Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and visual artist Jenna Oldaker has canvassed a new artwork that acknowledges and celebrates Eynesbury’s Traditional Owners.
The work, titled Murrup Dja (Spirit Country), is hanging in the Eynesbury Discovery Centre for viewing by the public during opening hours.
Ms Oldaker said the artwork is a celebration of community and Country.
“Our ancestors and Elders travelled these lands sharing their culture, their stories and knowledge, and it is now our responsibility to take care of our Wadawurrung Country home,” she said.
The piece uses traditional symbols to tell the story of Wadawurrung Country with an emphasis on the Eynesbury area including symbols for the Grey Box forest and animals that live there, strips of blue representing waterways including the Grey Box forest waterfall, shapes that indicate meeting places and elders and arches to symbolise mountains and nearby scar trees.
“The artwork I created encompasses many traditional shapes and symbols for people, animals, places and landforms in the area, like the waterways and the Grey Box Forest, and the journey they have been on,” she said.
“As we have cared for this land for thousands of years, the Country has reciprocated and cared for us providing healthy and nourished land and water, allowing us to create new life and spirit.”
The artwork is also accompanied by a detailed timeline of the history of the Eynesbury area.
The Eynesbury Discovery Centre is located at 479 Eynesbury Road, Eynesbury, Victoria and is open seven days a week from 11am – 5pm.
