year 9/10

Nasharni Ellis

Title: The Chester Mob
Theme: Family and Community
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
This is Nasharni’s mob. The elephant represents her grandmother whom she loved a lot and taught her about her connection to the land.
The emu, the eagle, and the lizard are totem animals of her culture. Her great grandfather was Wotjobaluk represented by the lizard. He was taken from his country and the Chester family was the first people in Hill’s Gap. Here he and his family settled with the Ngarrindjiri mob. Nasharni’s grandmother was from Raukkan

Jedah-Rose Morea

Title: My saltwater country
Theme: Identity and Culture
Medium: Text

Brief Description:
This is my version on what being indigenous means to me. ‘My Saltwater Country’ talks about how being a first nations persons runs deep, that it runs deeper then my blood, but being indigenous means that I have a connection and caring for my country. ‘My saltwater country’ shows that I, myself know about the ocean, that i can hear the stories it keeps. I wrote this so people would understand that being an aboriginal woman means more then just the title.

My Saltwater Country

I feel the sun sink into my dark skin, not just warming me, but grounding me. It is as if the land places its hands on my shoulders, reminding me that I belong. The wind brushes past, gentle at first, then stronger, carrying the scent of saltwater. That ocean breeze, sharp and fresh, has always meant one thing to me. Home.

Most people think of the ocean as a place to visit. But for me, the sea is sacred. That salty air carries more than weather. It holds memories. It smells like childhood, like walking barefoot along the sand with my grandparents, learning truths no textbook could teach.

A lot of people assume being Indigenous is just background, something you mention on a form. But it is not like that. Being Indigenous is not just part of me. It is who I am. It lives in my skin, my voice, my spirit, and especially in my connection to Country.

I come from saltwater Country, Hervey Bay. Where the ocean meets the soul. The sea has always watched us, fed us, guided us. My Country holds our Dreaming. Our ancestors are in the waves. Our stories are written in the sand. Every rockpool, every shell, every ripple has meaning. It is not just nature. It is identity. It is survival.

When I walk along the beach at sunset, I feel something ancient stir inside me. The sand is soft, but it is strong. It has held thousands of years of footsteps. My people walked here. My ancestors stood where I stand now, watching the same sun set. They survived. They resisted. They taught. And now I walk in their footsteps. Proud. Strong. Grateful.

Indiana Dodds

Title: In my heart
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
This is the art work I have created, I have called it ‘In my heart’. It symbolises my connection with my culture and land, the people represent my the generations of my bloodline and where my culture comes from and the plants are local from the place I live now sharing a connection with the land. The words, ‘Miimi & Ngalawuny’ mean mother and daughter in gumbaynggirr language, which where I come from, the reason I chose these words is because my mother is the one who has taught me about my culture and has given me the courage to be proud about my heritage and speak up for my mob. My mother was my inspiration for this artwork.

Rovina Newchurch

Title: Galadri
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
My artwork reflects the next generation’s strength, vision, and legacy, inspired by my family’s deep connection to Galadri Beach. Galadri, located on Narungga Banggara (Narungga Country) along the coast of the Yorke Peninsula, is a place of culture, connection, and family. It holds deep personal significance as a gathering place for my community and Point Pearce, where my family comes together to camp, fish, share stories, and recharge our spirits. Now, we pass this tradition on to the younger generation, including my nieces and nephews, ensuring that our stories and experiences continue to live on.

In my artwork, I have included mandildu (large stingrays), creatures I often see drifting through the waters of Galadri. They symbolise the ongoing pattern of storytelling within our culture. Just as stingrays follow one another, knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. The stars within them represent the connection I see between the ocean and the night sky. When I gaze up at the stars from the beach, with the cool wind on my skin and the darkness enhancing the brightness of the sky, I feel peaceful, calm, and deeply connected to my ancestors and my Country. I imagine them standing on Galadri thousands of years before me, experiencing the same sense of belonging and tranquility.

