Respecting Country and Culture

Acknowledgement of Country

Sacred Heart College acknowledges that we learn, teach and play on the lands of the muwinina people. We are committed to fostering a connection between our school community and the world’s oldest living culture in the country that we now all share.

We are guided by the spirits of the old people still in the land; we listen to the wisdom of the elders of the present, and we cherish and nurture the emerging Aboriginal leaders of the future. We acknowledge the strength and resilience of all of Tasmania’s first peoples and we walk alongside them with respect.

Our Vision for Reconciliation

Our College Community has a strong vision for a reconciled Australia in which Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders and non-indigenous Australians walk together with respect and understanding. We recognise and teach about the diverse cultures and Connection to Country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we can share this respect for culture and Country to best prepare our students to be a part of a future of equality, equity and unity.

Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture and history.

Sacred Heart College encourages all school community members to consider the histories, cultures and diverse communities that make up our nation. We acknowledge and respect Australia’s complicated and difficult past, since colonisation, and the effect this has had on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures, and we recognise their strength, resilience, and commitment toward developing awareness and understanding among our community.

Encouraging and supporting the understanding of Australia’s First Nations' peoples, their values, cultures and histories is a core value of our school community, and we are committed to embedding history and culture within our curriculum planning, organising events and learning opportunities that recognise and utilise engagement with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Community.

Mural Title: Sky, Earth and Sea

This mural is a vibrant exploration of the core elements of our Aboriginal culture; sky, earth. I painted with piece in a bold and expressive design divided into three distinct sections.

Sky: The upper section features gradients of sky blues, representing the vastness above. Here, I have painted silhouettes of mutton birds, complemented by bold, dotted white lines that weave through the steps. These lines symbolize the mutton birds' migratory journey, highlighting their rookeries which are natural depressions where they lay and hatch their eggs after traveling approximately 30,000 kilometres from Alaska’s Bering Sea.

Mutton bird made up a large portion of our ancestors’ diet.

Earth: The middle section showcases warm reds, oranges, and yellows, embodying the essence of the land. Within these bold colours, I have inscribed stone petroglyphs; ancient engravings created by our ancestors around 40,000 years ago. Though the exact meanings of these symbols have been lost over time, they may have marked important places and conveyed cultural stories, with some designs appearing geometric and symbolic.

Sea: The lower section, painted in shades of teal and aqua, signifies the ocean. Here, I depict shell middens, the archaeological remnants of our ancestors’ food processing. These deposits, comprising discarded shellfish shells, fish, and cultural artefacts, offer invaluable insights into our historical diet and lifestyle, linking us to our past and environmental adaptations.

By intertwining these elements, I aim to honour the profound significance of sky, earth, and sea in Aboriginal culture, celebrating the ongoing role of our ancestors and their practices in our modern lives. This mural is not just a visual statement; it is a narrative that connects the past to present.
— Reuben Oates - Artist Statement