A newly created artwork will celebrate the partnership between Barwon Coast and the Wadawurrung People to care for the coast along Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Breamlea.
To celebrate and better explain the partnership, Wadawurrung man Billy-jay O’Toole has produced a stunning canvas artwork named ‘Warri’. ‘Warri’ means ‘saltwater’ in Wadawurrung language.
A short video (youtu.be/SxOjz8-cd5A) produced by Ocean Grove based filmmaker Jarrod Boord of Streamline Media explains and showcases the artwork and the partnership.
‘Warri’ is currently on display at Barwon Coast’s office at 7 Ewing Blyth Drive, Barwon Heads, and will eventually be displayed at the Barwon Estuary Heritage Centre on Jetty Road in Barwon Heads. The heritage centre is currently under refurbishment.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC) Healthy Country project officer Sarah Eccles said the relationship with Barwon Coast is guided by Paleert Tjaara Dja – Let’s make Country good together 2020–2030 – Wadawurrung Country Plan.
“We want locals living in and people visiting Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads or Breamlea to understand they are on Wadawurrung Dja (Country),” she said.
“To share our cultural values and connections and how we continue to Gobata Dja – taking care of the coast. Our work with Barwon Coast over the next few years will see this strengthened.”
Barwon Coast Committee of Management chair Sandra Gatehouse said Barwon Coast is committed to meaningfully involve Wadawurrung people, the knowledge and advice they share.
“Our key strategic document, the Coastal and Marine Management Plan 2020-2025 very clearly states that we are committed to this partnership,” she said.
“We are now meeting regularly with the Wadawurrung People and have a number of current year projects guided by this relationship.”
Locals and visitors to the coast will see visible signs of the partnership between WTOAC and Barwon Coast. The new ‘Kurrak’ (Sand) Playground at Ocean Grove Main Beach celebrates Wadawurrung culture. Elements of the ‘Warri’ artwork and Wadawurrung culture will also soon be seen at new sand dune signage, new drink fountains at Ocean Grove Main Beach, a new Barwon Coast website, and a community consultation project to discuss putting Wadawurrung language names back on parts of the local coast.
