Every brushstroke was a step toward healing

Every brushstroke was a step toward healing… and I’m absolutely thrilled to finally share this mural with you all!

I can’t even describe how much joy this journey has brought me. From the very first splash of paint to the final detail, I loved every single moment—especially because I got to create it side by side with my beautiful friend and incredibly talented artist, Mel Heatley. Mel, you’re not just an artist with magic hands—you’re family to me.

This mural was never just another art project. It became something much deeper—a safe place where I could quiet the noise in my head, let my heart speak through every colour and every brushstroke, and tell stories that matter. Stories of resilience, connection, and hope.

After having my stroke, there was a time I didn’t know if I’d ever feel like “me” again. It was art that lit the path back. It was colour, movement, and the sheer act of creating that helped me heal—body, mind, and spirit. This mural became my therapy, my medicine, my joy.

And I didn’t do it alone. To my family—thank you for holding me up. To Mel—thank you for standing beside me with every brushstroke. And to every single person who cheered us on, visited,

Mel Heatley Artist

or simply shared a kind word—you lifted me higher than you’ll ever know.

A massive thank you to Modbury Bunnings for your generosity—you went above and beyond to make this possible. Huge love to Modbury Hospital and SPARC for believing in this vision and trusting us to bring it to life.

And most of all—to the beautiful team at NALHN, especially those at the Specialist Ambulatory and Rehabilitation Centre (SPARC) at Modbury Hospital—you gave me hope when I needed it most. This mural exists because of you, and it’s for you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Celebrating launch 10 July 2025—it’s more than a mural. It’s a story of healing, friendship, and community. And we can’t wait to share it with you.