As a three-time World Cup champion and a two-time Australian cricketer of the year, former Picnic Point High School student Ash Gardner was already a big deal.

Now she’s an even bigger one, quite literally.

Gardner has been immortalised at the school with a huge mural, recognising her contributions to the school, community and sport.

Picnic Point High School Administration Manager Chris Millar said what had started as an idea to give the school a refresh, morphed into acknowledging one of its most celebrated alumni.

“We ran it by Ash and she was on board. Everybody loves it. I think it is really great to see someone having come through the school that we can celebrate like this,” she said.

“Hopefully it’s also a really good inspiration to the kids as well.”

Gardner, who attended the school between 2009 and 2014, returned to her alma mater to see the mural and chat with students about working hard to achieve their goals.

“I graduated 10 years ago so it is kind of surreal to be back here,” she said.

“They made me look pretty good up there (in the mural)!”

Gardner fondly recalled her time at the school, saying she was given every opportunity to succeed.

“It was a great school. I grew up in the area and this was the school that everyone wanted to go to,” she said.

“From a sporting point of view, there was always a great opportunity to do different things, whether it was cricket or touch footy – pretty much anything I wanted to put my hand up for, I did.

“It was just a really cool environment because you made so many friends.”

Gardner has remained grounded and well-connected to the area despite travelling for six months or more a year.

A proud Muruwari woman, she runs a foundation to support Aboriginal school children through breakfast programs, providing sports kits and unstructured play, while encouraging them to complete their high school education.

She appreciates not everyone can or wants to be a sports star but said hard work would have its rewards regardless of the path.

“I could never had imagined sitting here at a point in time thinking I’d be able to play sport for a living,” she said.

“It’s not always going to be easy but if you enjoy the process of working hard and being dedicated towards working to something you will naturally progress to those areas that you choose.”

Next stop for Gardner is the T20 World Cup in the UAE next month, where Australia will attempt to win its fourth consecutive title.