Friends for Life
Audio description
Text description
Friends for Life
by Kelly Wallwork, 2022
Leichhardt Wanderers Clubhouse, Canal Road
Inner West Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of these lands, the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation.
There are three walls for this artwork painted on the Leichhardt Wanderers clubhouse.
The largest is painted on the weatherboard wall under the clubhouse awning and measures 20 metres wide by 2.5 metres high.
The awning stretches overhead with visible timber struts and is open on either side. The wall is painted cream and has two cream-coloured roller doors. Between the two doors are several large paintings of players and teams. At the far left are the life size figures of two young women playing rugby. Both wear the red, white and black uniforms of the club. They have their back to us. One is standing while the other sits on the ground stretching for the ball. Above them is painted a formal team photo from 1958. Next comes a large single figure of a man bent forwards after kicking the ball The words "celebrating 110 years" are printed underneath. Next is another formal team picture from 1922 partly covered by two players painted over and above it.
Above the central roller door is painted "Friends for Life" in loopy black cursive script.
To the right of the central door is a huddle of young boys wearing red, white and black uniforms. They're standing in a circle with their arms round each other’s shoulders. The coach stands beside them holding a rugby ball high above his head.
Below the mural runs a band of red, white and black horizontal lines.
The second mural is painted on the weatherboards facing the entry to the clubhouse. It measures 6 metres by 2.5 metres and shows a young girl on the left shaking hands with a boy on the right. Both wear Leichhardt Wanderers uniforms. Painted on the wall to the left of them is "Home of the Mighty Leichhardt Wanderers".
The third mural is painted on the side of a black shipping container measuring 4 metres by 2.5 metres and is slightly difficult to make out because of the ridges in the wall of the container. The left half shows a circle of six young female netball players all wearing red, white and black tunics and joining their hands. The right half shows nine young boys standing in a group face-on and carrying cricket gear. The cricketers are loosely painted in white.
All these painted murals demonstrate a long and continuing history of inclusivity and friendship at Leichhardt Wanderers Club.
This artwork was commissioned by Inner West Council through Perfect Match, a program matching artists with community to collaboratively produce site specific street art.
Audio description written by Vision Australia, and voiced by Nas Campanella.