Stirling Times: Trigg residents work with indigenous artist to create huge artwork

More than 150 Stirling residents collaborated to paint a massive dot painting with Indigenous artist Neta Knapp.

The community gathered at the event to show their support for a plan to provide more jobs for indigenous rangers in WA national parks through the Create Ranger Parks organisation, backed by Reconciliation WA and the WA Conservation Council.

The painting event underway.

Create Ranger Parks spokeswoman Suzannah Macbeth said the group would lobby the State Government to convert five million hectares of pastoral land, purchased by the Government for conservation, into national parks.

“Create Ranger Parks is an historic opportunity to protect the natural and cultural heritage of a network of former pastoral lease properties that were purchased by the WA Government for conservation 20 years ago but which have since been under-managed,” she said.

Karrinyup residents Anne and Rees Barrett took part in the painting and have a particular connection to one of the former stations, Thundelarra, that would be made into a national park if the Create Ranger Parks plan was successful.

“We had a great family holiday at Thundelarra Station in 1985 when it was a working pastoral station,” Ms Barrett said.

“We would love to take the grandkids back there, which would be possible if it were to become a national park.”

“I am Australian and as such it’s my responsibility and duty to ensure we have the best possible landcare and I’m passionate about our country and believe we need to care for all aspects of our natural heritage,” Ms Barrett said.

Artist Neta Knapp with the finished artwork.

Artist Neta Knapp said the painting depicted a meeting place on the land and the Noongar seasons.

“It was really good to have the community so interested in taking part in the painting and wanting to learn about our culture; everyone got involved but I actually think the old fellas had more fun than the kids,” she said.

“The circle represents home, a place of learning and a big community gathering to learn.

“When you see Aboriginal artwork the dots can represent the footprints on the land.”

The group plan to present the completed painting to Deputy Premier and Scarborough MLA Liza Harvey.

By Kate Leaver, Stirling Times, 21 December 2016. View original story here.

See more photos from the event on Facebook.

Locals with the completed artwork on the day.

Children took part in the painting event in Trigg.