16 August 2023

A new mural at St Martin de Porres School, Avondale Heights, has connected the current school community with a much longer story.

Designed by artist Brendan Kennedy, the mural uses bright colours and traditional designs to depict the animals of the local area. Along with the caption: ‘we belong with the birds of the air, the animals of the earth and the creatures of the waters’, the mural is a symbol of the school’s past, present and future.

‘We like to make sure that our students are aware of who our First People are and we want them to know that this mural will become part of their culture’, said the school’s Religious Education leader, Debra Athaide. ‘Brendan started work on the mural with our Visual Arts teacher, Joanne Attia, and our students worked to bring this wonderful painting to life.’

The mural was blessed by Parish Priest, Fr Nhân Le, at an event with guests including parishioners, community representatives and the Mayor of the City of Moonee Valley, Cr Pierce Tyson.

‘This is an opportunity to educate our whole community, not only our students, about the First Peoples and their ways of life’, said Acting Principal Rod Bryar. ‘The mural is an enduring legacy of the people who were walking the land here before us and a symbol of how we are all walking together into a brighter future.’