De La Salle Catholic College in Caringbah is the latest school in the Sutherland Shire to be brightened up with a colourful mural.
The creation of the mural was a collaboration between Joel ‘Mulga’ Moore and former teacher and aboriginal artist Zachary Bennet Brook. The two artists were recently involved with the Caringbah street art festival ‘Walk the Walls’ where they each created murals on opposite sides of the Kingsway. The college mural was their first collaboration, and having found that their art styles combine well, it will probably not be the last.
Moore has been hosting workshops at the college since 2014 and the students enjoy learning artistic skills such as graphic design from a local professional artist. Moore has worked with many companies, won various awards and is well-known for his colourful t-shirt designs.
The mural is the culmination of a year-long project and incorporates many symbols that are significant to the college history and traditions, such as the five-pointed star and a depiction of St. John the Baptist. An Indigenous pattern running through the mural recognises the respect which the school has for the traditional custodians of the country.
Brook has also painted murals at other local schools, including Taren Point Public School and Brighton-Le-Sands Public School. Examples of his work can be seen at many places including the University of Wollongong and Caringbah train station.
