Original Goulburn Park mural artist keen to see light show illuminate her work

She had started her mural painting career about five years before creating that one.

Living in Avenel at the time and known as Diane Laverie, Ms Grant designed and painted a mural on the toilet block in Jubilee Park before its 150th celebrations in 1988.

“I received council approval to paint it,” she said.

“Local councillor Max Green lived over the road and he told me liked the first part I did of a shearing shed. It faced his house.

“My son Matthew Laverie and one of my Avenel Youth Group girls, Kim Hayes, helped me paint it. It took some weeks to do in rain, hail and shine.

“It wasn’t painted over in the 2010s, but eventually the Strathbogie Shire wanted to build a new toilet block and the old mural was history.

“When I moved to Nagambie, as Diane Grant in 2001, the Nagambie Primary School wanted to teach some of the Year 6 children how to paint.

“John Knights from Avenel, who was a teacher there, said he knew just the lady to do that.

“So, I was co-opted to design and teach and paint a mural on the tin toilet block in the school grounds in the early 2000s.”

From November 1993 to November 1994, the newly formed Rural City of Seymour celebrated 150 years since the town was named.

“A 150th committee was formed to organise major celebration events,” Ms Grant said.

One member of the 150th committee was John Phoenix. He suggested that a mural be painted on the soundshell wall to commemorate the 150 years of Seymour’s past and present history.

“No artist or signwriter was interested, so the task was left in the hands of myself,” Ms Grant said.

“I co-opted friends Beverly and Alan Kilpatrick to step into overalls and splash around some paint.

“We began work with our first brush strokes in early October 1993, one month before the 150th birthday bash was to begin the celebrations at the park.

“Like me, Bev was a keen dabbler in paint and craft, while Alan, who had just retired from the army, was given a large portion of the lift and carry tasks.

“He was also unable to resist smearing paint all over public property and, according to Bev and I, he developed an apt touch with the brush.”

In 1993, the trio did an exceptional job in the short timeframe.

“I even worked some nights up a ladder to do the high parts on the walls,” Ms Grant said.

“I also co-opted other wannabe graffiti artists, young James Roberts and Luke Martin, to have a go.

“And on Melbourne Cup day 1993, local dentist and Apexian Paul Lejins and his wife Glenys enthusiastically joined in the paint job.

“We all helped create the unique mural that stands there today.

“Is it graffiti? No. It is a visible labour of love and pride in Seymour.”

By 2015, the park had undergone major changes, but the mural remained.

“When Mitchell Shire Council was upgrading Goulburn Park, I heard about it and the mayor and councillors asked if I could be involved in the restoration of the mural,” Ms Grant said

“The shire supported me and provided paint, brushes and scaffolding equipment for the major overhaul of the mural.

“They also assisted the project by painting the ceiling of the soundshell blue, which encouraged me to blend in a sky scene higher on the walls.

“From May, and over the winter, the mural was given a major facelift by the original designer, me and my two original co-opted friends, Bev and Alan Kilpatrick.

“I also co-opted the talents of Bob Eaton and Val Crerar, Nagambie artists, to help repaint the mural.”

Ms Grant also recruited Renee Clarke from the Seymour and District Art Society, as well as some members of the U3A art group.

“The mural revamp project became, once again, a labour of love, with over 100 hours of painting done by us all. Rain, hail and shine did not deter us,” she said.

In late 2015, then Mitchell Shire Mayor Sue Marstaeller met with Di and some of the artists to thank them for their valuable work.

The result is obvious for all to see in 2026.

“Thanks to all the shire work personnel who have made Goulburn Park shine once again as one of the town’s main beauty spots and who keep the soundshell and Goulburn Park well maintained each year,” Ms Grant said.

Visitors and locals are encouraged to go down and enjoy the beauty of Goulburn Park, have a picnic or barbecue, use it for a wedding or family reunion and take a look at the revamped mural that celebrated Seymour’s 150th celebrations.

It is a great backdrop for the annual Carols by Candlelight program each December as well.

“When I’ve visited the park, I have seen many people admiring it, and they like listening to me explain how it came about,” Ms Grant said.

“I believe this lovely park area is underutilised but look forward to seeing it lit on June 20 when the Mitchell Shire hosts Lights on the Goulburn.”