Artist repaints Mullumbimby Public School mural after floods

Release date: 12 October 2023

Mullumbimby Public School has been blessed with beautiful artwork to cover the existing murals damaged by the 2022 floods.

The artist behind the murals is Samantha Wortelhock, who moved from the UK to Australia during our bicentennial in 1988 and was herself a longtime resident of Mullumbimby from 1991 to 2021. Samantha has worked with the NSW Department of Education for 20 years and painted over 150 school murals. She has applied her talents across the state, including travelling to remote schools. Samantha specialises in fine art, devising paintings that reconnect students to the natural world through visual storytelling. 

Mullumbimby Public School principal David Lees said, “Sam's amazing murals have brought so much positive energy to our wonderful school. All of our students shared their ideas with Sam, who then brought them to life. Each mural tells a different powerful story of our local history and issues important to all of us.”

Following the 2022 floods, Principal Lees commissioned Sam to not only repaint the flood damaged murals but to expand them. One of the murals was painted on the side of a year 5 and 6 classroom. Samantha asked the class what they remembered about the floods; what happened to them; what they lost and gained; and how the community responded. The students told Samantha how their instruments, sports equipment, and library books were destroyed in the flood and replaced by students from other schools who raised funds on their behalf. The students also shared how the community came together to supply food; the tireless assistance of the army, the RFS, the CWA, and the SES; and how they wrote ‘thank you letters’ to those who had helped the school.  

Samantha then brought the students memories to life through a mural captioned “Out of the depth together we rise”. The painting consists of a small wooden boat called ‘Hope’ full of representatives of those who helped the school during the floods. The boat is shown crossing over from murky flood waters into clear water, representing how hope helps the community move forward after the effects of the floods. The boat is headed toward a boy standing on the waters, holding a thank you letter, suggesting the power of gratitude in overcoming adversity. The mural was only one of several meaningful artistic images painted by Samantha, others include images of native flora and fauna, sea life, children’s books, the galaxy and more.

Principal Lees said, “Every mural provides incredible teaching and learning opportunities, not only to students of today, but for many generations to come. The colour, vibrancy, and message that all of the murals exude add a brand-new dimension to our school and wider community.”