPRAWLING mural in Golden Square is triggering decades-old memories of life and love in the bush.
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When Terry Jarvis painted the walls outside Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged he wanted to do more than depict beautiful scenery.
“This is not only a painting on a wall but a history of a many people, which I hope will trigger great memories of great lives,” Mr Jarvis said.
The scenes of grazing cattle, lakes and vineyards come directly from conversations between the Bendigo artist and residents of the nursing home – among them his 91 year-old-mother Kathleen.
“Most come from farming backgrounds so when I was looking to trigger memories, it was a no-brainer,” he said.
“Each loved gardening, so I've painted the roses and the gardens they so lovingly tended and the pergolas they walked through... one man used to have a waterfall on his property, so I painted a waterfall.”
The mural was officially opened Wednesday in a ceremony at the memory unit, which cares for those with dementia and memory loss.
One resident, Jean Morton, ran a florist with her daughter Carolyn when she moved to Bendigo as a young mother.
“We both loved flowers and we made that shop quite successful,” she said, standing in a corner of the mural inspired by her.
“What a wonderful experience it was... though of course you don’t realise these things until later on.”
Molly O’Sullivan grew up on a farm in Axedale before marrying and taking on a 1000-acre grazing property in Marong.
“I worked it myself for 18 years after Kevin died,” she said.
“Even though they told me I’d never been able to do it.”
But looking at the painting outside her window, Mrs O’Sullivan was reminded of her childhood.
“Riding horses, milking cows, chasing chooks, looking after the pigs … it’s fantastic,” she said.
Mr Jarvis was invited to paint the retaining walls after a multi-million dollar redevelopment to the Bethlehem Home for the Aged came at the expense of its gardens.
Residents were given new and spacious facilities but many looked out onto a stark, besser block wall.
Mr Jarvis said he had visited residents whose rooms overlooked his mural but who were too frail to come out to the ceremony.
“One man looked out the window and said, ‘excuse me, but I've got to go out and check on my brother’s cows,” Mr Jarvis said.
“Another woman said, ‘it’s going to be a beautiful day, look at that sky.’”
For the more mobile, garden beds and clothes lines have been installed in the courtyard so residents can interact with the mural on a daily basis.
“It was really important that they could walk outside and have this painting encompass them, as they have encompassed the painting,” Mr Jarvis said.
“It’s been a real blessing to help release all these memories.”