Caring for Country:Murnong, Murnong, growing strong: A window mural Created by primary school children and Monash pre-service teachers as inspired by First Nations Artists and Cultural Knowledge Holders.

Murnong, murnong, make it strong. 2024
Aunty Karan Kent, Kylie Colemane, Nikki Browne, Geraldine Burke and Melissa Bedford with Monash Faculty of Education and Dandenong Primary School students
Vinyl installation commissioned by Monash Faculty of Education, Monash University Museum of Art | MUMA and Dandenong Primary School
Design: Chris Hanger Photography: Andrew Curtis

Images featured
1. Detail of window mural design in progress
2. Detail of window mural with shadow casts

3. Detail of window mural with murnong and Wayapa-inspired patterns
4. Detail of window mural with bandicoot and possum

5. Detail of window mural with Wayapa-inspired patterns and murnong
6. Detail of window mural with wall text

This window mural connects us to Country while helping us care for murnong. It is also about growing strong with First Nations artists and knowledge holders, Aunty Karan Kent, Bidjara, Kylie Colemane, Darug, Wiradjuri and Nikki Browne, Bidjara.

Our window mural acknowledgements: This window mural was created by the talented DPS children, as supported by their enthusiastic teachers, especially Keery Gibson and Sara Djakovic that was co-created with Monash pre-service teachers.

Importantly the mural draws inspiration from First Nations cultural knowledge.

• We thank Aunty Karan for inspiring the children’s drawings through Wayapa Wuurrk movement and stories of Indigenous connections to Country.
• We are grateful to Kylie Coleman for sharing extensive cultural knowledge about plants and animals, especially the murnong daisy and its importance as an important food source.
• Thanks also go to Nikki Browne for cultural liaison and the of stories that have broadened our understanding of connections to Country and the role of Bunjil and Waa.