The Nhandhau (kangaroo) is another important element in my artwork. It is a familiar presence on our land and represents strength and resilience. Importantly, the kangaroo cannot move backward, embodying the idea that progress belongs to the next generation. This symbolises our people’s perseverance, we face challenges but always move forward, ensuring our culture and traditions endure.
The ocean holds profound significance for us, and I have emphasised this in my artwork with blue dots in the water. The ocean is a vital source for our home, deeply embedded in our traditions, nourishment and spiritual connection. The ripples created by the stingrays reflect the impact of our elders’ storytelling, influencing and shaping generations to come. The waves rising and falling represent the highs and lows of life. As a people, we have faced adversity, but we are resilient, just like the ocean, there is always calm after a storm.

One of the most personal elements of my artwork is the seven clusters of ripples, representing me and my six siblings. We all share a deep love for Galadri – it is the beach we grew up on, the place where we all had our first swim, and a space where we built cherished memories. Each of my siblings has taught me something valuable about culture and family, shaping me into the person I am today. Being part of a big family and having a close bond with each of them has instilled in me the importance of connection. It has shown me that our strength lies in our unity and the traditions we carry forward.

I am immensely proud to be Narungga, and I wanted to express that pride through this artwork by showcasing our deep connection to the ocean, the land, and each other. One of our greatest strengths as a people is our passion for storytelling. Through this piece, I hope to honor my ancestors, celebrate my family, and ensure that the stories of Galadri continue to ripple through generations to come. Galadri is a place of generational joy – a sacred space where memories are made, traditions are upheld, and our spirits are renewed.

Krisha Toby

Title: My home
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
The land and environment is so important to me because we still live off the land today. We nurture the environment by only taking what we need. If we need food, we make sure there is plenty left for next year so that our families always have food. We connect to our country by spending time on it, learning to read the weather and seasons. We know which food comes at what time and how to best find it. This knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. We learn from a very early age. Kids are taken along on cultural outings with their families.

We know how to read the land to keep us safe and so that we have enough food and water to live. We know the life cycles of the animals and the stories of our culture. We only know these cultural practices for the land that is ours, not for all of the land. That’s why it’s so important for indigenous people to live on their own land and have access to it. When we go to someone else’s land we ask for permission to go there and follow their practices. We care for the land by mapping the important cultural sites so that they aren’t lost to us. We only take enough for our families and share what we hunt to help everyone in the community.

This painting is about our river, the Nullagine River. It cuts its way through our town and changes during the year. It floods a lot and this water helps all of the plants grow. The colours on my painting represent the flowers that come after the flood. When the river floods, the land explodes in colour. There is a lot for the animals to eat. The river provides for us. It provides fish, red claw and waters the bushes to give us bushfood. When the river floods, the land explodes in colour. Several deep pools join together when the river flows. This is shown in the painting.

Rickcoda Toby

Title: On Country
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
The land and environment is an important part of our culture. Knowing my culture protects me from bad things. It keeps us healthy and fit and strong. It is important to take care of the land and keep it clean so that the fish are good to eat and not sick.

I connect to country by going out with family and hunting for traditional food. I hunt for goannas, bush turkey, emus, snakes and kangaroos. We also dig out grubs to eat. When we get this food, we bring it back and share it with family. Different people go out at different times to different parts of the land to find a feed.

First Nations people need to be on their land. It keeps us connected to culture and family. We need to keep doing our traditional practices. It’s really important. It gives us joy to do these things and help out our family.

We care for our country and the environment by only catching some of the fish and leaving some for other people or for next time. We share everything we catch so nothing goes to waste. It makes me feel good to care for country in this way.

