Story Behind the Artwork
The Bankstown Senior College mural is a contemporary Aboriginal artwork celebrating connection to Country, cultural knowledge, resilience and the diversity of the school community.
At the centre of the artwork is a meeting place representing Bankstown Senior College, a safe and inclusive environment where students from different cultures, backgrounds and life experiences come together to learn, grow and build connections.
An eel flows through the centre of the design, representing an important Dreaming animal of the local area and symbolising resilience. The surrounding waterways acknowledge the importance of water to Aboriginal people, providing food and natural resources for everyday life.
Wattle plants feature throughout the artwork, representing traditional seasonal knowledge. The flowering of wattle signalled the running of the eels, a time of migration that also marked an important period for gathering, celebration and ceremony.
Smaller meeting places represent the different learning spaces and diverse communities within Bankstown Senior College, including people of different nationalities, genders and religions. Connecting journey pathways symbolise the unique life experiences of students and staff, recognising that although everyone’s journey is different, they are connected through the school community.
U-shaped symbols represent the students, teachers, men and women who make up the college, while handprints pay respect to the Traditional Custodians, acknowledging their strength, cultural knowledge, resilience and enduring connection to Country.
Together, these elements tell a story of cultural identity, diversity, belonging and shared learning, celebrating Bankstown Senior College as a place where different journeys come together as one community.
