Caring for Country Exhibition

Event NSW

The Schools Reconciliation Challenge exhibition 'Caring for Country' is a selection of artworks and writing by school students inspired by First Nations peoples’ understanding of Country.

This event finished on 28 August 2022.

    157 students from both primary and high schools from NSW and the ACT have created beautiful and diverse works that capture young people’s appreciation and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ methods of caring for Country. The National Trust is proud to display these important travelling works at select properties throughout New South Wales, showcasing the artwork of school students as they interpret the spirit of Reconciliation.

    In Australia, First Nations people have cared for Country for over 60,000 years, maintaining Country by using a wide range of strategies, knowledges and technologies to manage land, water and resources to ensure that Country is cared for now and for generations to come.

    When we use the term ‘Country’ we are referring to the specific areas of land, sea and sky with which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities have a custodial, cultural and spiritual relationship. ‘Country’ is capitalised as a proper noun to acknowledge the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ relationships to Country and aspects of the way in which First Nations People think about, speak about and relate to Country.

    “The land is the mother and we are of the land; we do not own the land rather the land owns us. The land is our food, our culture, our spirit our identity” Professor Dennis Foley, Gai-mariagal and Wiradjuri man.

     

    How to book your tickets

    Please check the specific property pages below for full details of facilities, ticket costs and opening days/times for each location. Next dates and locations:

     

    Proud to partner with

    Reconciliation NSW. Learn more via: schoolsreconciliationchallenge.org.au

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    Uncle by Lucas Galea

    My artwork is about the significance of Aboriginal Elders and their connection to country. It reflects the pride, patience and connection to country.

    ‘Reconciliation means….coming together in peace and harmony’

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    Sleeping Giant by Benjamin Lily

    This artwork represents a person who is incorporated through the mountains as someone who is calm and peaceful. This artwork is showing how Country keeps us safe and protects us in exchange for protecting it back. My artwork shows the connection between Country and people.

    ‘Reconciliation, to me, is a strong bond that has gradually gained strength overtime. It is a relationship between two things, living or not'

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    Caring for me, my home by Saba Sorwar

    This is a painting and collage of my home. There are symbols important to me and symbols from Australian Aboriginal culture on this artwork.

    ‘Reconciliation means… crossing two different landscapes. It represents cultures mixing with other cultures.’

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    Ochre Eyes by Lilianna Baran

    My artwork portrays the face of a young indigenous person, gazing at the Australian landscape. On his face, he proudly wears ochre, a natural clay earth pigment that has been prevalent among Indigenous Australians for over 40,000 years... Ochre binds Indigenous Australians with each other and their country, by incorporating a piece of the land we stand on.

    ‘Reconciliation means…. To join together in unity, and to strengthen and embrace the bonds between people of all colour.’

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    River to Mildura by Dameke Harris, Kade Harris-Wilson, Neil Johnson, Robert Kerwin, Nicholas King

    Students of Wilcannia Central School worked collaboratively to represent the colours of the land of Mildura. The Baaka (Darling River) connects Wilcannia to the Murray River and to Mildura. We are Paakantji (river people) and the Baaka (river) is our lifeblood. The River gives life to all the people and land in Mildura and along the Murray and Darling Rivers; We need to save the Baaka.

    ‘Reconciliation means… Our voices are heard and valued.’

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    Caring for Country by Nishima Rubby

    Land is important to our lives. We need to consider who uses it and needs it. We imagined we were over water and what tracks and marks were left by creatures that move over the land.

    ‘Reconciliation means…. learning about Aboriginal culture, beliefs and values.’

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