Eksha makes her mark

The Burnside Community Centre has welcomed a bright new artwork created by talented Glenside resident Eksha Patidar, who is excited to call Burnside home.

The large mural piece, which can be found in the corridor of the Burnside Community Centre, took over two weeks for Eksha to complete and features dozens of elements that make up the local Council area. This includes references to the Regal Theatre, local wellbeing programs, Council activities and more.

Eksha said she was excited to have the opportunity to paint the mural and that it was a way to “give back to the community.”

“For a long time, the passageway had a blank wall and it was Darren’s (Community Centres team leader) idea to have a mural that represents community, a tree that has things related to our local community,” Eksha said.

“The idea is that whoever sees the mural can connect themselves to it, they can see something there that relates to them and something they do in their daily life. Inclusiveness was the main idea behind this mural.”

Eksha and her 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son moved to Adelaide from Mumbai last year, after her husband Branav arrived in 2020.

“My husband came here for a few weeks for work during 2020 just as Covid started, while me and my family were in Mumbai, and the borders closed and he was stuck here,” Eksha said.

“We were not able to meet again for 20 months, for almost two years we were separated and when we came to Adelaide it felt like home.”

Eksha said Burnside Community Centre soon became her “second home” following the move as she began to volunteer at the community desk.

“When I got here, I spent a lot of time at the Burnside Community Centre and they just opened their arms to me,” Eksha said.

Tricia (Community Centres coordinator) and Darren gave me the opportunity to host art classes here for people, which I still do, and I am so blessed to have met them.

“From there I’ve had other great opportunities including painting pieces of furniture here in the community centre.”

Eksha is now looking forward to the future with her family, with her two children loving the nearby local parks and playgrounds in the Glenside area.

“This is such a lovely community here with so many amazing people. We are very happy to live here,” Eksha said.

Eksha Patidar and Mayor Anne Monceaux with the mural.