![CONNECTED: Kumarah Green [centre] with her daughter Nayeli Green and grandmother Aunty June Rose, who are both depicted in Adnate's new mural on Stewart Avenue. Picture: Jonathan Carroll CONNECTED: Kumarah Green [centre] with her daughter Nayeli Green and grandmother Aunty June Rose, who are both depicted in Adnate's new mural on Stewart Avenue. Picture: Jonathan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/phoebe.moloney%40fairfaxmedia/9d780451-9a25-41bb-b97a-d08bea8d3faf.jpg/r0_265_5184_3456_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Cameron Park’s Kumarah Green says Newcastle’s latest piece of public art depicts the “kindred spirit” shared between her 20-month-old daughter Nayeli and 82-year-old grandmother, Aunty June Rose.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
“My nan is very wise, but she has a very youthful spirit, very playful,” Ms Green said. “I hope people can see the connection they have.
“I hope nothing more than Nayeli grows up to be just like her.”
Revitalising Newcastle commissioned Melbourne artist Matt “Adnate” Last to create a mural on the corner of Stewart Avenue and Hunter Street. The 25 metre long, 6.5 metre high wind wall forms part of the ongoing Newcastle Bus and Coach Interchange development.
![CAPTURING TIME: Melbourne artist Matt Last, known as "Adnate", and Aunty June Rose in front of her portrait. Picture: Jonathan Carroll CAPTURING TIME: Melbourne artist Matt Last, known as "Adnate", and Aunty June Rose in front of her portrait. Picture: Jonathan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/phoebe.moloney%40fairfaxmedia/293fffff-5e98-4660-a1a9-9dbed0628d6f.jpg/r0_0_5184_2926_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The artwork, unveiled on Sunday, is located just a few blocks from another mural Mr Last completed in 2013, on Hannell Street.
Mr Last said the concept behind the new work was “the passing on of culture, generation to generation”, as well as recognising the decades of volunteer service Ms Rose has performed as one of the founders of the Awabakal Newcastle Aboriginal Co-Operative.
Ms Rose, of Fletcher, said the painting was “absolutely beautiful”.
“I’m surprised he managed to get something out of this old face,” she said.
The work incorporated elements from the art of Raymond Kelly Jnr, Ms Rose’s grandson, with blues and greens representing the combination of lakes, rivers and ocean in the Newcastle area.
![UNVEILING: Members of Aunty June Rose's family with Matt Last at the unveiling of the mural on Sunday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll UNVEILING: Members of Aunty June Rose's family with Matt Last at the unveiling of the mural on Sunday. Picture: Jonathan Carroll](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/phoebe.moloney%40fairfaxmedia/a5c5b747-e94a-4bc9-ae4e-a9dbfc69a976.jpg/r0_23_5184_3341_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The word “Thirrilmun” means Brown Treecreeper, a type of woodpecker, in the language of the people of the Hunter Valley and Lake Macquarie. The bird is a women’s spiritual totem.
The main totem of the area, the eagle, is also depicted.
“It recognises the important role mothers and grandmothers play in our culture, the importance of women, aunties and sisters,” Ms Green said.
Many passersby remarked on Aunty June Rose’s eyes in the mural.
Her irises contain a beach scene, in reference to the birthplace of the 82-year-old’s earliest-known ancestor, a woman named Mary. Ms Rose said records show she was delivered on Newcastle’s foreshore in 1812.
Related stories: