Some projects brighten a wall and some brighten an entire community.
Bexley Public School’s national win in the 2025 Paint Australia Beautiful People’s Choice Award has done both. Their mural, “Our Living Country”, has captured hearts right across Australia, gathering more than 2100 votes and demonstrating what happens when culture, creativity and collaboration come together.
Our Tempe store supplied the paint that helped bring this beautiful artwork to life and we’re so proud to have played even a small role in such a meaningful moment.
The award sits within the Paint Australia Beautiful program, run by Keep Australia Beautiful and supported by Haymes Paint. With finalists representing every state and territory, the competition was strong, but Bexley’s mural stood out for its story, spirit and message.
Let’s start with the mural that stole Australia’s heart
This mural feels like a real journey painted across a wall. It brings together the past, the present and the future through three flowing panels full of colour and story.
- The past panel honours Aboriginal culture and the deep connection to Country.
- The present panel shows children caring for their environment together.
- The future panel features a tree of life that symbolises renewal and shared hope.
Local plants, animals and the serpent move across the panels, joined by sustainability messages that encourage future generations to protect what they have.
Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 worked on the artwork with the guidance of artist and school parent, Tamara Pottier. She spoke about the joy of watching the children bring the mural to life and the excitement it sparked in them.
That feeling is painted right into the wall.
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How a school mural became a community story
There is something special about art made by many hands. It becomes a shared experience and a point of connection for everyone who sees it.
Keep Australia Beautiful praised the mural for its storytelling and its strong environmental message.
Haymes Paint highlighted how important it is to support creative spaces where young people can express themselves freely.
Families, teachers and the local community have embraced this project, not just as an artwork, but also as a reminder of the values they share. It demonstrates how creativity can bridge cultures, environments, and communities in the most natural way.
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Our quiet part in a very colourful achievement
Our Tempe store provided the paint that helped this mural take shape, with materials donated through our partnership with Haymes Paint.
Their colours are renowned for their depth and durability, which is exactly what a school mural needs to remain vibrant through the weather and the whirlwind days of school life.
We see this as a small but meaningful contribution. After all, when initiatives that bring community, culture and creativity together in a project like this, we’re always excited to support it in any way we can.
A wall that will stay with students long after they leave
The mural will outlast the graduation years of all of the students who created it; and that is part of its magic.
- It will carry the unique memory of their teamwork and imagination.
- It honours culture and environmental care in a way they can see every day.
- It leaves a legacy for future students who will walk past it and feel connected to its story.
Winning a national award gives the artwork an extra level of significance. It shows that the message the students painted resonates far beyond the school grounds.
A win worth celebrating and a future worth following
Bexley Public School has created something joyful, thoughtful and lasting. The entire community should feel proud. We certainly do! It has been a privilege for our Tempe store to support a project that brings so much heart to the area.
If seeing projects like these sparks ideas of your own, our team is always happy to help you explore what’s possible. Whether you are imagining a small touch-up or dreaming up something much bigger, we can guide you on finishes, colours and textures that suit your space and the way you live.
Your creative ideas don’t (and shouldn’t) need to stay as saved pins or sketches on a wish list. When you’re ready, Network Render and Paint can help you bring them to life in a way that feels simple, achievable and personal.
Here’s to more community colour, more local creativity and more stories painted!
Reach out to Network Render and Paint today and let’s turn your ideas into a stunningly colourful reality.