Rochester Mural Festival.
Bendigo Bank is our major sponsor
The 2026 murals
Theme: "The Power of Small Moments"
Stand 1
Steve and Carole Monk “Float like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee”
The word “small” in the mural has a twofold meaning. A small instance or occurrence together with a small creature; a bee, landing on a finger, make up the sum of the parts; a bee sting. A pin prick; an extremely painful, powerful moment causing intense prolonged pain by the tiniest of creatures.
​
Stand 2.
Marco Pennacchia "Under the Lamp's Gentle Glow"
​This painting honours the intimate magic within everyday stillness. A woman reading beneath warm light invites us to pause and notice the delicate moments we often overlook, revealing how simple, quiet experiences can deeply shape our thoughts, our memories and our inner world.
Stand 3.
Gren Freeman “Quiet Exhale”
Stopping to tie your shoelace and taking a moment to feel
the rejuvenating presence of beauty, sounds and colours, flowing into your being, nature calming your mind, as you appreciate the things we sometimes overlook in our busy lives.
Stand 4.
Patricia Smart Olly Grohs "Life takes flight."
As the first light of dawn breaks through the darkness, birds rise from the water into the awakening sky, urging us to pause and reflect on the profound beauty of life.
Such is the power of small moments.
Stand 5. .
Kerry and Dolly Nicholson “ Shadow Puppets ”
In the hush of a blackout, the world shrinks to a single flame. This work captures that ephemeral moment: darkness acting as a frame, while a father’s hands weave shadow-stories, building a
fleeting world of light and wonder.
Stand 6.
Kristina Greenwood. "Sublime Charity"
A man, frustrated with life, witnesses a shooting star. This precious moment of sublime pulls him from his thoughts and into a feeling of existential awe. Suddenly everything else seems irrelevant. Moments like these give us hope & clarity.
Stand 7.
Helen English. “Hidden deltas”
​​Watch a butterfly’s wings stir and realise that you can impact others in powerful ways with small changes. Like the breeze of those wings, change can be almost invisible until it transforms the world. Be the butterfly.
Stand 8.
Grace Murphy "Guardians of the Land"
This painting captures a fleeting moment that reflects the quiet beauty of daily life on the land. Capturing the brief but striking appearance of flowering canola. Viewers are invited to engage with the often-overlooked scenes integral to local life.
