Graffiti artwork honouring Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs legends set for completion

A GRAFFITI mural featuring six Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs rugby league legends is set to be completed tomorrow, in an attempt to brighten up the rail underpass outside Belmore Sports Ground.

Dcipher discusses the mural’s plans moving forward with local youngster Josh Castle. In the background are the portraits of Hazem El Masri and Andrew Ryan. Picture: Phillip Rogers

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• Bulldogs players’ faces to grace rail underpass at Belmore

A GRAFFITI mural featuring six Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs rugby league legends is set to be completed tomorrow, in an attempt to brighten up the rail underpass outside Belmore Sports Ground.

Dulwich Hill artist Tom “Dcipher” McDonald and 17 Canterbury-Bankstown children were hoping to have the piece of art finished last week but faced a significant obstacle.

“We ran out of paint and exhausted all Sydney suppliers with the particular Bulldogs-style royal blue we were using,” Dcipher said.

“So I’ve ordered more in from Queensland, and we’ll now be right to finish it off.”

The completed faces of Josh Reynolds and Dr George Peponis. Picture: Phillip Rogers

A total of 17 kids were involved in the making of the artwork. Picture: Phillip Rogers

Dcipher believes the engagement of youth in the making of the mural was positive for the whole community. Picture: Tim Clapin

But the finishing touches are mostly background work, as the recognisable faces of Bulldogs legends Terry Lamb, Steve Mortimer, Hazem El Masri, George Peponis, Josh Reynolds and Andrew Ryan have taken shape. The players were chosen via an online poll.

The mural, a joint initiative of the Bulldogs, Canterbury-Bankstown Council and NSW
Department of Justice, will be finished off with the safety message: “Think Safe, Be Smart”.

Dcipher, the director of Marrickville Youth Resource Centre, said he was thrilled to see the community had embraced the mural.

“It was nice to come back overnight and see no one had tagged the artwork,” Dcipher said.

“I’ve done a few projects in the past where they’ve been defaced, and faces are an easy target.”

Dcipher said the local young people started work on the mural on April 1, responding positively and “taking ownership” of the project.