A self-funded photography initiative documenting the remarkable cultural diversity of Melbourne's western suburbs has evolved into a powerful exhibition and book project. Point Cook photographer David Mullins has spent months profiling 128 residents of the City of Wyndham for his "Faces of Wyndham" series, revealing shared human aspirations beneath surface differences. What began as simple portraits posted on Facebook has transformed into a celebration of resilience, community service, and the universal pursuit of safety and belonging. The project showcases individuals whose life stories span continents and generations, united by their new home in one of Australia's fastest-growing regions.

Mullins, who migrated from England with his family in 1989 at age 18, discovered that Melbourne's western corridor houses one of the nation's most demographically complex populations. His subjects include refugees from Myanmar, South Sudan, and Brazil, as well as post-war European immigrants, each carrying distinct cultural heritage. The photographer's approach involves studio sessions where participants share their personal narratives, which Mullins then presents alongside their portraits. This methodology has uncovered extraordinary tales of survival, adaptation, and hope that might otherwise remain hidden in suburban streets.

Among the most compelling profiles is Blossom Taw, a Karen ethnic minority member from Myanmar who now lives as a single mother of seven in Tarneit. As a teenager, Taw protested against Myanmar's military junta, enduring imprisonment, poisoning, and torture before fleeing to Thailand, where she was jailed again for demonstrating. She arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2008, yet her quiet presence in the western suburbs reveals none of this traumatic past. Another subject, Asunta Agot Majur, fled South Sudan at age five and spent years in refugee camps across Ethiopia, Uganda, and Kenya before resettling in Australia in 2004. Mullins noted that Majur described her first impression of Australia as arriving in "heaven," a land without starvation or homelessness.

The project also documents older immigrants like Patrick Preston, born during a Nazi air raid on London during World War II, who later witnessed the 1970 West Gate Bridge collapse as a crane driver, an event that killed several coworkers and sparked his lifelong advocacy for construction safety. Nelzita Nascimento, an indigenous Tupi-Guarani woman from Brazil, was sent away at age eight to work for food and shelter before eventually migrating to Australia to join her son. Despite her difficult background, Mullins described her as his happiest interviewee, radiating joy throughout her session. The book's cover features Gary Harding, whose facial tattoos and traditional clothing powerfully express his Maori heritage.

Mullins observed that despite vastly different backgrounds, his subjects consistently expressed common fundamental desires for health, safety, love, and security. This realization has strengthened his commitment to continue the project indefinitely, publishing one profile weekly until he is unable to do so. The photographer emphasizes that his work is not merely artistic documentation but an active contribution to community cohesion, helping residents recognize their neighbors' humanity and shared values. His personal migration experience provides unique empathy for those navigating cultural transitions.

The free "Faces of Wyndham" exhibition opens February 19 at the Creative Asia Art Centre in Docklands' World Trade Center, running through March 3. The opening reception is scheduled for February 21 at 2 p.m., offering community members a chance to meet participants. Mullins' book will be available for purchase at the exhibition and can also be ordered through the project's Facebook page. The photographer is considering expanding the initiative to other Melbourne regions, believing the format could foster understanding across diverse communities. For Mullins, the project's greatest reward lies in meeting so many fantastic people and providing them a platform to share their journeys.