Kinetic have teamed up with youth artists from across Carins and Gimuy to add a splash of colour to the company’s Portsmith depot as it undergoes major upgrade works.
Having first painted the mural at the depot in 2021 through Kinetic’s team of Network Officers, the company has reconnected with the Queensland Government’s ‘Transition 2 Success’ (T2S) program to continue the bold and bright artwork.
The extension of the mural comes as Kinetic undertakes a significant upgrade of the Portsmith depot that is home to five zero-emission battery electric buses.
Kinetic North Queensland executive general manager Martin Hall says it’s a great opportunity to reconnect with T2S and refresh the artwork.
“As we continue to invest in our facilities and team in Cairns we are also committed to continuing the strong partnerships we have established in the community,” Hall says.
“With the Kinetic brand now well established it was a fantastic opportunity to reconnect and paint a new chapter for our business and create a meaningful art piece our drivers and broader support teams see daily.
“To see creativity come to life while also delivering important community education is a win–win for everyone involved and we’re grateful to Carins T2S for partnering again with us.”
Designed, sketched and spray-painted onto the wall of the Portsmith depot, the mural now features a panel with the word ‘respect’ and another with ‘Kinetic’ alongside the original ‘Sunbus’ panel.
T2S helps young people in the youth justice system, and those at risk of entering it, to be engaged and connect with the community.
Driven by the need for youths to feel engaged within the community and having a sense of pride, Kinetic says the project supports its ongoing community engagement activities in Cairns.
A key driver of the T2S partnership has been Cairns Network Officer Jessica Chamberlain, who says being involved in painting the artwork demonstrates the approach Kinetic takes to building community connections.
“Respect is a two-way street and we all benefit from engaging with local youth in a genuine and meaningful way,” Chamberlain says.
“We are proud of the role we play in the community whether it is helping to improve the experience for passengers onboard our buses or attending schools and other community events to help people better understand the local public transport network.
“Painting this mural together was a lot of fun and provided an opportunity for the participants to show off their creative skills in a safe space.”