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The Moorabool News – 28 June, 2022 Page 3
A sign of culture By Lachlan Ellis Eye-catching indigenous artwork has been established at Lal Lal Reservoir, as part of a new focus to commission Traditional Owner artwork at some of the state’s water catchments. Wadawurrung man Billy-Jay O’Toole is the artist responsible for the vibrant new signage at Lal Lal, and said it represents the land and the Lal Lal Falls, which lies on Wadawurrung Country and is culturally significant to the Wadawurrung People and the Peoples of the Kulin Nation. It is a place of story relating to Bunjil the eagle, a creator deity and culture hero of the Kulin Nation, and one of two ‘moiety ancestors’, the other being Waang the crow. “One of the main focuses of the design is around water – our rivers, creeks, and reservoirs. I also did a few U shapes to symbolise the people that work around them and manage them. The rest of the barking symbolises the earth outside of the reservoirs, including ochre-coloured dots and traditional markings as well,” Mr O’Toole told the Moorabool News. The opportunity came about due to a collaborative project between Central Highlands and Barwon Water authorities, which aims to have more Traditional Owner artwork at reservoirs managed by the two water companies.
Artist and Wadawurrung man Billy-Jay O’Toole with the vibrant new signage at Lal Lal Reservoir. Photo - CHW Mr O’Toole said being asked to paint the sign was humbling, with the painting taking around 8 to 10 hours to complete. “It’s a huge honour. To have my artwork showcased at a culturally significant site like Lal Lal means the absolute world to me,” he said.
“My involvement first started with Barwon Water reaching out to me and saying, ‘we’ve got this project we want to roll out in Wadawurrung Country, between Barwon Water and Central Highlands Water’. We went out to check out the possible locations for signage to go, including Lal Lal Reservoir, and it all went from there.”
CHW Executive Manager Environmental Services, Carsten Berberich, said the new interpretive sign told the important First Nations history of the area, while also informing the community of how Lal Lal Reservoir supports them and the environment today. “This educational installation is the positive outcome of CHW and Barwon Water working together collaboratively, with the guidance of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and the support of DELWP,” Mr Berberich said. “This piece takes our approach to signage in a new direction. It incorporates beautiful artwork and cultural heritage information to give a deeper understanding of this facility, and the area, to share with our communities and visitors.” Barwon Water General Manager Planning, Delivery & Environment, Seamus Butcher, thanked the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners “for their generosity in sharing knowledge and providing cultural guidance on this and other projects”. “We look forward to having more signage installed at recreational areas at some of our other reservoirs later this year,” Mr Butcher said. Supporters of the AFL Geelong Cats may recognise the name Billy-Jay O’Toole – he also designed the first-ever indigenous guernsey worn by the Cats, in 2014 and 2015.
Give that she may grow CONTINUED from page 1
“People are walking in just to donate, after seeing the story on social media. We’re very lucky, Ballan is such a generous community. Any amount, no matter how small, will go a long way…they’re a real Aussie battler family,” Ms Shanahan said. Emeliah’s mum, Tjanna Roberts, said her daughter’s scoliosis had worsened rapidly. “It is progressing extremely fast, from November 2021 it was a 65-degree curve, as of two months ago it has grown to 94 degrees. Emeliah uses a wheelchair most of the time as she can't walk far without pain, she also has nerve damage in her legs from the tethered spinal cord,” she told the Moorabool News. “As a family, we try our best to keep Emeliah free from pain. But I also have two special needs boys who have multiple appointments as well, they have autism, ADHD, my oldest has a cyst on his brain causing migraines, and my youngest son was born with his digestive system not connected. He has had surgeries to fix that, but his heart conditions haven't been corrected yet, so at times it can be stressful trying to do everything in between appointments and making sure we aren't doing too much to aggravate Emeliah's pain.” Ms Roberts will need to stay with Emeliah and her two sons in Melbourne as they have several months of inpatient stay at hospital, after halo gravity traction surgery, and then growth rod surgery.
That means not only medical costs from daily physio and occupational therapy, but also costs for accommodation, parking, petrol, and more. They’re also not guaranteed a place at Ronald McDonald House as they don’t yet have an exact date for Emeliah’s surgery – if there’s no room, they will “have to find a cheap motel”. Ms Roberts estimates the costs will be “a minimum of an extra $600 a week while we are in Melbourne”. “We appreciate the help, and I am embarrassed to even have to ask for help, but this is going to be impossible without the support.” “This is such a generous offer by Crossroads Trading, and to reach our $10,000 target would mean the world to us so we can stay together as a family, and support Emeliah to the best of our ability,” Ms Roberts said. The Black Hill Hotel in Ballarat has also donated a voucher to Emeliah, so she can enjoy a nice dinner or lunch before her major surgeries. There is no exact date for the surgery however, the family has been advised it will be sometime within the next three to six months. To donate, go to www.mycause.com.au, and search ‘Emeliah’. At the time of writing, $7,380 has been raised.
An x-ray shows the abnormal lateral curvature of her spine that requires surgery. Photo - submitted
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