Arts in Health

Darruyaya yilaaming  gamanggundi darrunda-wurrun. Welcome to Macksville a place of healing.

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Juluum-nyarr (from the mountain)

Gaagal-gu (to the sea)

As part of the delivery of the new Macksville Hospital in 2020, three large woven artworks reflecting Country from ‘the mountains to the sea’ were created by Gumbaynggirr Weavers, Aunty Laurent Jarrett, Jasmine Stadhams and Denise Buchanan. 

Three Gumbaynggirr communities came together to create Juluum-nyarr Gaagal-gu (from the mountain to the sea)

In collaboration with Nambucca Heads High School, Macksville High School, Bowraville Women’s Group, Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance, Mid North Coast Local Health District and Health Infrastructure. 

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[Aunty Lauren Jarret, Elder and Artist]

It’s given me the opportunity as an elder to interact with children in schools and other people in community and bring them together. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

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All the children are keen, and it was really good for their self-esteem and their self-worth. Learning techniques and sharing with each other. I guided them to also teach each other as well, so it was a process.

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We shared Dreamtime stories and passed on the tales of our ancestors, allowing everyone to see these stories come to life and understand them from Alpha’s perspective.

It’s about teaching what we’ve learned growing up, the lessons passed down from our ancestors and family, and celebrating this beautiful place we call home.

What’s so wonderful about this project is that we’re bringing our creation stories into the hospital. Many people pass through its doors, and now they’ll have the chance to know these stories, share them, and connect with them.

[Jasmine Stadhams, Denise Buchanan and Jane Tavener]

We are just happy to share our stories, Dreamtime stories, and tell everyone our stories, so they can see it come to life and understand it from our perspective and what we learnt growing up and being taught from our ancestors and family.  

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That’s what’s so wonderful about this project is we are actually bringing in creation stories into the hospital. There are so many people coming in and out of the hospital and community got to know this story. They’re going to be able to share it.

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[Nambucca Heads High School students – Joanna Wellington, Cheyenne Baker, Bree Jarrett, Marli Bateman]

It’s knowing that you got to be involved in something that people are going to see and going to ask questions about it. They’re going to wonder like who are these kids and what did they do. It’s so great they have a connection with and an understanding of their culture and just being a part of something in the community that is just good for the Aboriginal community.

[Aunty Lauren Jarret, Elder and Artist]

We hope that we can leave a lovely ambience with all that in the hospital and people to enjoy and just distract them from their worries about their loved ones. Puts Macksville on the map – I reckon.