By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
THE life of a seafarer can be a lonely one.
So when a group of Year 7s from Pakenham Secondary College visited Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centre and learnt about seafarers from around the world, they wanted to make them feel welcome.
The students worked with artist-in-residence Helen Harman to create a seven-piece mural to hang in the centre.
The art was officially handed over on 13 November in a ceremony at Stella Maris.
Pakenham student Ben said the Year 7s felt that Stella Maris played an important role in supporting visiting seafarers.
“Stella Maris is like a ‘home away from home’ for people who have been at sea for a very long time,” he said.
“They often come from poor countries and don’t get paid much. When they are at sea they cannot contact their families and miss them very much.”
He said students have put a lot of thought into what would be represented in the mural and then chose colours, cut tiles, grouted and polished to achieve the final product.
“We worked with Helen and started by coming up with our own individual drawings,” he said.
“Then we combined our designs to make a seven piece design.”
On behalf of the group, Ben thanked artist Helen Harman as well as the staff at the centre.
The Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centre is one of 353 centres located around the world that provide services and support for seafarers. They are part of the Catholic Church’s official missionary in care of seafarers.
