As well as her overseas work, Zomi also spent several months offering bushfire aid to south-east NSW residents after the Black Summer fires. Photo: Lisa Herbert.
An “illegal” mural painted at night to honour an aid worker killed in Gaza can stay in place, despite concerns it would mean approval would be given “after the fact”.
At a recent meeting, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) voted to keep an unauthorised mural in Braidwood, painted in honour of a deceased aid worker.
Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom was working for the charity World Central Kitchen (WCK), when seven of its international aid workers were killed by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air strike on 1 April 2024.
The group was delivering food and other humanitarian supplies in northern Gaza.
A mural in her honour was painted onto the council’s heritage-listed Braidwood office building without permission on the evening of 20-21 September, with council documents noting QPRC could remove it, keep it or pursue community consultation before making a decision.
For the artist, Luke Cornish (aka ELK), news of the council’s decision to keep the mural is a welcome one.
“I didn’t have the chance to meet Zomi while she was alive, but I have been following her story,” he said.
He told Region that he knew having it removed was always a possibility.
“That’s how you have to be with street art, especially political street art. I’m no stranger to having my work painted over.”
He painted it using stencils in September 2025, after being invited to the small town for a memorial to honour Zomi.
“I can understand why some people wouldn’t want it there; it was done without permission on a heritage building.
“But sometimes …. the stars align and if you’re doing something for the right reason, it works.”
The council’s vote means it will be registered as a council-maintained asset, with QPRC to develop a management plan for it and to consider allocating funds for its preservation.
It will also mean that a plaque to accompany it will be prepared.
During the meeting, councillor Bill Waterhouse said Braidwood residents had “spoken clearly and with compassion” about the mural’s significance.
He urged his fellow councillors to support the mural, describing heritage and procedural concerns as “secondary” in this case.
“Over the past month, we’ve heard from literally hundreds of residents and visitors through letters, emails, thoughtful posts and ‘Likes’ on social media, expressing their admiration for this artwork and their belief it should remain in place.
“Hippocrates, it was, that said, ‘Do no harm’ … I ask you, what harm is there leaving this lovely, subtle piece of art in place. None?
“What good is there? Much.”
Councillor Katrina Willis said no residents had approached her and asked for QPRC to take it down.
Council papers state Member for Eden Monaro Kristy McBain and Senator Penny Wong both wrote letters, urging QPRC to keep it.
The mural was painted overnight in late September 2025. Image: Supplied.
Councillor Ross Macdonald pushed back on the proposal to keep the artwork, saying that the approach would risk giving the green light to illegal acts “after the fact”.
“For me, and with the deepest respect to the community, to the late Ms Frankcom and to the artist … the subject and the subject matter is somewhat irrelevant to this question.”
Councillor Mareeta Grundy said preserving the mural would “wed” QPRC to the ongoing (and unknown) costs of doing so.
“We are being asked to sign a blank check, effectively, and that’s no way for a council to operate. … The fact remains that this work is unlawful and advocating wrongdoing sends a certain message.”
Mayor Kenrick Winchester said the situation was a “unique” one and that preservation would likely only incur a “small” cost.
“[Councillors have] all received emails and correspondence from locals. The overwhelming sentiment is they want us to retain it.”
Mr Cornish said the decision to accept the invitation to Braidwood, and to paint the mural, was an easy one.
He described it as a way of helping to keep her memory, as well as her death, “alive” and “in the public eye” as part of a push for accountability.
“That’s pretty good for an illegal mural that was done at 2 am.”
