First Peoples - State Relations

🖤💛❤️

New public artwork unlocked!

This gathering circle invites us to celebrate the story and spirit of iconic Aunty Dot Peters. 🖤💛❤️

Binak Ngarrgu, Basket of Knowledge, was created by artist Simone Thomson Art (Wurundjeri, Yorta-Yorta, Wiradjuri). Simone worked closely with Weston Rumbold Art Projects Weston Rumbold Art Projects and Aunty Dot’s family.

It is a public space to connect with each other, the land we are on and the incredible women who added bricks to the pathway of equality.

🖤💛❤️

Aunty Dot used her role as an activist, educator, author and Elder to raise awareness for injustices faced by First Nations people. Born in 1930, she spent most of her childhood in the Healesville region.

Aunty Dot's father was a Yorta Yorta man who fought and died in the Second World War. Like many Aboriginal service people at the time, his sacrifice was not properly recognised, and his family did not receive the same acknowledgement or support afforded to others.

The injustice of this experience fuelled Aunty Dot to dedicate herself to ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of First Peoples during wartime would not be overlooked.

Passionate about protecting and sharing cultural practices and knowledge, Aunty Dot was also an Aboriginal Educator, devoting herself to passing these traditions on to future generations.

This artwork is just one of the many being unveiled from the second round of the Victorian Women’s Public Art Program. This innovative program seeks to balance the scales for the visibility of women.

🖤💛❤️

- Blind Creek Reserve in Boronia, City of Knox on Wurundjeri country.

Learn more about Aunty Dot’s story: Aunty Dorothy Peters | vic.gov.au

📺You can watch the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Service live from 11 am Sunday 31 May.

The Aboriginal Remembrance Service commemorates the significant contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people have made, and continue to make, in the Australian Defence Force.

Shrine of Remembrance