Ignatius Park College have celebrated Reconciliation Week in style, with a new indigenous mural taking pride of place at the school.

Robert Paul is a Juru descendant of the Bowen region and has created a piece of work based upon the students’ journey through the years at Ignatius Park and their steady growth of confidence, pride and respect for one another.

“As a college community, we are committed to lead a consciousness within, and outside, our school where equality and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is enacted in the day to day teachings of the school,” principal Shaun Clark said.

The mural features the great serpent guiding the boys from their communities and into school life at Ignatius Park.

The green, burnt orange and darker blue patterns on the outer part of the design represent both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys.

The students, from Year 7 through to Year 12, are represented by the six main circles.

The smaller circles show the surrounding communities and the boys being active within them. The black symbols around each of the main circles are representative of the guidance of elders and staff at school.

“As we take this next step in our reconciliation journey, Ignatius Park College is committed to learn more, understand more, and to do more to ensure that Australia’s first peoples are respected and empowered in their country,” Mr Clark said.

Source: Townsville Bulletin