McKinnonNEWS

VISUAL ARTS

2025 MURAL PROJECT WITH AUNTIE HEATHER KENNEDY

What did we learn?

Recently, students in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 have finished working with Auntie Heather Kennedy, our Artist in Residence, to complete the 2025 Art Mural for the McKinnon Road Campus. As well as providing a space for students to develop and refine their artistic skills, Auntie Heather also provided participating students an opportunity to educate and immerse themselves in the history of Australia. 

In their last session with Auntie Heather, the students worked collaboratively to reflect over some significant events in Australia's history to develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences. Below are a few notes from the students who participated in the mural. 

 

Paul Keating's Redfern Speech, 10 December 1992

  • This was a significant moment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reconciliation within the Australian government
  • The speech was presented at a site of significance, by the then Prime Minister Paul Keating
  • It acknowledged the wrongdoings of the Australian Government and encouraged people to empathise with the Aboriginal experience
  • It was a moment where the Government took accountability for the trauma inflicted on the Aboriginal community since invasion

The 1967 Referendum 

  • Saw the removal of the Flora and Fauna act
  • 90.77% of Australians voted yes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be recognised in the Australian constitution, given the rights to vote and have a say in government policies
  • They were given the right to vote, but it was not mandatory 
  • It wasn't until 1984, where First Nations peoples were fully required to register on the electoral roll

The Flora and Fauna Act

  • This was a piece of legislation stating that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples were considered subhuman, more akin to the plants and animals of Australia 
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples were not recognised in the constitution, and were not allowed to vote
  • This act was enabled to allow British settlers to take Aboriginal land without legal consequence.

This experience was a great opportunity which resulted in a lot of learning. Students and staff alike learnt a lot about Art, but also about the history of Australia and the experiences of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

 

The mural will soon be installed at the McKinnon Road Campus! Look out for updates on the project! 

Mr Eglezos

Learning Area Manager - Visual Arts

2025 MURAL PROJECT STUDENTS

Dana Bar-Giora (Year 11), Kira Barnes (Year 8), Wenxuan Bo (Year 11), Tal Buzza (Year 11), Ava Denham (Year 11) Xinyu Huang (Year 11), Charmaine Lee (Year 9), Wenxuan Liang (Year 11), Scarlett Maxwell (Year 11), Elizabeth Osborne (Year 8), Radhe Shah (Year 11), Dishan Shanmuganathan (Year 8), Ella Su (Year 11), Jiaying Su (Year 9), Oliver Swifte (Year 11), Grace Taylor (Year 9), Summer Thompson (Year 10), Dionne Tran (Year 11), Stefania Trapetsa (Year 8), Ava Verwey (Year 11), Holly Wilson (Year 11), Edie Zalchendler (Year 10) Angel Zhang (Year 9) and Hongyu Zhou (Year 11).