HINTERLAND TIMES - Birds in Paradise

The artistic DNA of Maleny’s creative character has recently been expanded, thanks to a stunning new mural painted by extraordinary local artist, Kate Kazony.

by Judy Fredriksen

Originally the brainchild of local pharmacists Marek and Libby Malter, a colourful mural depicting a paradise of hinterland flora and fauna has brought fresh life to the previously drab walls of the laneway between the Maleny Chemist and Maleny Food Co. 

“Last year, Libby and I went on a cycle trip through Christchurch in New Zealand, and they have the most spectacular murals. They did them to lift the town after the earthquake (2011),” explains Marek. 

The Malters were so impressed, they decided a mural would be perfect for Maleny. 

When a mutual friend told them about a fabulous painter – Kate Kazony – the couple met up with Kate at her home. There, featured on a wall in Kate’s home, was a magnificent mural. Instantly the Malters were smitten – they knew they had found the right person to paint a town mural. 

They gave Kate free rein over the concept and Marek continues, “This (mural) has been imagined out of her mind. But she went to the trouble of contacting lots and lots of folk around about which birds would be suitable … (birds) which are from this area.”

And it seems Kate was born to paint birds and animals. 

Growing up on a bush block – in the creative honeypot of Diamond Valley (just northeast of Melbourne) – Kate remembers her grandmother being entrepreneurial and artistic. 

“Some of my earliest memories are of her in a cow paddock, at the easel, painting a cow that was like two metres away from her face, and me sitting next to her at the paint box.

“Grandma had a gallery at the back of her place too, so I got to sort of know Hans Knorr and some of the local artists from that area,” she says. 

After obviously inheriting her grandmother’s flair and attending various art schools, Kate was awarded the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Award for doing an historical depiction in Harrietville, Victoria, at around age 19–20.

And while it may have been her grandmother who first taught her how to hold a brush, it was her father, a scientist and cosmologist, who had an even bigger impact on her artwork. He inspired in her a love of the environment. 

“He was forever taking us outside to look at the stars, look at the changing environments.

Our holidays were always full of Wilsons Prom (Wilsons Promontory National Park) or Northeast Victoria National Parks. Dad was forever taking us to creeks, rivers and mountains, talking about the geology and the tiny creatures.”

Kate went on to work all over the world as a yoga and meditation teacher, before she and her husband settled in Maleny in the early 2000s. She continued to paint, often creating stage backdrops for her daughter who was a dancer, but also became more involved with the local environment, and particularly, environmental education. 

“One of the big things that inspired me was really carrying on my dad’s legacy – which is teaching children that the environment matters and that they can create environments.”

Kate attributes the collective imagination and collaboration of the Maleny community to the success of her unique and meaningful mural, which accurately captures Maleny’s environment. She has had support and input from a wide variety of locals like Barung,

Forest Heart, the Platypus Whisperer, Mary Cairncross, schools, and visitors. 

Even the little girls from the dance studio downstairs would run upstairs and dance around briefly before going back downstairs. They asked Kate to paint some butterflies for them. So she did – the endangered Southern Pink Underwing Butterfly.

Two young boys visit Kate every week, eager to see the snake they have asked her to paint. 

A special needs girl, who visits regularly and helps Kate with the painting, derives much pleasure from her involvement with the artwork.

The images of the local birds – like the regent bower bird, darter bird, pygmy geese, various pigeons, black cockatoos – as well as wallabies, lizards and other creatures, have prompted some interesting conversations among patients as they wait outside the doctor’s surgery. Some of these people have lived locally for over 50 years and have contributed ideas to Kate. 

Blown away by the collective community response, Kate says: “I just want to say how amazing this community is … just how much collaboration there is in Maleny for wildlife … there’s been such a huge collaboration from every level of community groups”.

With all the creatures in the mural being specific to the Maleny area, the absorbing art piece is fast becoming part of the Queensland silos and mural trail. Every day, at least 15 people stop by to watch Kate at work, she says. 

With so much interest in the mural, Kate, Marek and Libby hope to use it as leverage for fundraising to support domestic violence. They see a perfect opportunity to create and sell postcards of the mural. 

In closing, Marek shares, “I’m just delighted that we found Kate. I’ve got to tell you; it has turned out better than anything we’d hoped for.”

We couldn’t agree more, Marek! It’s a true Maleny masterpiece. 

If you would like to check out the mural, it’s located in the laneway between Star Discount Chemist and Maleny Food Co, 25–29 Maple Street, Maleny.