{"id":56106,"date":"2025-04-28T00:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T00:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/56106\/"},"modified":"2025-04-28T00:34:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T00:34:11","slug":"gold-mine-mural-by-artist-vondelini-a-powerful-mental-health-message-for-fifo-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/56106\/","title":{"rendered":"Gold mine mural by artist Vondelini a powerful mental health message for FIFO workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Brisbane-based artist Vondelini, the blank surface of a 16-metre-high tank at Evolution Mining’s Mungari Gold Mine in Western Australia was too good to pass up.<\/p>\n

“I was working there as a fitter \u2026 and I walked past this tank every day for like four months,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Every day, it looked back at me.<\/p>\n

“I was like, ‘Man, that’s the best canvas that you could ask for.'”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Vondelini was inspired by the blank canvas the tank offered. (ABC Goldfields: Macey Turner)<\/p>\n

Vondelini joked with a construction manager that he could paint the tank.<\/p>\n

“He came back to me four or five days later and he was like, ‘Do you have any ideas?'” he said.<\/p>\n

Having been given the green light Vondelini wasn’t going to miss the chance to spread his important message.<\/p>\n

“It’s essentially a reason for the guys to go home,” he said.<\/p>\n

“Everybody’s isolated, we’re away for like three weeks at a time, sometimes you just need that prompt to go, ‘That’s why I’m going home.'”<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The mural says “Family, you’re not alone” in order to remind workers they will be home soon. (ABC Goldfields: Macey Turner)<\/p>\n

After three months of planning and six days of painting involving 1,000 spray cans, the mural was complete.<\/p>\n

“A week after I painted it, we all received a message that someone had not [died by] suicide because of the message that’s on the picture there,” Vondelini said.<\/p>\n

“It’s paid for itself. There’s a guy walking around that’s still alive because of this.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Vondelini was invited to speak at Evolution Mining’s Mungari mill opening, along with managing director Lawrie Conway. (ABC Goldfields: Macey Turner)<\/p>\n

‘The number one factor’<\/p>\n

In 2024, a University of Western Australia (UWA) and MATES in Construction study found those working in fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) and drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) roles were at a much higher risk of having suicidal thoughts than the rest of the population<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you or anyone you know needs help:<\/p>\n