Commission for the Dubbo School of Rural Health

Geegal - Meaning Tree. Designed and developed as an original artwork for the Dubbo School of Rural Health. ​​​​​​​​​

As a proud Indigenous woman, I would first like to pay my respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and acknowledge the traditional owners of this land on which I was born and raised. This story takes you on a journey of respect and gratitude for the knowledge we all have been fortunate to receive and will continue to receive.

In creating this artwork, I have based my story around the Geegal (The Tree) to represent strength and resilience foremost and the significance of its history and its many uses.

My artwork represents one of those uses, the Coolamon. In Aboriginal history, a Coolamon was made from the bark shell of a knot formed on a eucalyptus tree trunk. The inside of the eucalyptus tree knot was then burnt and smoothed with stone and shells to create a vessel mostly used by women to carry water, fruits, nuts, and cradle babies.

A Coolamon is not only used for various purposes but also exists to preserve and transfer knowledge to future generations.

My artwork has been designed to represent the tree from which the Coolamon is cut. I designed the artwork to form the shape of a Coolamon, which is like that of a canoe. The painting's colors are reminiscent of our lands, and the markings represent some true markings from significant Wiradjuri trees in our region. The knots and the roots of the tree are present in the center of the artwork and represent the anchor that holds us all together. The many layers signify the workings of our people and provide us with an understanding of where the Coolamon originated from and its importance. The fallen leaves represent new growth coming through, and the earthen-colored dots represent the Wiradjuri land we walk, work, and live on today.

The School of Rural Health, Dubbo, to me, is just that, a large Coolamon, that vessel that will continue to carry our young and the resources that are needed to feed them the knowledge to be used to be passed down for generations to come. In presenting this artwork, I wanted to bring the feeling of our country onto your walls as a sweet reminder of how fortunate we are to have the resources we have to continue to learn and grow.

Mandaang Guwu (Thank you),

Lizzy