New Anzac Mural by Artist Jacob Butler Honors Nurses at Bedingfeld Park Aged Care Facility
Yallingup-based artist Jacob Butler, professionally known as Shakey, has completed a significant wall mural honoring the Anzacs at Bedingfeld Park aged care facility in Pinjarra. Butler, who travels Australia with his family creating murals that tell the stories of communities, was commissioned for this project through the Commonwealth Government's Saluting Their Service program.
A Special and Daunting Commission
"Creating the Bedingfeld Park mural was a pretty special experience but also quite daunting," Butler said. "When the brief is to create an Anzac memorial for the residents, the last thing I wanted to do was make something generic." The artist found direction through conversations with Les Giles from the Pinjarra RSL, who helped steer the focus toward nurses—a fitting choice for a nursing home and an uncommon theme in Anzac memorial artworks.
Research and Community Connection
Bedingfeld Park CEO Zoe Bouwmeester emphasized the extensive research behind the design to ensure it connected to the Pinjarra area and was appropriate for the site. "We are very grateful for the guidance of Pinjarra RSL president Les Giles, whose knowledge and Anzac Day talks helped steer the direction of our unique mural," Ms. Bouwmeester stated. The mural's central figure is a nurse, drawn from historical images of Australian field and tent hospitals, symbolizing care, resilience, and humanity under harsh wartime conditions.
Capturing the Journey from Home to Service
The surrounding scenes depict young men departing home as farm boys, including those linked to the Pinjarra district such as Fairbridge Farm School, crossing the Murray River, and leaving rural life behind. "The idea was to capture that journey, from home to service, and the lasting impact it had on communities like this one," Butler explained. "My hope was that the residents would connect with the scene, and feel a sense of pride and respect for the servicemen and women who gave their lives for Australia."
Resident Involvement and Lasting Impact
One of the most meaningful aspects of the project was involving the residents in painting the field of poppies on the final day. "One of the most meaningful parts of the project was inviting the residents to help paint the field of poppies on the final day, so they can leave their own unique mark," Butler said. "In the end, it turned the artwork into something created with the residents rather than just for them. Hopefully it's something they can stand in front of with their families and say, 'we helped create that'."
Ms. Bouwmeester added, "We're delighted with how the Bedingfeld Anzac mural has come to life. It's absolutely beautiful and we're sure everyone will agree." The mural now stands as a tribute to the Anzacs, particularly highlighting the role of nurses, and serves as a community-created piece that residents can take pride in for years to come.
