ART aimed at giving the public more insight into the contribution of the region’s Indigenous community to its history is taking shape at Horsham College.
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The steel art structure has been put up at the institution during the school holidays, and features a scarred tree – a tree which Indigenous Australians have removed the bark of to build canoes or shelters – with the Wimmera River running past it.
It’s a project five years in the making, with the leaves on the tree featuring designs drawn by Indigenous students who attended the college at that time.
Gail Harradine, a Horsham artist and volunteer chairwoman at Dimboola-based Wurega Aboriginal Corporation, said the project began five years ago
“We organised a committee to work with principals, community and people off the committee Wurega to work together and think about different projects that could be done in local schools,” she said.
“This was one way of trying to engage and get the different elements of the community together.”
Ms Harradine said possum skin workshops, mosaics and hip hop workshops at Horsham schools also aimed to bring people together.
“We drew on the elements of the river, because it’s where our creation stories are linked to,” she said.
“We thought about the leaves and the five peoples recognised under the native title determination for the area, which were important to put in.
“I think this artwork will be part of a whole concept of making Indigenous students feel welcome at the school, and making people aware of our culture and art form this area.
“We do get a lot of Indigenous culture from northern Australia, but we actually have a really thriving south-eastern Australian Aboriginal culture as well. Our designs are based on the wavy lines of rivers and linear designs.
“It’s important every family is recognised for their individual knowledge and designs, and we really wanted that to come out through this work.”
Horsham sculptor Martin Knight was enlisted to turn the idea into reality.
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