Taya Neilson

Title: What an honour
Theme: Family and Community
Medium: Text

Brief Description:
For my chosen entry, I decided to write about Family and Community, and how the hardships my elders faced, and the stories they pass onto me reflect myself as a proud Gumbaynggirr Girl. I start off my entry by writing my native tongue and introducing myself, which is followed by an English translation. I talk about my old Nan’s experience being a part of the stolen generation, and how it shaped her life. With that, I suppose my writing keys in with Reconciliation, so I decided what a better time to enter in my submission then Reconciliation Week. The theme this year, which is ‘Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.’ And as stated on the website, ‘Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.’ I talk about my pride in my culture, and how being a proud First Nations person shapes me. I am so eternally grateful to be aboriginal, and grateful at the fact I got this AMAZING opportunity. Even if my entry doesn’t make it, I am still incredibly glad I was able to write about my own view, the emotions I feel being an Indigenous Australian, and how the past strengthens the future.

What an honour

Giinagay, nganyundi bijaarr Taya Raquel Neilson, Ngaya yaam gumbaynggirr nyamiganam.

It started at Camboom station, where my Great Grandmother, Ivy Booth, who turned 107 on the 2nd of May, was taken from her family when she was just a young girl. She was made to walk from Taroom settlement, to Woorabinda. She had to live in a dormitory with other girls, and she wasn’t allowed to see or have connections with any of her family, including her parents. She lived in the dormitory her entire life, until she was married off to Pa Clancy, where they were sent to work.

To this day, she still holds memories from these hardships. Imagine being stripped from your family, being ‘cleansed’ of your culture, imagine being treated less of a human being simply because of the DNA in your blood. Simply because you were an indigenous australian.

I am a proud indigenous Australian, I am a strong-minded girl. I am loud, I am funny. I embrace my culture. I live it, and I love it. What an honour it is to have the world’s longest living culture in my blood.

What an honour it is to be Aboriginal.

Mason Cripps and Lisa Joseph

Title: Black Fella White Fella song
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Video

Brief Description:
“Blackfella/Whitefella” is an Australian rock song written by Neil Murray and George Rrurrambu, recorded by their Aboriginal rock group, Warumpi Band, and released as the second single from their 1985 album, Big Name, No Blankets on Parole Records and Powderworks Records.[1] While not a chart success, the song drew attention to issues of racism in Australia through lyrics that encourage harmony and co-operation by people of all races. (from Wkipedia)

This song was learned and sung by the students from Special Options classrooms, where all students are neurodiverse and have diagnosed disabilities. Two of the lead singers are Aboriginal: Lisa, whose face is blurred in the video as she does not have photo permission, and Mason.

Tyson Lees

Title: Bloodlines of the land
Theme: Country and Connection
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
A long time ago, the Night People and the Sun People didn’t get along at all. They lived on opposite sides of the land, and everyone was afraid of the other. They never shared stories or helped each other, just kept to their own groups. One day, something strange happened animals from both tribes all came together at the water hole in the middle of the land. The animals drank peacefully, resting side by side, without fighting or chasing each other. The hunters from both tribes saw this and decided to go see what was going on. When they arrived, they saw all the animals just relaxing together. It was a quiet, strange sight animals from both sides living in harmony. The hunters looked at each other and thought Maybe we can try this too. They cautiously approached the water hole and started to sit closer together. At first, everyone felt a little nervous, but soon they realized nothing bad was happening. They shared stories and even teamed up to go hunting, working side by side instead of against each other. When they came back, all the families from both tribes gathered around the water hole. They shared food and laughter and for the first time, they saw each other as friends, not enemies.

Kasey Russell

Title: Unseen Prints
Theme: Family and Community
Medium: Art

Brief Description:
This painting relates to the theme of family and community. I decided to name my painting ‘Unseen Prints’. I named my piece this because my family and where I come from have shaped the person I am today. In the corners of this piece it represents the land and the water, which is where my people are from. The hands are the hands of my sister, brother, mum, step dad and myself. They are painted black to symbolise how people don’t see how much of an impact they have on me. Lastly the colour around each hand represents how each person has their own affect on my life.

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