“It went well, and it was nice and warm inside the clubhouse,” said local artist Belinda Laurie.  

Mrs Laurie spent two months creating a large mural for the wall of the Nowendoc Tennis Club as part of the renovation.

“The Nowendoc Tennis Club asked me to create a mural depicting life in our community,” she said. “I worked during winter in the old fire shed. It has been an exciting and mammoth project comprising five panels mounted onto the side of the clubhouse. This is the largest piece of work that I have done, and I have been delighted by the response.”

Mrs Laurie said she wanted to show an overview of Nowendoc and capture its unique character. 

“The hardest part was fitting everything into the painting that I wanted to depict and keeping perspective,” she said. 

“The Thunderbolts Way provided a link to the Village. The Rodeo Ground is there with some of its activities shown as well as the school, tennis club, shop, church, police station and hall. Most importantly I wanted to show our amazing wildlife and the farming landscape.” 

Mrs Laurie completed a small study first before tackling the large-scale painting. 

“That small work is now inside the club,” she said. “The Tennis Club members wanted to have the mural on the outside of the clubhouse to give it prominence and to act as a point of interest for tourists. I am grateful for their support and encouragement.”

The painting is painted with exterior house paint onto plywood, and varnished to protect it from the weather. 

“I am amazed that it is finished and thrilled that everyone loves it,” Mrs Laurie said. 

“I have been painting predominantly landscapes and animals and have been working away consistently for about five years. It feels great to do something I enjoy and give back to this community. Thank goodness I still like it after all this effort!