Kinetic paints positive community connections
Youth artists from across Cairns/Gimuy have teamed up with bus operator Kinetic to add a splash of colour to the company’s Portsmith depot as it undergoes major upgrade works.
Having first painted a 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.
Extension of the mural comes as Kinetic undertakes a significant upgrade of the Portsmith depot which is home to five zero-emission battery electric buses.
Martin Hall, Kinetic’s Executive General Manager for North Queensland, said it was 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,” he said.
“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 Cairns T2S for partnering again with us.”
The mural extension, which was designed, sketched, and spray-painted onto the wall of the depot, 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 get engaged and connect with the community.
Driven by the need for youths to feel engaged within the community and have a sense of pride, the project supports Kinetic’s ongoing community engagement activities in Cairns.
Kinetic’s community work was recently recognised with a win at the 2023 Cairns Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards in the ‘Community Contribution’ category.
Cairns Network Officer Jessica Chamberlain, who has been a key driver of the T2S partnership, said 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,” she said.
“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.”
Further enquiries
Steve Cadzow
Manager - Media & Communications (Northern)
0428 127 147
stevec@wearekinetic.com