GalleriesReconciliation

Click on thumbnails to enlarge
     
Bridge Walk:
Corroboree 2000		   Goongie Goorumbul Widgibul Bundjalung Elder Mt Wollumbin and Evening Star
Archibald Portrait Prize
Entrant 2002		   Sea of Hands:
Corroboree 2000 		  Roaring the Wind:
Myall Creek Massacre Memorial

CORROBOREE 2000, INCLUDING THE 'BRIDGE WALK' AND 'MYALL CREEK MASSACRE MEMORIAL' STORY:

Throughout the 1990’s my partner Adrienne and I were active members of the Kingscliff-Cudgen Reconciliation Committee. These years of community collaboration with our local Bunjalung neighbours was part of an Australia wide network organized by AFRA (Australians for Reconciliation Association)and Reconciliation Australia. A decade of work was to culminate in a series of events called Corroboree 2000 to focus attention to reconciliation between indigenous and other Australians this was hopefully to include an apology by the then PM John Howard.

I joined thousands from all over Australia at the Sydney Opera House to witness the ceremonial handing over of the reconciliation documents. It was a grand harbor scene that welcomed a complete cross section of society. In the forecourt a Corroboree, taking the form of a circle of elders surrounding an Aora Turtle sand pattern with humanity within its claws. The surrounding gardens a Sea of Hands coloured black, yellow, and red, taking the form of the basking shark. A stage set befitting of a profound historical Australian event to begin a more humane and caring millenium.

Despite the absence of an apology, we were filled with joy and hope on that cold, windy May day by the stupendous response from the hundreds of thousands that came to celebrate the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk. Similar concurrent bridge walks were held in regional centres all over Australia. It was obvious to all that these were not just any few steps, but a historical paradym shift from one fatal shore to another, as if to say we’ve crossed that divide together now.

As a Marshal representing my reconciliation group, placed on the middle of the bridge beneath two flags, the roaring wind and a white SORRY against an azure sky I witnessed and greeted countless multicultural faces all visibly jubilant. I felt privileged to share a few words with many elders, including Faith Bandler and Matilda House two of the many wonderful compassionate people there.

Two months later in July I was invited to attend the concluding Corroboree 2000 event held near Bingara in NW NSW. It was there at the Myall Creek Massacre Memorial*, a powerful, transformative symbolic event to represent the healing process for all such atrocities, while placing a Wollumbin Caldera basalt stone in the ceremonial circle that I decided to dedicate the next twelve months painting the Corroboree 2000 series. It was soon after the exhibition of these works opened by Nnunawal elder Matilda House at Tuggeranong Regional Arts Gallery, that master printer John Reidstra selected the painting Bridge Walk to produce a limited edition of lithograph prints, the sale of which include funds for indigenous youth. This being appropriate as it is our next and future generations who will be encouraged to put the vision of those who celebrated Corroboree 2000 into meaningful action.

The recent profound apology by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the opening of federal parliament included the spirit of respect and understanding toward our nations first people that so many of us have eagerly awaited since having crossed that bridge together.

* The Myall Creek Massacre Memorial: Described on the day by Linda Burney as “the jewel in the crown of reconciliation”:

As the bullroarers roared the proper stories and ceremonies completed, the smoke and dust settled, the direct descendants of the colonial perpetrators met and reconciled with the descendants of the Weraerai survivor. At that moment there was an upwelling of emotion and light that spontaneously overwhelmed the many hundreds present. A 170 year darkness was lifted.