Mirumalikan Yapung Parai – Caring for Pathways on Country
Swietelsky Rail Australia: Caring for Pathways on Country
Reconciliation and the recognition of Indigenous culture are deeply important to the team at Swietelsky Rail Australia (SRA), as they help build the foundation for a more inclusive and respectful society for all Australians. Understanding and appreciating the rich heritage and contributions of Indigenous communities is essential in building unity and mutual respect.
Our journey towards reconciliation began with a commitment to learning, education, and storytelling through art. By embracing these elements, we aim to deepen our cultural connections and support the voices and stories of Indigenous communities.
SRA embarked on a collaboration with local indigenous artist Saretta Fielding (Saretta Art & Design Pty Ltd), This collaboration led to the creation of a custom artwork titled 'Mirumalikan Yapung Parai - Caring for Pathways on Country', which beautifully reflected Swietelsky's purpose, values and footprint across the country.
The journey began with SRA staff creating personal artworks that embodied the company's core values of family, integrity, respect, and excellence. Each team member was encouraged to express their understanding and learnings through symbols in their artwork, which they then presented to the group. This process was guided by Saretta, who led discussions on SRA's values and strategic direction. Together, the team explored what these values meant to them personally and professionally.
"It's been an amazing journey with Swietelsky, starting off with workshops where we learnt about artwork and storytelling and how Aboriginal symbols are sharing a message and connecting people to each other and country," Saretta said.
"From the workshop I was able to then create sketches and a narrative that the team and I worked through to get it just right, as a creative journey together. So that the artwork really did have ownership to the Swietelsky team".
With this deep understanding of the business and its people, Saretta went on to weave these individual pieces into 'Mirumalikan Yapung Parai', a unique artwork that narrates the Swietelsky story. This collaborative effort not only showcases a shared creative vision but also reflects SRA's deep commitment to its people, strong team culture, and the communities in which it operates, particularly on Wonnarua Country, symbolising a meaningful and culturally rich artistic journey.
Cultural significance and symbolism
At the heart of the Mirumalikan Yapung Parai design is a large central gathering circle, embodying the spirit of "Family First" and SRA's core values: Our People, Family, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence. The innermost circle features traditional people symbols that represent these values and highlight the importance of community and connection.
Expanding outward, the gathering circle connects to a wider circle of people symbols, representing the inclusive, diverse, and collaborative teamwork that defines the SRA team. Within each symbol, intricate pathways weave through the design, reflecting the harmony between SRA's people and the physical pathways they maintain across the land.
Further enriching the artwork are four additional gathering circles, each symbolising sustainability in all operational areas through the key pillars of fairness, innovation, ecology, and interaction. Surrounding these circles are five traditional people symbols representing employee wellbeing dimensions supported by SRA: physical health, relationships, work-life balance, financial health, and mental health, ensuring employees are empowered to thrive both at work and at home.
Soaring at the top of the artwork is Kawal, the wedgetail eagle and the totem of the Wonnarua people, honouring the Traditional Custodians of the land Swietelsky Rail Australia calls home. Accompanying Kawal are traditional symbols representing Elders, paying respect to the Wonnarua Elders past, present, and emerging.
Interwoven throughout the artwork are flowing tracks and pathways, reminiscent of train tracks and SRA's state-of-the-art rail maintenance machinery. These elements symbolise the company's role in creating safe, efficient, and reliable transport routes for people and goods.
An engraved gathering circle backdrop traces SRA's footprint across Country, from its Hunter Valley headquarters to projects in regional NSW, Sydney, Western Australia, and regional Queensland. A horizontal pathway runs across the canvas, beginning with traditional water symbolism on the left, reflecting SRA's origins in Austria and Europe, and growing towards the right to represent the company's mission to expand and its vision to become an industry leader nationally.
Together, the imagery of Mirumalikan Yapung Parai celebrates a shared journey, uniting community, culture, and SRA across the lands of the Wonnarua and beyond.
"I'm really proud, my artwork is a way of sharing culture and is a way of contributing to reconciliation. It makes me think of elders and people that have gone before me and what they have contributed," Saretta said.
Embedding cultural connection into operations
Swietelsky Rail Australia proudly features Mirumalikan Yapung Parai on its rail machinery, embedding a cultural connection into everyday operations. This initiative honours Country, supports Indigenous artists, and brings cultural awareness and community connection to the forefront of the business.
As an added point of pride, the team applied the artwork themselves. Joel Brown, Operator/Maintainer and trade-qualified sign writer, worked closely with Saretta and her team to adapt the original piece for the machinery.
"It was important to us that the design not only looked great on the machine, but also stayed true to the story behind it," Joel said. "We worked with Saretta to make adjustments so the artwork flowed with the machine's shape while still reflecting its cultural meaning."
"Seeing this artwork now proudly displayed on one of our machines, a moving workplace that travels with us, is a beautiful and lasting reflection of this shared journey," SRA Managing Director, Anne Connors said.
The collaboration with Saretta goes far beyond an artistic endeavour; it stands as a powerful testament to SRA's ongoing commitment to cultural awareness and genuine community partnership. By supporting Indigenous artists and celebrating cultural connections, SRA is setting a new standard for how businesses can meaningfully integrate cultural values into their operations.
Importantly, this partnership is not limited to the artwork alone, SRA is committed to a long-term relationship with Saretta and her team as part of its continuing journey towards reconciliation action.
The impact of this initiative resonates deeply within the team, reflecting a shared commitment to cultural connection and community support. As the artwork continues to inspire and connect, it serves as a powerful reminder of the values that shape Swietelsky Rail Australia and its operations.
"From day one our collaboration with Saretta has focused on a shared learning, cultural understanding and delivering an outcome that our whole team is proud to have contributed to," Anne continued.
This collaboration demonstrates the powerful role art can play in bridging cultural understanding and recognising the rich heritage of Indigenous communities. Through Mirumalikan Yapung Parai, Swietelsky Rail Australia celebrates its journey and its ongoing commitment to family, team and the communities it serves.
Watch how it all came together here: https://youtu.be/pRGFjWxRktw
