For Brad Dodd, bringing joy to others is the greatest privilege.
The Kamilaroi man has tended to the gardens at Westmead Children's Hospital for more than five years.
He one of two gardeners maintaining the massive site on Dharug Country in Sydney's West.
"I enjoy the instant satisfaction of when you cut grass and it looks neat and tidy once you're done. It's not a stressful job," he laughed.
Much of the work is mowing, pruning and weeding, it means a lot to the young patients and their loved ones.
"It's about having a nice place for kids to play, nice scenery for parents to come out and just chill for a bit too," he told NITV.
"You just don't know that that sort of impact has. It can make a big difference for people.
"I feel privileged to be part of that journey."
Brad Dodd, Kamilaroi artist and owner of Back of the Brush Designs, painting the fibreglass cow at Westmead Children's Hospital. Source: Facebook / Back of the Brush Designs
"It's my happy place," he said.
"We talk about the gardens but the reality is, this is where I'm meant to be - creating."
Carrying on a family legacy
Brad started painting two decades ago, under the influence of his late father.
A member of the Stolen Generations, Brad's dad used painting to connect to his culture.
Brad, who was born and raised on Dharug Country, has done the same with his business Back of the Brush Designs.
"I got a new outlook on it when Dad passed. I really wanted to honour him," he said.
"I didn't grow up doing corroborees or knowing the language," he said.
"I was brought up as an Anglo, white person, so painting really connects me with my heritage - that's why I value it and that's why I put effort into it.
"I've studied symbols and traditions so I can share our own culture. It's been a really cool journey."
A moo-ving gesture
Brad donated a print of his NAIDOC Week 2025 artwork to the hospital. It now hangs beside the lifts on level 1. Credit: Rachael Knowles
With Brad painting one, the other is being painted by a group of children who are patients at the hospital. Both will stand in one of the many walkway gardens.
"I walked past this cow every day, and then when I was asked to paint it, I started thinking about what would look good," Brad explained.
"I never painted a cow before! But then very quickly, ideas started to come to mind.
"I just thought ... I need to brighten kids' days. So when people see it, young people, kids, families, it needs to be bright and colourful."
Brad painted the cow in jersey brown, and began building a design full of bold and bright colours.
"It's a nice little story of people gathered around the campsites in different colours, enjoying the sun, but also travelling to the river to get water, to swim, to have fun, and then travel back to their campsites."
The fibreglass cow, named Clover, that features Brad's artwork. Source: Supplied / Westmead Children's Hospital
"You want it to brighten people's day ... hopefully they'll think it's cool and take the opportunity to learn what it means as well."
He's been volunteering his weekends to travel into work and paint, at times spending seven hours lost in his creation.
"Painting is my happy place. I can quite easily put on a bit of music and dot for hours," he said.
"I love painting. I love expressing myself with paint. I love telling stories with paint. And I love people's reactions, that motivates me to keep going.
"I love wowing people, I mean they could be pretending, but I think most of the time they're pretty genuine!"
