First Nations culture inspires Prahran art 

They say a picture tells a thousand words, and a new mural at Bangs Street, Prahran does just that. 

Artists Alex Kerr and Ash Firebrace designed the mural as a celebration of Indigenous Elders who have paved the way for local community, culture, and leadership.

Alex, a proud Wurrundjeri man, said he chose to depict two Aboriginal elders from within the local community who have contributed to social housing and improving outcomes for residents.

“For us as Indigenous people and us as a community all I want to do is make them feel welcome and feel safe,” Alex said. 

 “For the people that live here, it’s going to create conversations within the household and enable families to actually connect with one another and grow together.”

The theme for the mural is "Community Culture & Leadership. The theme for the mural is "Community Culture & Leadership and it features two Wurundjeri elders" - Aunty Pat Ockwell and Aunty Margaret Gardiner.

Aunty Pat is a proud Wurundjeri woman who was “set on a path of community involvement and activism” from early on, Alex said.

Her accomplishments include boards and committees with Aboriginal Housing Victoria, being the current Vice Chair of the Aboriginal Community Elders Services and a Senior Elder and Life Member of the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council.

Aunty Marg is a proud Wurundjeri woman who maintains “a lasting legacy,” Alex said.

Her accomplishments include being serving on the board of the Birrarung Council, capturing the oral histories of Victorian traditional owners and striving for improved housing and health services for Indigenous people throughout south east Melbourne

 Jack Rowland, the mural artist who helped install the large-scale piece onto the buildings, said he was proud to collaborate on the project. 

“I feel really great about this,” he said. 

“The team I’ve been working with, the message that it’s conveying and the construction of this building that will be aiding the community, I think is just a wonderful thing to be a part of.”