What Schools will be making

Deer Park North Primary School
with Fleur Sadlier
Monday 11th August
Wednesday 13th August


Self Portraits.

For 40,000 years the Indigenous people lived in the area. The most recent indigenous people were known as the Wurundjeri People, and were part of the Kulin Nation. When colonial settlers came to Deer Park in the 1830's, they were mainly pastoralists. Many of the Wurundjeri people left the areas where they had lived for many years. Even until 1871, there were not many people living in Deer Park (the census shows that about 50 people lived here).
But Deer Park today is full of houses, where did all of the people come from?
Many people came out to Australia in the 1950'5 as refugees from the 2nd World War and many more have come since as refugees or migrants. Deer Park is full of people form many places of the world.
This diversity of people is one of the special things about Deer Park.
We want to celebrate the diversity of the people in Deer Park by having some children make self-portraits in clay.

What to think about when designing your self-portrait
The portrait will show the whole person ( face, body, arms and legs), but also might reveal other things about our residents beside the colours of their skin and hair.
Think about these things that you might include in your self portrait:
What clothes will you be wearing in your portrait? will they represent your cultural background, your favourite clothing, your favourite sport or hobby?  What will the clothes in your portrait show about you?
What are you doing?  Are you holding something? What does it tell us about you?

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Deer Park West Primary School
with Emily Day
Friday 15th August
Friday 22nd August

At Deer Park West we will be making the native animals and plants of the area.
The striped legless lizard and yam daisy are two special thins that are particular to our part of the world.
We will also be making some trees and houses

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kororoit_Creek)

The creek is home to significant animal species such as the Growling Grass Frog and the Striped Legless Lizard, as well as internationally recognised migratory birds. Remnant native vegetation also survives in some places, including Red River Gum and White Mangroves. Small parks are located on the east and west borders along the creek. Native reptiles, including Tiger snake, Eastern Blue-tongued Lizard, Common snakeneck turtle and Eastern brown snake were often seen along the creek. Unfortunately due to overdevelopment these species are now rarely seen in some areas. Reptiles found along the creek help to maintain the balance of the populations of small mammals such as Water Rats and Mice that thrive along the banks of the creek. Native species of frogs have taken advantage and reclaimed residents in the new (man-made) wetlands and lakes. The Eastern Banjo Frog, Common Eastern Froglet and even the now endangered Growling Grass Frog have been seen and heard in the new wetlands and around Kororoit Creek, particularly in Cairnlea.^[5]

Aquatic species found in the creek include the Common galaxias, Short-finned eel, Australian smelt, Tupong, Common Carp, Eastern Bluespot goby, and Flathead gudgeon.

Bird species found adjacent to the creek include the Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Brown Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Square-tailed Kite, Dusky Moorhen,Royal Spoonbill, Black Swan, Pacific Black Duck, Mallard, Australian Wood Duck, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, andWattlebird.^{[citation needed]}

Both the River blackfish and the Platypus are native species that are now believed to be extinct along creek's course.

We will also be making some trees and houses.

There is also a parent workshop at Deer Park West, which will make historic buildings.

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St Peter Chanel Primary School
with Fran Steffanoni
Wednesday 23rd July: fish and houses
Wednesday 30th July: Trees and plants


At St Peter Chanel Primary School,  we will be making four different things.
Fish - for the Kororoit Creek which will run through the centre of the mural
Houses - to represent the heavy settlement of Deer Park in the later half of last century
Plants - The native plants of the  area along the Kororoit Creek
trees - The original trees that grew along the creek, the red gum.