Benjamin Millar
Taylors Lakes artist Mandi Barton has worked her colourful magic to create a giant platypus mural at Amazon’s new fulfilment centre in Ravenhall.
Amazon recently opened the centre with a Welcome to Country, traditional smoke ceremony and unveiling of the mural by Barton, a proud Yorta Yorta woman.
Ms Barton, who has been an artist for more than 20 years, said the mural is part of her move into the “wellbeing” space over recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
“Last year was just that turning point where I just needed to put my art in the wellbeing space, trying to find a way to create an impact on people’s wellbeing without them having to participate too much,” she said.
“It’s about having artworks which communities can resonate with.”
Ms Barton said the platypus mural is symbolic of the role Amazon plays in the distribution of goods over a vast area.
“What I do as an artist is I look at what the platypus represents and how that aligns with Amazon,” she said.
“And so throughout the story there is connections and having relationships and collaborations and engaging with others, and the travel across land and communities.
“It’s me telling that story of that how that aligns with them and how it creates that feeling… I really just like finding ways to make people feel good and safe in a space.”
The new fulfilment centre in Ravenhall is more than doubling Amazon’s footprint in Victoria, providing around 300 new jobs.
Critical role trainer Nick Carroll said after no longer being able to work as an airline pilot due to the pandemic, he was given the opportunity to work at Amazon’s first Melbourne fulfilment centre in Dandenong South.
“With the launch of Amazon’s second fulfilment centre in Ravenhall, I’ve been able to be promoted from an associate role to my permanent current role as Critical Role Trainer,” he said.
“Working at Amazon has been rewarding, being able to work as part of a team that ensures we can make lots of Aussies happy when they receive their packages.”
