Headspace Mount Gambier recently unveiled a mural painted by Boandik artist Belinda Bonney to coincide with Reconciliation Week.

This year’s Reconciliation Week’s theme was to be brave and make change.

Headspace Mount Gambier staff community liaison worker Nick Mcinerney said the theme was a challenge to all Australians to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so they can make a change for the benefit of all Australians.

“Some ways you can be brave to make change include getting behind social justice campaigns, calling out racism when you hear it or see it, and learning more about our First Nation’s peoples; the world’s oldest living culture,” he said.

“Reconciliation involves building strong respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all other Australians to close gaps and achieve a sense of fairness and justice.

“This amazing piece is inspired by the vision for everyone to take a step forward and join the community to be active and involved.”

Miss Bonney said the inspiration behind the mural was the blue representing the shades of the Blue Lake, the white representing the Limestone Coast, the symbols signifying men, women and youth within the community, the feet denoting moving forward and having fun and getting out and about, the wavy lines characterising phases of ups and downs and staying active, and the dots representing different community groups.

The wording “Martu kakayi Berrin-a” in the middle translated in Boandik language means “welcome to Mount Gambier”.