Celebrating the Opening of Mindiling-gwa - Shoulder of an Ancestor

Darwin High School proudly unveiled its new mural, Mindiling-gwa - Shoulder of an Ancestor, in a special ceremony this week. The project brought together 21 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, guided by Indigenous artist Tylah Saunders, to create a powerful visual story of connection, culture, and place.

The ceremony began with a Welcome to Country by Timothy Eldridge, who spoke as a proud Larrakia man about the deep cultural significance of Mindil Beach. Following this, Elysha Kassman highlighted the importance of art as a universal language, reminding us that creativity belongs to everyone. Artist Tylah Saunders then shared his involvement in the project and read aloud the plaque that explains the mural’s story. Finally, Polly Johnstone invited students Jaxson, Marlon, and Leo to officially open the mural.

The Story Behind the Mural

The mural was born from a workshop day where students visited Mindil Beach to gather inspiration. They sketched and shared ideas, which Tylah Saunders then wove together into the final design. Over the past week, students worked collaboratively to paint the wall, bringing their vision to life.

The artwork reflects the rippling sands shaped by the tide, symbolising the ongoing and shifting stories of the students and the land. A striking blue circular motif references the Porpita Porpita (blue button jellyfish), encountered along the shoreline. Together, these elements speak to connection: to Country, to culture, to memory, and to one another.

A Shared Journey

The mural honours Mindil Beach as a meeting ground, a place of gathering, reflection, and belonging. It stands as a visual story of many paths coming together on the shore, a shared moment held on the shoulder of an ancestor.

This project was made possible through the collaboration of students, artist Tylah Saunders, and the support of staff including Timothy Eldridge (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Officer), Elysha Kassman (Student Wellbeing Advisor), and Polly Johnstone (Visual Art Teacher).

We extend our congratulations to all the students involved: Peter Brogan, Lily Carnall, Loretta Earley, Asad Gordon, Lila Greddon, Nicholas Gumbula, Jack Hooper, Marlon Jauncey, Shannon Kelly, Nikita Lena, Gabriel Luchich, Kimberly Maza, Deklyn Patrick, Claudia Sabino, Jesse Schroeder, Nina Stones, Mia Thompson, Owen Thompson, Leo Wedel, Mullaya Welsh, and Jaxon Wilkes.