Galga set to showcase eye-catching silo art in rural country town

After being bought by locals Beverly and Trevor Heidrich, the Galga silo is getting covered with a beautiful mural in recognition of those who lost their lives at war, with it being painted by local artist Jarrod Loxton.

The Galga silo art includes a painting of Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, who was born at Kapunda and became an Australian Army nurse in the Second World War and a prisoner of war, with plans to silhouette fellow POW nurses.

On the other side of the silo there's a painting of Hurttle Murdoch "Tom" Zilm, who also served and was Beverly's step-grandfather.

With the support of the Murray River, Lakes & Coorong tourism development, the Heidrichs are considering accommodation at the Galga and Copeville silos as part of the silo art trail, which includes Karoonda and Coonalpyn, with Lameroo and Murray Bridge set to be added in the future.

The silo art at Galga and Copeville was inspired by other silo art across SA.

"It was a bit of a challenge of debating 'will we, won't we' and then I'm like 'it's going to happen'," Beverly said.

"I saw Jarrod in Loxton one day painting the ANZ building and I think Jarrod was keen to jump on board."

She expects many people will travel to Galga and Copeville to see the silo art.

"They can come through Karoonda, Copeville, Galga and then head through to Waikerie for the silo art," she said.

Since the Copeville silo was completed last year, Trevor said the number of tourists travelling through the area had risen significantly and he had even noticed more people travelling via Galga.

"Copeville got finished last year in October and the traffic has five-folded there," he said.

Murray River, Lakes & Coorong Tourism Alliance Incorporated tourism development manager Bill Nehmy said the Galga silo was unique.

"Of the silo art in SA, this is the only one to my knowledge that has been the initiative of the private owners," he said. "All the other silo art has been generally councils or federal or state or council funded."

Ahead of Anzac Day, local artist Jarrod Loxton is edging closer the completion of the Galga silo art tribute to those who fought for Australia in the world wars.

After buying the Galga silo early last year, following taking ownership of the Copeville silo in 2020, Trevor and Beverly Henrich, Larirra Farms, decided to use the silo as an Anzac Day tribute, with Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel and Tom Zilm (pictured left) being painted on the silo.

It was important for the silo to pay respect to Australian women landowners, Beverly said.

"Those young ladies were taken from their farms and out of their family homes and went and held the country together, while their family and friends, comrades were out their losing lives," she said.

"If that's not huge in itself, I don't know what is."

The design of the Galga silo art was a well-thought out decision, by the Heidrichs and Jarrod, Beverly said.

"We start with one idea and then it runs this way and it runs that way and then it comes back and settles," she said.

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Through painting the Galga and Copeville silos Jarrod said it had led him to undertake a unique experience.

"I'm doing something that I wouldn't normally do and by working outside my box it's opened up a few different avenues," he said.

"I've never done portraits until this one, so I've been practicing doing portraits."

Once the Galga silo art is completed, Jarrod said a large amount of paint would have been used.

"I would use over 250 litres of paint and 200 cans, to do the more detailed bits," he said.

Having received some donations of supplies from Wattyl paints, Jarrod and the Heidrichs are looking to work with locals to get the Galga silo art completed by their planned date. They are searching for a 90-foot boom lift to complete the top of the silo.

The opening of the Galga silo art will occur on Anzac Day, with a barbeque to be held and history records to be provided by the Mantung Hall.