We are still here on country

MURRUP Laarr, or Ancestral Stones, is a new public artwork by Wathaurung woman and artist Deanne Gilson and it will be officially unveiled as part of Ballarat’s Harmony Fest.

The sculpture, 14 metres in diameter and located in the North Gardens Indigenous Sculpture Park, has been 12 months in planning and construction.

While it’s a contemporary sculpture Ms Gilson said she wanted to create something that connected to the past.

“In the 1850s there was a Kulun nation corroboree up near Loretto College which the miners and the local community attended,” Ms Gilson said. “I wanted to acknowledge the ceremonial place in that area.”

The construction and the unveiling of Ancestral Stones is a family affair for Ms Gilson.

Her father Bill Gilson, 77 years of age, has been the onsite supervisor overseeing the placement of the basalt stones.

“He has done an amazing job, I couldn’t have managed without him,” Ms Gilson said.

Ms Gilson and her mother Marlene Gilson will conduct the Welcome to Country as part of the event.

Her son Blair Gilson will lead the Smoking Ceremony and 13 other family members will perform a corroboree.

“We all the descendants of the people from that original corroboree,” said Ms Gilson.

The official opening, including Welcome to Country, a smoking ceremony and corroboree, will take place on Saturday, 23 March at North Gardens Indigenous Sculpture Park, corner of Zoo Drive and Wendouree Parade, Ballarat between 6pm to 8pm.