This year, Mercedes launched a new art project to help promote the cultures of First Nations staff and students within the community. Alumna Danikka Calyon (Class of 2016) returned to the college with her sister, Pinjarup-Whadjuk artist Chloe Calyon, and designed a new polo shirt for staff and Indigenous students to wear for house events.
The design’s central image depicts the Swan River running from the hills to Fremantle. Mercedes College is depicted by the Mercy Cross as a meeting point between the two, with colours representing the McAuley rose (yellow) and Mercedes green for the school. Leading out from this central meeting ground is the smaller meeting groups representing the six houses and the Noongar symbol for women inside the centre. Each House colour also represents the one of the six Noongar seasons, which are determined by signals in the landscape such as the directions of winds and the blooming of vegetation, rather than specific months.
Over this year, each House will adopt the Noongar season aligned with it and learn more about its meaning during Homeroom.
- McDonald House’s red is associated with Birak, known as first summer, or the season of the young, Birak generally spans December to January. This is traditionally the fire season, when rain eases and heat begins to take hold.
- The orange of Cooper symbolises Bunuru. Known as second summer or the season of adolescence, Bunuru is the hottest time of the year
with warm winds and little rain. It usually spans February to March. - The green of McAuley represents Djeran. Djeran generally occurs from April to May, sees a break in the hot weather, bringing cooler nights and light breezes. This is also known as ant season, or the season of adulthood.
- Serisier’s blue colouring signifies Makuru, which is the cold and wet time of the year. This fertility season generally spans June to July, as animals pair off for the cold season.
- Wright’s Purple closely corresponds to the pink of Djilba, the season of conception, typically goes from August to September, with warmer days mixing with rainy and windy. The flowering of acacias and balgas is a sure sign that Djilba has come.
- Finally, the yellow of Frayne denotes Kambarang. The season of birth comes in October to November. During this season the weather turns warm, animals wake from hibernation and wildflowers bloom.
A huge yanga (thank you) must go to Danikka and Chloe for their work creating this design. Danikka is a fantastic advocate for Indigenous youth, giving voice to issues surrounding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Chloe is an artist and designer who started her own business, Kyooya Designs in 2020, and has worked with Mercedes previously to celebrate NAIDOC week in 2021.
