ABORIGINAL artwork has marked the beginning of a new relationship between the police and Wiradjuri people in a colourful display of unity.
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The Gundagai Police Station unveiled its newest piece of art today, which is the result of a joint effort between the town's aboriginal students, police officers, and Wiradjuri artist Tyronne Hoerler.
The mural was also designed with reference to the White Ribbon Foundation, which despite no longer being functional, still continues to keep the message behind domestic violence alive.
"White ribbon is about our struggle to improve issues of domestic violence, which is a terrible scourge on our society for all people and it does infect and affect all corners of the community, no matter your background or what part of the social strata you think you might occupy," Riverina Police District Commander Superintendent Bob Noble said.
But the salute to domestic violence support was not the only symbol represented through the art.
"The artwork is very symbolic, particularly given the often uneasy relationship between the police and Aboriginal people in this part of the world," he said.
"So this mural shows the relationship we are working very hard on from both sides to improve, which I feel is very positive."
Gundagai Police Station's Officer In Charge, Joanna Gallant, said she got the idea to create a mural as a result of her background in domestic violence support work.
"I was the DVLO in Albury for 12 years so it's a bit of a focus for me, and I always like to run white ribbon day once a year," she said.
"I had the idea after meeting Tyronne at Gundagai High that maybe it could be a lasting legacy for the police station and create that bit of unity and break down some barriers."
The artwork not only worked to bring the community together, but also to start a conversation around the issue of domestic violence.
"It was a really good opportunity to speak to students at school about domestic violence, and get them starting to have that conversation," Sergeant Gallant said.
"Domestic violence is in every part of Australia, and even one domestic violence matter is too many."