Merindah-Gunya

 

Bayley Mifsud is a proud Peek Whurrong woman of the Maar Nation from south-west Victoria (Warrnambool). Her Aboriginal name, Merindah-Gunya, meaning “Beautiful Spirit” in the Peek Whurrong language, was chosen by her Elders and parents and gifted to her at the age of 16 during her naming ceremony.

Born in Warrnambool, Bayley began creating Aboriginal art from a very young age. She was first introduced to traditional symbols at just five years old while working on her family’s possum skin cloak at the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre in the Grampians. Weekends spent there with her family were an important part of her upbringing, immersed in culture through art, music, and dance.

Bayley now lives on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne), where she has spent a large portion of her life. Her great-granny, Mary Clarke, was a proud Bunurong and Yorta Yorta woman, further grounding Bayley’s connection to Country and cultural heritage.

With a natural talent and strong interest in art, Bayley continued to develop her skills under the guidance and encouragement of her Elders. Creating stories through sacred symbols is something she has always felt deeply connected to.

Her Aunty Ros, a Butchulla woman from Queensland, played a significant role in her artistic journey—teaching Bayley how art can be used to tell stories of family and lived experience. Aunty Ros shared new symbols and dot techniques that reflected the Country they were connected to. When Bayley asked her Elders about these variations, she was told that much of their traditional art was lost through colonisation—or, as her Uncle explained, “the white man didn’t let us paint.”

Through her work today, Bayley continues to honour culture, reclaim storytelling through art, and keep these stories alive for future generations.

 

Website:   www.merindahgunya.com.au
Instagram:   www.instagram.com/merindahgunya
Facebook:   www.facebook.com/merindah.gunya.bayley