Over the last two and a bit years we've been working on a huge "legacy" project. Bernadette, Eleanor and I have worked with the community of Mary MacKillop Primary School, North Narre Warren, VIC, to create a huge mural. It's being officially unveiled on Thursday, March 13th. I was inspired by the whole process to write a song to accompany it. It has themes of diversity, harmony and unity around the Cross.
"This Is Our Home" was inspired by original artwork created by Bernadette Chinn, with and for the school community of Mary MacKillop Primary School, Narre Warren North, VIC, between 2023 and March 2025.
The song celebrates the rich diversity of the area, at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, both in terms of flora and fauna, and in terms of those who lived here and have come to live here. And despite our diversity we are united around a Holy Cross, beneath the stars, the sun and the sky.
When I was a young teacher most of my teaching was in Sydney schools just like this- rich in diversity: people from many lands coming together to create a tapestry of humanity. There was a song by the late, great, Fr Kevin Bates, called "Room for Everyone", which celebrated just that. The line "room for everyone" in this song is an homage to Kevin, one of the Australian church's musical pioneers.
The mural, to be officially unveiled on March 13, 2025, is something of a legacy work for our family. I did the consultation and some organisation, Bernadette created the artwork, then Eleanor added her skills, including getting the image from the iPad onto a massive outdoor wall. So it was fitting that they both sing this song with me.
Thanks, as always, to the very talented Drew Lane, for sound production.
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