Jan Mitchell facts for kids

Jan Mitchell (1940 – 2008) was a talented Australian artist. She was born in Melbourne and became famous for her brightly painted bollards. She also worked as a graphic artist for television shows.

Jan spent her early childhood near Healesville, in Victoria, Australia. Later, she lived in Ireland for 18 years. There, she worked in the graphics department at RTÉ, which is Ireland's national television station. She helped create Ireland's very first TV show for young children. This show was called Bosco, named after its main character, who had red hair.

Jan Mitchell's Artistic Journey

Returning to Australia

In 1986, Jan Mitchell came back to Australia after spending 20 years living in England and Ireland. She moved to Geelong in 1990. In Geelong, she started focusing on different types of art. She worked on illustrating books, painting, and making prints.

Creating the Famous Bollards

Jan created her first bollard art in Barwon Heads. This was part of a special program where artists worked with schools. Bollards are short, thick posts, often used to guide traffic or protect areas. Jan had a brilliant idea to turn these plain posts into colorful artworks.

In 1994, she shared her idea for the Baywalk Bollards with the city leaders in Geelong. Her idea was a big success! By 1999, there were more than 100 brightly painted bollards along the waterfront. These bollards were made from old wooden posts that used to be part of the wharf. Each bollard showed a different important person or character from Geelong's history and culture. You can also see her bollards at Melbourne Airport and Avalon Airport.

Remembering Jan Mitchell

Jan Mitchell Memorial Art Prize

The Zonta Club of Geelong Inc. holds an art exhibition called "Women - a Celebration." This event happens every year to celebrate International Women's Day. Artists from the Geelong area show their work using many different art forms. The top prize at this exhibition is called the Jan Mitchell Memorial Art Award. This award helps keep Jan's artistic spirit alive.

Awards and Legacy

In 2006, Jan Mitchell received a special honor called an Order of Australia medal. She earned this award for her amazing work in changing Geelong's waterfront. Her colorful bollards helped make the area a lively and interesting place for everyone to enjoy.

Jan Mitchell passed away in Geelong on March 17, 2008. She had requested that her ashes be scattered by a lake in Glendalough, Ireland. This was a place she loved.