THE Wimmera's Indigenous heritage has been recognised with the renaming of the Federation University's Wimmera campus library.
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The university hosted an official opening in Horsham on Tuesday with a smoking ceremony by Uncle Rob Fry and a Welcome to Country by Wotjobaluk Elder Aunty Jennifer Beer.
The initiative forms part of the university's Reconciliation Action Plan. The library is now called Wimmera Library Werrunangity larr Wimmerata: A quiet place in the Wimmera.
The new name is derived from the Wotjobaluk and Wergaia languages and was chosen in consultation with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council.
Federation University Vice-Chancellor Helen Bartlett said libraries were known as quiet spaces.
"The new name of our Wimmera library recognises Indigenous cultural heritage at Horsham and extends a message of welcome to local Indigenous communities," she said.
She said the Wimmera campus library was the first Federation University library to be renamed as part of the reconciliation plan.
"The dual naming of our library reflects that the path to reconciliation must be based on equality, respect and genuine opportunity," Professor Bartlett said.
Wotjobaluk-Gunditjmara woman and Federation TAFE alumni Tanisha Lovett created the artwork depicting the Wimmera River that accompanies the sign, saying she hoped it made people feel welcome.
"To the left of the artwork, the pattern represents the land around us and time," she said. "The pattern moves in different directions as things change. Time changes and our surroundings change with it.
"When I think about the Wimmera, I think about the river. The river is represented by the wavy lines on the left of the artwork."
Miss Lovett said she chose to paint five emu prints next to the river to signify the creation story of Tchingal, the giant emu, and the five language groups of the area.
"They left their mark on this Earth and we now walk in their footsteps. We remember them, we learn from them and we grow from them," she said.
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