By Emily Chapman Laing
Cranbourne Secondary College has shown off its artistic skills and inclusive values with the opening of the MultiPride Harmony Wall.
The theme of Thursday 23 February was inclusion as the wall prefaced an important assembly.
With special guest Holt MP Cassandra Fernando present, and a Welcome to Country plus Smoking Ceremony to follow, the official opening of the wall proved to be a memorable day for the school.
The wall, complete with a commemorative plaque, had the MP almost in tears as one student explained the meaning of the artwork.
The student explained the art from left to right, starting with the heart, which represents stamina.
The petals, symbols of falling down and starting new life, were next.
The MultiPride symbol, the rose, is about tough times growing into something beautiful.
The artistic representations finished with a pair of hands, said to symbolise connection.
Ms Fernando was deeply moved.
“This is beautiful and it has so much meaning,” she said.
“Each of us, we go through hardship. But that hardship is only temporary. And you will turn into this beautiful rose, which I think each and every one of you can achieve.
“You haven’t left anyone out and I just love that.”
The old yellow brick wall was transformed by a talented group of seven of the school’s artists, with assistance from the Student Council.
The students gathered to admire their work and share in the pride and inspiration it will now bring to present and future students.
One Student Council Representative, Bianca Buckley, commented on why the wall was an important landmark of the school.
“The wall that we had previously also had meaning,” she said.
“It was for R U OK? Day.
“The wall has always been something that’s been meaningful for our school.”
Principal David Caughey told Star News that Ms Fernando was keen to be involved in the wall’s creation.
“She was really supportive about getting a particular wall painted that celebrates different cultures,” Mr Caughey said.
Ms Fernando is well known for her advocacy of diversity.
The MultiPride Harmony Wall is one more example of how local communities are striving to grow in their inclusivity and representation.
“[The wall] reflects the community that we live in,” Ms Fernando said.
“I think it’s very important for today’s generation to know that we’re all accepted, and that we’re all equal, no matter where we come from, or what we look like, or what our gender is.
“One of the biggest things for us human beings is we want to feel included. We want to feel like we belong somewhere. And I think having a wall like that will just showcase [that] we are all accepted.”
The opening of the wall was followed by a school assembly, where two Bunurong Land Council members were present to give a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.
Uncle Josh and his son Danny are Traditional Custodians of the land on which the school is built.
Before the entire school, along with many guests present for the opening of the MultiPride Wall, Uncle Josh began his Welcome to Country.
“Welcome to the land of the saltwater people,” he said.
“When you get your chance, I want you to take your shoes off.
“If you’re down the beach or on the grass, take your shoes off.
“I want you to feel your feet on Country, my mother’s Country, from the Dreamtime and in that continual cycle of life, birth and death.”
His speech centered around the need for respect and of connection with nature.
“Being Indigenous, we believe that we are connected to Mother Earth,” he said.
“We’re not linear. We don’t start here and die here. We are one.”
Uncle Josh likened being on country to being invited to someone’s house.
“Obviously when someone invites you to their house, we have respect. We abide by their rules.
“So I’m asking, as I welcome you to Country, respect the land, respect your waters. Pick up rubbish where you can, plant a tree where you can, don’t feel wild animals.
“Again I pay my respect to the old people and the Bunurong land on which we stand today. Please look after her. She’ll look after you.”
The assembly was followed by a smoking ceremony, using the smoke from the native plants of the Manna Gum, Cherry Ballart and Black Wattle trees as a form of cleansing.
Uncle Josh explained the combination of these trees in the scent of smoke is how Bunurong people identified one another.
“It’s the Bunurong smell,” he said.
“So when you come outside and you walk through the smoke, I want you to rub it into yourself.
“Rub it through your hair. These are three medicinal plants, you can breathe the smoke in. It’s actually good for you.”
Uncle Josh offered this ancient practice to everyone present, in an act of inclusivity that mirrored the values of the MultiPride wall.
