On a bright morning in Melbourne’s west, MacKillop Education’s Maidstone school unveiled a powerful new addition that brings together sport, culture and opportunity in a lasting and meaningful way.
A permanent mural celebrating seven-time Grand Slam champion Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE, commissioned by the Australian Tennis Foundation (ATF) and Emirates, stands proudly at the heart of the school, serving as both a visual centrepiece and a daily source of inspiration for students.
Designed by Melbourne-based artist Hayden Dewar, who worked with students to choose the Australian wildlife included in the mural, the colourful mural also serves as a hitting wall. This enables students to engage with tennis independently throughout the day. With equipment supplied and maintained by the ATF, the initiative ensures ongoing access to the sport beyond structured sessions.
MacKillop Maidstone supports children who have often found mainstream education environments challenging, including those navigating neurodiversity, trauma and school refusal. Through the ATF’s Move. Breathe. Belong. program, the school has received four terms of weekly coaching delivered by trained ATF professionals. What began as a structured program has evolved into something far more impactful.
Tammy Byrne, Co-Principal at MacKillop’s Maidstone school has observed noticeable shifts in student engagement and wellbeing, “learning to play tennis with a coaching professional has provided a consistent, calm and inclusive space where students can build confidence at their own pace.
“The addition of the hitting wall has further extended this impact, with students now independently organising games during breaks and lunchtime, an encouraging sign of growing confidence and social connection,” Tammy added.
The decision to feature Evonne Goolagong Cawley reflects both her legacy and the values the program seeks to promote. As one of Australia’s most celebrated athletes and a proud First Nations woman, her story embodies resilience, excellence and cultural pride. For MacKillop Maidstone’s strong cohort of First Nations students, her presence on campus offers a powerful and relatable role model.
Looking ahead, the success at Maidstone signals broader potential. The Move. Breathe. Belong. program is set to expand across additional MacKillop Education sites in Melbourne.
At its core, this initiative demonstrates how targeted investment, combined with thoughtful partnerships, can create lasting change. At MacKillop Maidstone, that change is already visible in increased participation, stronger connections, and a renewed sense of confidence among students.
The mural hitting wall forms part of Emirates’ Force for Good program, a $2.25 million, five-year commitment focused on creating brighter futures for young Australians through access to tennis. And now, with Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s legacy etched into the school, that impact will continue to inspire for years to come.