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A NINE-METRE-HIGH mural showing major international landmarks was unveiled yesterday as the backdrop for the farewell dance for the Grade 7 pupils at the Holy Cross Primary school in George.

The 13m² painting was created by Debbie Patrick, mother of one of the pupils who will be graduating from the school today. Patrick, who has no formal artistic training, created the mural from textbook pictures which she copied and powder painted on her dining- room table.

She volunteered for the work when she heard that the farewell dance this year would have an international travel theme.

Images as diverse as the Sydney Opera House, Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower and Golden Gate Bridge are shown on the painting, which is meant to convey the marvellous diversity of sights around the world.

Patrick said the painting had taken more than two weeks of almost continuous work to complete.

“I think that it has taken about 80 hours to make and my family has been neglected to some extent as it has taken priority over housework and cooking.

“I had to make it in six overlapping panels and paint each one from top to bottom, sitting on it on my dining table as it is over 1,5m high,” she said. Other mothers decorated the ceiling with hot air balloons and a 2m-wide aircraft above the entrance.

According to Holy Cross Primary art teacher Cathy Fourie, this year’s dance was an attempt to break away from the Matric Dance-style event, which was costly for parents and stressful for some pupils.

“We wanted to encourage our children to dress in international costumes to compliment the decor rather than make a fashion statement.”