Ian "Beat" Hill memorial mural
A group of Ian's friends wish to raise funds for a mural of Ian "Beat" Hill to be erected in Kurri Kurri, the town that he loved, as part of the Town Of Murals programme.
Ian was a well known and loved character throughout the Newcastle and Hunter Region who lost his long battle with cancer in September 2016.
Ian "Beat" Hill was born in Kurri Kurri in 1951 and completed his education at Kurri Kurri High School.
He began work at NBN Channel 3 in 1969 and became a cameraman and later floor manager and director.
Hi abiding lifelong passion was the natural world, all creatures great and small and specifically the reptiles.
He was a licenced herpetolist (reptile keeper).
Every injured or orphaned wild animal was brought to him. He removed snakes and other critters from homes all around Newcastle and the Hunter throughout his life
He lived with his parents and siblings at 169 Aberdare Street before moving to Newcastle because of work committments in the 80's but later relocated back to Heddon Greta to reside with his lady partner.
He was a firercely proud Kurri boy and regarded his birthplace as a badge of honour along with his beloved Watagan Mountains where he honed his naturalist skills.
In 1975 Beat wrote and presented a documentary TV series called "Beating Around The Bush" which won a national LOGIE award for best provincial documentary series.
Beat followed the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs RL club from birth to his final days and regularly attended games. He was a paid up Kurri Bulldogs "Old Boys" member at the time of his passing.
Beat in his time was a Kurri Kurri icon, well liked and admired by the townsfolk of all generations. A street survey today would surprise you just how well known and remembered he actually is.
His ashes are to be scattered in the Watagans with Kurri Kurri visible from the location.
Kurri Kurri and surrounding villages have more than 50 outdoor murals that illustrate the area's history, culture and people. The Town of Murals Project is managed by Towns With Heart Inc, a not-for-profit organisation of volunteers dedicated to making a difference in our community.
All funds raised will go towards artist fees, paint and materials and installation costs (eg scaffolding) for the Ian "Beat" Hill mural. It is anticipated that this mural will be a substantial size, located in an elevated and highly visible site. It will be a portrait style mural of Beat and will include some animals in a bush setting to truly capture his memory. There will also be a plaque mounted on or close to the mural which will tell the story behind the mural.
