There aren’t many artists who can say they’ve laid under the belly of a cow, moved one around their studio or gallery, or worked with close to 100 of them in more than 20 years.

But for Shepparton artist Tank, that’s all part of his story.

Recently, he stepped away from his easel and canvases to return to painting another fibreglass cow, this time for Shepparton Private Hospital.

Named after the English nurse Florence Nightingale, widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing and remembered more than 100 years after her passing for bringing compassion, cleanliness and professionalism to healthcare, ‘Flo’ now proudly stands at the front of the hospital.

The person behind sparking the collaboration and bringing Flo to the herd of cows seen throughout the region was Shepparton Private Hospital chief executive Brett Walters.

Born and bred in the area, Brett said it was time to make an important step forward for both the hospital and the community.

“I’ve always felt that connection to the community here in Shepparton, and when I started as the CEO, I wanted to find a way to link the identity of our private hospital with the Shepparton community,” Brett said.

“Being that the hospital is owned by Ramsay Health Care, Australia’s largest private health provider, it was important to me that Shepparton Private had its own local connection, something that spoke to who we are here.

“The cows are something truly special to Shepparton, so I looked into it, but discovered the council were not producing them anymore.

“Eventually, I found a provider in Gippsland who could build one for us, and then it was about finding the right artist to bring it to life.”

That is where Tank came in. Although he had moved on from painting cows, he was happy to take this one on because it was for the community.

The brief was not to focus solely on doctors or nurses. They wanted to represent healthcare as a whole.

And today, Flo is kitted out in her very own blue scrubs, complete with a stethoscope, scissors, thermometer and other important healthcare features.

Tank said adding to the herd and contributing to the scene in Shepparton had been really rewarding.

“It’s always great to get involved with the town,” Tank said.

“I’ve been painting cows on and off for years, and it had been a while since I last painted one, so this was a really fun project to come back to.

“We really took our time on it to make sure we got exactly what everyone wanted, and the result has been fantastic.

“From what I hear, she’s getting a lot of love.”

Brett also reflected on the naming of Flo.

“The naming competition brought in ideas from people of all ages, and ‘Flo’ really stood out,” he said.

“It could not be more fitting. Everyone who entered had a connection to the hospital or the community, and it’s great to see their suggestions celebrated in such a meaningful way.

“This has been such a great experience for everyone involved while showing that healthcare here is local, compassionate and part of the town we all call home.”

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Friday, 3rd October 2025

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