Connecting the Clarence: Aboriginal artwork brings culture and community together at Grafton Service NSW Centre

The Grafton Centre has become brighter with the unveiling of Dawn-Natalie Brown’s painting “Connecting the Clarence”, featuring the iconic bright purple Jacaranda trees lining the Clarence River, as part of the Service NSW Aboriginal Artwork Initiative.

34-year-old Brown is a proud Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Gundungurra woman who has spent most of her life growing up in Grafton in the Northern Rivers.

The Service NSW Aboriginal Artwork Initiative aims to strengthen engagement with and acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as well as make Service NSW Centres more welcoming and inclusive.

In collaboration with Grafton’s Gurehlgam Corporation, Service NSW selected the artwork “Connecting the Clarence” which reflects the lands and waters of the Clarence Valley and how they bring life to the lands of the Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr, and Yaegl peoples.  

Grafton is the tenth Service NSW Centre across the State to participate in the initiative and engage with their local Aboriginal community to display a local Aboriginal artist’s work.

The Grafton Service NSW Centre works closely with the Gurehlgam Corporation, an Aboriginal community controlled not-for-profit organisation, by attending community meetings to provide support and information to customers while addressing any concerns or challenges with accessing government services.

This community initiative aims to break down barriers and promote accessibility. Service NSW also offers an Aboriginal Traineeship Program and coordinates with a group training organisation to provide an employment pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Grafton Service Centre has been big supporter of the employment program and one of its recent shining examples is Abbey Shannon who was named the 2025 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Apprentice/Trainee of the Year at the Zeal Futures Excellence Awards. Ms Shannon is also a finalist in the 2025 Apprentice Employment Network Awards in the First Nations Trainee/Apprentice of the Year category.

Quotes to be attributed to Trent Lakeman, Grafton Service NSW Service Centre Manager:

“We look forward to customers visiting the Grafton Service NSW Centre, taking a moment to enjoy Dawn’s piece, reflect upon the beautiful land that we live on, and feel the connection to the Clarence like Dawn does."

"Our team is delighted with Dawn’s artwork, which beautifully captures one of Grafton’s most iconic symbols – the Jacaranda tree – and we are proud to display this piece."

“Our teams strive to ensure our Service NSW Centres are inclusive and accessible of all our communities and the Aboriginal Artwork Initiative is one way we want to show respect and recognition of cultures and maintain a sense of belonging and place of welcome for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples."

“Just as the artwork brings people together, our Service NSW Centre is here to connect locals with the services and support they need."

“Whether it’s licences, registrations, or vital community outreach programs, we want every customer to feel welcomed, respected, and supported when they walk through our doors.”

Quotes to be attributed to Artist, Dawn-Natalie Brown:

“It’s so exciting to have my artwork displayed for the community to enjoy at the Grafton Service NSW Centre."

“My artwork is about looking at it and knowing it’s the Clarence, the iconic purple jacaranda trees lining the vibrant rivers and the white motifs represent family, community and gathering."

“Growing up in Grafton and spending time seasonally around the iconic jacarandas and the flowing rivers, brings such a strong connection for me and I wanted to share that with the community."

“I am working in a recovery role supporting the community of Grafton rebuild after our devastating 2022 floods. It wasn’t my intention to ever become an artist; I looked into it and played around with colours and loved it.”