A brand-new mural celebrating Kapunda's Aboriginal history was recently unveiled by the local Kindergarten through the help of SA Power Networks Community Grants program.

Kapunda Kindergarten provides Preschool education and Occasional Care for two-to-five-year-old children from the town and nearby communities.

Abby Walker-Schwartz, one of the teachers at Kapunda Kindergarten, applied for the grant as an opportunity to paint along a retaining wall facing the kindy - something they had always wanted to do to brighten the space - was presented to them.

“We wanted to combine this idea of painting a mural with the idea of paying tribute to Kapunda’s rich Aboriginal history,” said Abby.

Educators at the kindy have always valued building strong connections with Aboriginal families and the Ngadjuri communities – Acknowledging Ngadjuri people in song that the children sing every day to pay their respects.

“The mural is something that we felt would be extremely meaningful to our children, especially our Indigenous families. 

“We wanted this project to strengthen children’s identity of culture and we foresee it will be an important teaching tool and statement for future children, educators, and our families to build a sense of belonging to community.”

Abby reached out to Aboriginal artist Mel Agius to design and paint the mural.

Mel is a proud Ngadjuri Woman of the Mid- North and Adjahdura (commonly known as Narungga) of the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, with blood-line connections to Ngarrindjeri, Adnyamathanha and the West Coast.

It was after Mel’s first attendance at the kindy, and hearing the children sing their Ngadjuri song, that she found her inspiration for the mural.

“Once I heard them sing, I immediately knew that I would use the song as the over-arching theme.”

Mel worked closely with all the children at the Kindy and was very passionate about having them involved in the process. 

She ran a few different workshops, which included sitting by the fire and sharing Ngadjuri stories and culture, identifying important animals, going for nature walks and exploring food and medicine plants locally.

After the workshops, the children all drew different animals, plants and other symbols relating to the land – which Mel then used throughout the entire design.

“When you are a part of something, you can connect with it on a completely different level.

“The children are now just as much a part of the mural story and I think that is incredibly beautiful.”

Not only does Kapunda now have a beautiful new mural, but Mel says the relationship built with the kindergarten through the artwork commission has been the most important thing. 

“It is more than just a mural – the Kindergarten has now become a safe space for Ngadjuri to come home and feel welcome on country.

“A lot of our people don’t live on country, and the more we can connect with the wider community and create these safe spaces for our kids, the more who will come back.”

The mural is located along the retaining wall of the Kapunda Swimming Pool facing Kapunda Kindergarten – and is open for everyone to see and enjoy. 

The successful initiative was part of our inaugural Community Grants Program, which had over 120 applications for projects responding to four focus areas: keeping the community safe; supporting SA Power Networks customers and community; supporting a sustainable SA; and supporting innovation for future growth. 

For the full list of grant recipients, go to SA Power Networks Community Grants 2022.