New Butchulla-inspired mural to be unveiled in Maryborough

A Butchulla-inspired mural that encourages all cultures to guard and protect the nation is set to be unveiled in Maryborough this week

A Butchulla-inspired mural that encourages all cultures across the nation to guard and protect the nation is set to be unveiled in Maryborough this week.

A Butchulla-inspired mural that encourages all cultures to guard and protect the nation is set to be unveiled in Maryborough this week.

Designed by Butchulla elder Barbara Trevaskis and painted by Aunty Karen Hall, the Guardians of the Land mural will be blessed and opened during NAIDOC week, Elizabeth Lowrie, co-founder of the Maryborough Mural project, said.

“The mural’s theme, which encourages all cultures of our nation to protect and guard our land, is very fitting for this year’s NAIDOC week theme – Heal Country, Heal our Nation – which encourages all of us to protect our lands, our waters, our sacred sites and our cultural heritage from exploitation, desecration and destruction,” she said.

“The mural will be blessed by Reverend Brian Heenan, Bishop Emeritus and opened by Mayor George Seymour at 4pm on July 9,” Deborah Hannam, the other co-founder,” said.

“We encourage the Fraser Coast Community to join us in celebration of this community healing event in St Mary’s Catholic Church grounds in Adelaide Street, Maryborough.”

A Butchulla-inspired mural that encourages all cultures across the nation to guard and protect the nation is set to be unveiled in Maryborough this week.

The mural is an addition to an increasingly popular art tourism trail which also celebrates the city’s manufacturing and war history.

Aunty Karen said the celebration called for stronger recognition, protection and maintenance of Butchulla culture and its heritage, thereby encouraging resolution of the many outstanding injustices which had impacted the community.

“We invite all of the Fraser Coast community to the blessing and opening with open hearts, she said

“We hope everyone present will embrace our cultural knowledge, and understanding of country, as part of this nation’s heritage.”

Gary Pettiford, chairman of the St Mary’s Parish’s finance committee, said the mural reflected the ancient footprint as seen by Barbara.

“Barbara believes that Jesus walked on the land first as a Rainbow Serpent,” he said.

“Then came the Aboriginal nation for thousands of years.

“The smaller white footprint is European colonisation and the little footprint in rainbow coloured dots represents all the different cultures who have recently walked upon this land.

“All have a collective responsibility to care for the land on which we walk.”

The mural is a joint project between the Maryborough Mural Project and St Mary’s Parish.

St Mary’s Parish is funding the project through a Fraser Coast Regional Council grant and the project has arranged in kind support for the other items, including paint, scaffolding, and plaque printing.

Originally published as New Butchulla-inspired mural to be unveiled in Maryborough