ST ORY B E HIND THE S TR EET AR T
Celebrating 90 Years of Royal Flying Doctor Service
14 / ESPERANCE TIDE / FEBRUARY 2020
BY KARLI FLORISSON
In the centre of Esperance, a new mural has been taking shape. Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the painting can be seen stretching along the Andrew Street wall of the Bankwest building. T HIS M U RA L, P A I N TE D B Y L O C A L A R T IS T P H IL S H ELTON, H AS BEEN S PONS ORED BY LOCAL BU S I NES S ES AND I NDIVIDU A LS. I T I S A L A B O U R O F L O VE C O M M IS SI ONED A ND ORGA NI S ED BY M EM BERS OF TH E ES PERA N CE AUXIL IA RY B RA N C H O F T H E R F D S , C E L E B R AT I N G TH E CA U S E TH AT TH EY H OLD S O DEA RLY . Locals Helen Scott, Rob Horan, and Marilyn Hart are all members of the Esperance Auxiliary Branch of the RFDS, and they make up the sub-committee that has organised the mural. They are passionate about their work with the RFDS and consider the project a great way to share the history of the organisation with the town. After putting out a simple information flyer as well as a small advert in Esperance Tide, the committee was overwhelmed by the response from the Esperance community. Fifty local businesses and individuals contributed money towards the mural, generously funding the entire project with money to spare. Any surplus will go towards general donations to the RFDS, so the mural is already contributing towards keeping the Doctor flying. As Helen states, ‘Phil took the rough ideas that the committee provided and came up with a mural that is beautifully unique. It’s perfect.’
