Reflective Journal - Connecting With Country UON

WARD JOURNAL

BY KIANA

Acknowledgement of Country

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the various lands and waterways on which we read this journal on today.

I acknowledge those who walked and managed these lands before us.

To treat the land with respect that holds wisdom and knowledge embedded within Country. We empower our community to build a brighter and stronger future connecting with Country.

I pay our respect to Elders past present and emerging.

My Journey

The first day of the elective we were asked to introduce ourselves and ‘why are you doing the elective?”. I found it confronting to state who I am as a person to others. I was nervous to introduce myself and why I wanted to be part of the elective. This elective was, and is, important to me because it is my heritage and a part of my identity. I realised the importance of sharing with others, amd that it will help build my confidence. This will help me to communicate clearer and be more confidence in myself when developing further.

Lycett and Wallis

Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge

I watch the documentary of ‘Lycett and Wallis Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge’. It discusses two European men that start an art revolution at the beginning of the 19th century. This preserved and captured a vast amount of Aboriginal history. Viewing the painting; I could see how they captured cultural practices and caring for Country. I could see the paintings telling a story and understand the phrase: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. I have used this documentary to inspire my Journal layout. My journal will show my experience through the Working on Country elective through my own eyes. This is communicated through drawings and painting of my day-to-day moments.

Colour Palette

As a group we watch the opening Babakiueria film. I watched the remaining later that day. I was surprised about how many other students had not seen this movie. I find it interesting how it highlights the true nature of the lack of relationship between Australian European descendents and Aboriginals. Having watched this film, I realised not much has change with society’s representation of unfairness to this day. To move forward and create change for the future, there is work Australia’s society needs to commit to.

“Austrailan true history is never read but blackman keeps in his head”

The Great Lawn

Walk About - On Campus

We were taken around campus to look at different cultural places and built environments. We gain further insight about these places and to learn some of the native flora on campus. We stopped at the great lawn, which displays Aboriginal artwork to welcome all. Walked through the Birabahn cultural trail to the Wollotuka building. The Wollotuka building is an Indigenous institute on campus. The Wollotuka Building has a strong impact on me because of the connection to Country and culture I feel when being a part of the Wollotuka family.

Birabahn Cultural Trail

Institute Wollotuka

I have realised the importance of community as a Wollotuka student. They help to support and teach me more about my family history. Wollotuka has been a part of my journey to learn who I am as a person and support beyond being a university student. I believe that with this connection my future career and culture will become emerged as one.

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Culture Weaving

T

he day was filled with learning cultural

of Wollotuka and the women’s I was in my bachelor’s degree. It was a form of stress relief, to take time away from studying and to create new connections. I always find these experiences very valuable to listened to and learn. I understand it is hard to speak from a personal experience. I know these experiences are important for our culture to heal and to pass on knowledge as we move forward into the future.

We spend a day on Darkinjung Country experiencing many different locations. These included Somersby Falls, Bulgandry Aboriginal Place, Gosford Waterfront Park, proposed site for new Gosford Campus, Ourimbah campus and Soldiers Beach. Learning about the significance of these places and native flora that are used as tukka.

This experience was different to previous experiences I have had at these places. I was viewing these places with a different perspective in mind. Viewing different native flora up close and tasting wild food plants. I think this experience was very important for me to connect with and on Country.

Somersby Falls

Gosford

Waterfront Park

Created a deeper understand for culture and why it is important for me.

Going forward I would like to share what I have learnt with others. The importance of being on Country and how this will play a part of our futures moving forward.

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BulgandryArtSite

Banksia Integrifolia

Banksia Ericifolia

shell midden

Soldiers Beach

Cockle Shell

Oyster

Shell

Pipi Shell

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Designing with Country

Concept Design

Myself and my group parnter created our concept driven by enhancing the student and community experience through the use of landscape architecture.

The site is located at 305 Mann Street, Gosford, and we have challenged the existing design of the University of Newcastle Gosford campus by embedding

Country into the landscape. Our design reflects the natural flow of the land and waterways using the original creek lines between Mount Mouat and Presidents Hill as well as the original contour lines through the site.

acknowledgement of Country as they approach the building. The feature wall also shows the site’s floor plan striped back to a continuous line. This Line design represents the site journey and its three key design elements.

Traveling towards the back of site we have provided a ramp for accessibility with native planting that has 3 breakaway spaces. The layout has been influenced by shell midden found on Country including oyster, pipi, and cockleshell. These forms are prominent in the floor plan as they are surrounded by native planting making them private from one another. These spaces can be used for small learning areas, community engagement, and retreat area. The natural curves of these shapes follow the flow line of the façade.

As you journey to the back of site we have designed a yarning circle which can be used for community events, gathering, and teaching spaces that strips back the traditional style of amphitheatre teaching. This allows everyone to feel equal within the space and provides students the opportunity to speak without judgement. Our yarning circle has a canopy which captures the rainfall into the entre feeding the water into our dry creek bed that follows the natural contours of the site. Travelling from the yarning circle there are natural tree bark paths following the contours; enhancing the student experience whilst being emersed in Country. We have designed a dry creek bed that follows down the site into a waterfall pool. This creek will be prominent during the wet seasons and naturally dry out during the dry seasons; unearthing the stones below. The creek bed is made up of small rocks with

Reflection on Eletive

Reflecting on my time during this elective, I am now asking the same question as what this journey has started with. ‘why are you doing the elective?’ The insight I have gained from learning how to connect with Country, I would like to share with others and how important community is when considering change in our built environment. I have realised that it is not just about self-growth but to grow with others around you. To understand the importance of embedding our culture within design rather than apart. This will change the way I think about design in my career. To help develop my knowledge and skill as I move through my career to inspire change.