Sarah Herrmann, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Marion Bay Community Centre is home to a new mural calling on the federal government to classify the algal bloom as a natural disaster.

Sydney artist Patrick Hunter drove more than 1600 kilometres to donate his time and talent, painting a vibrant depiction of the giant cuttlefish and weedy sea dragon — iconic native species threatened by the unprecedented marine crisis.

Mr. Hunter said the mural’s swirling background was a blend of fingerprint and ripple, symbolising the idea that “everything we touch, including the natural landscape, has a ripple effect”.

“We have the opportunity to make good ripples and bad ripples,” he said.

“I couldn’t just sit back and watch this happen — painting is what I can do, so I came here to do something about it.

“We need the government to call this what it is — a natural disaster — and step in.”

The project was supported by Great Southern Reef Foundation co-founder Stefan Andrews, Corny Point citizen scientist Lochie Cameron, and Marion Bay artists Jasmine and Jason Swales.

Ms. Swales said she and her husband worked with Mr. Hunter to co-design the mural in just one day.

“It’s kind of like an ocean coat of arms … and that entryway is like walking through a jetty and looking up from under water,” she said.

Ms. Swales said the mural project tied into preparations that were happening at the community centre for the GROUNDED Art Festival finale event, Lanterns and Fire: The Story of Wihadha, (see page 14) through the shared theme of ocean conservation.

“The story of Widhadha is the Narungga story with a moral of being too greedy,” Ms. Swales said.

“It’s about wrapping the fish in bark and sending it out to sea until it grows too big — and that’s the Creation story of the great white shark.

“We’ve taken too much from the ocean, and now the ocean’s biting back.”

Mr. Andrews said the mural was a reminder of what’s at stake.

“The Great Southern Reef is one of Australia’s most precious ecosystems, and this bloom is tearing it apart,” he said.

“Without urgent action, iconic species like the giant cuttlefish and weedy sea dragon risk being overlooked because of data gaps and outdated threatened species processes.

“Fast-tracking their assessment and funding protection measures now is the only way to safeguard them before it’s too late.

This article appeared in Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 26 August 2025.