DREAMTIME SERPENT SCULPTURE FOR QUEENSLAND SCHOOL

The Dreamtime serpent sculpture Natureworks created for Weir State School near Townsville is much more than a sculpture. It’s a distinctive cultural artefact that supports the school’s journey, reflects its values and gives all those in its community a sense of pride, belonging and connection.

Over the last few years, Weir State School has placed increasing emphasis on connecting students to Australia’s rich cultural heritage through First Nations storylines. By nurturing relationships with traditional groups and elders, the school embraces First Nations knowledge and traditions in a respectful way.

One of these traditions is the story of ‘Gabul’, the diamond headed python of the local Wulgurukaba People. In 2021, the school worked with local First Nations people to create an award-winning dance that tells Gabul’s story, performed at the Wakakirri festival. The following year, the school was again acclaimed by Wakakirri for its ‘Torres Strait Island Celestial Dance’ that paid respects to Torres Strait Islander peoples and their ancestors.

Around this time, the school recognised that Gabul would provide a strong visual symbol for the school, so they asked Natureworks to create a giant sculpture of the python. This artefact subsequently became the centrepiece of the school’s ‘Gabul Gathering’ dance story in 2023.

The sculpture of Gabul is grounded proudly in the school’s Cultural Precinct, and reflects the school’s values of “strong, smart, connected”. It has come to represent the school’s transformational journey over recent years – a story of belonging, connection and reconciliation.

The Dreamtime serpent sculpture is based on the giant carpet python sculpture, adapted to suit the school’s needs. Like most of Natureworks sculptures, it is made of sturdy fibreglass, built for strength and made to last.

Rather than painting the snake with realistic carpet python colours and features, Natureworks painted it in warm rainbow colours, ready for the school to turn into something special. That transformation happened when local indigenous leader and artist Wes Stubbings painted the artefact with his impression of the First Nations journey.

The artefact went through stages of story and connection through First Nations storytelling and representation, giving meaning to the storyline prominent in the school’s journey.