Dr Aunty Eileen’s painting - Images supplied by Rotary Club of Warragul
An outstanding painting by renowned indigenous artist, Dr Aunty Eileen Harrison is the inspiration for a new garden, one of special significance to the area, which is Stage 3 of Rotary Park in Warragul. Words by Wendy Morriss The Baw Baw Shire Council, the Rotary Club of Warragul, others and the local indigenous community are working together to create the garden designed by local landscape designer Prue Metcalf, with funding from BBSC and the RCW for construction of the paths and central circle. As more funds become available the RCW will work with community groups to complete the design. The garden project is to celebrate one hundred years of Rotary service in Australia, to provide insight into the culture of the Kurnai people and to build stronger connections with the land we live on and each other. Outgoing Rotary President, Diane Carson said Rotary Park in Warragul is a great place with a toilet block, a rotunda and a fire pit, a small shelter and a playground. “The creek however, is congested and the grass area is underutilised, hence the decision to turn the space into a garden that will be used by the community. Dr Aunty Eileen has been very generous in allowing the use of her art for the project.” She said the garden will have six trails, all with names of animals that come together into a central meeting place. The tracks will have lighting and the centre will have six three-metre-high totem poles that have been carved by the local indigenous community representing story lines and birds that are of particular significance to the Kurnai people.
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In the grassed segments between the paths in the next stage of the project, there will be seating areas, sculptures and art works. “We are looking for assistance with the cost of the plants so we can get them grown,” she said, “and then we will invite the community to help us with the plantings.” She said Rotary is applying for funding to create the woodland in the northwest corner of the park. The final stage of the project will be clearing the creek with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority. President-elect of Rotary, Teresa Mitchell said, “It’s going to be a beautiful space. We want to see it as a place of contemplation and recreation and to show an appreciation of our indigenous cultural heritage.” She said it’s a place that will tell a story, which is very important. The story in the painting is about the meeting place, bringing people together, the sharing of knowledge and sharing stories. The project will commence shortly with the first stage to be completed by the end of June 2022. Prue Metcalf, the designer of the garden said it was really nice to have Dr Aunty Eileen’s painting to work from. “It was such a good template. It really suited the space as well and it could be easily interpreted as a garden.”
