Mirumalikan Yapung Parai – Caring for Pathways on Country A Cultural Collaboration Between Saretta Art & Design & Swietelsky Rail Australia

At Saretta Art & Design, we believe that art is a powerful bridge connecting people, place, and culture. Our recent collaboration with Swietelsky Rail Australia (SRA) to create Mirumalikan Yapung Parai – Caring for Pathways on Country stands as a beautiful example of how creativity can spark meaningful cultural connection and support reconciliation in action.

A Partnership Built on Learning, Storytelling & Respect

SRA approached us with a strong commitment to deepen their understanding of Indigenous culture and embed cultural awareness throughout their organisation. They recognised that reconciliation is more than a statement, it’s a journey of education, listening, and shared experiences.

Together, we embarked on a creative and cultural process that combined storytelling workshops, personal exploration of Aboriginal symbolism, and collaborative artwork development. This culminated in a powerful and bespoke artwork representing SRA’s values, people, and purpose.

Workshops That Connected the Team to Country and Culture

We began with hands-on workshops where SRA staff created individual artworks inspired by their corporate values of family, integrity, respect, and excellence. These sessions gave the team an opportunity to reflect on what these values meant personally and professionally, while also learning about Aboriginal art as a form of cultural communication.

Through guided discussions and shared storytelling, we developed a narrative that wove each person’s artwork, insights, and cultural learnings into one cohesive story.

The Artwork: Mirumalikan Yapung Parai

The final design embodies SRA’s values, journey, and strong connection to Country:

• A central gathering circle representing SRA’s “Family First” approach and its core values.

• Interconnected pathways symbolising the physical rail network and the relationships built across the organisation.

• Four gathering circles reflecting SRA’s sustainability pillars: fairness, ecology, innovation, and interaction.

• Wellbeing symbols representing SRA’s focus on mental, physical, financial, relational, and lifestyle wellbeing.

• Kawal – the wedge-tailed eagle, totem of the Wonnarua people, watching over the design and honouring the Traditional Custodians.

• A horizontal pathway connecting SRA’s European origins to its operations across Australia.

Every element is purposefully placed, creating a narrative that tells SRA’s story through a cultural lens.

Taking Art on the Move

One of the most powerful parts of this collaboration has been seeing Mirumalikan Yapung Parai applied to SRA’s state-of-the-art rail machinery. The SRA team worked hands-on to install and adapt the artwork, ensuring it flowed seamlessly with the design of the machine while staying true to its cultural meaning.

This moving artwork now travels with the team across Wonnarua Country and beyond, bringing cultural storytelling into SRA’s everyday operations.

A Partnership Beyond the Canvas

This collaboration represents more than an artistic outcome. It reflects SRA’s genuine commitment to reconciliation and cultural connection. We are proud to continue this relationship as SRA grows its cultural awareness and deepens its connection to community.

Mirumalikan Yapung Parai celebrates the pathways we walk together—honouring Country, strengthening community, and building cultural understanding through art.