ARTWORK by Kempsey artist Richard Campbell has been selected to adorn new signs to be erected at the entry of Goolawah national park and regional park.
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The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) needed new signage for the park and saw an opportunity to include artwork illustrating the beauty and cultural significance of the area as viewed through indigenous eyes.
With this aim in mind NPWS sought the help of the Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art gallery and the gallery’s Aboriginal art coordinator Jann Kesby.
Nine artworks by local artists Richard Campbell, Elwyn Toby and Steve Faulkner were submitted to the NPWS for consideration.
Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive officer Jo-Anne Kelly was given the task of selecting just one of the pieces to feature on the new signs.
After much consideration she selected ‘Middens’ by Richard Campbell.
Mr Campbell received $1000 from the NPWS for his painting.
Mr Campbell said he thought the painting was a good representation of Aboriginal life in Goolawah.
“It was a special meeting place for Dunghutti folk where they would gather to catch fish and collect pippis on the beach,” he said.
“They would cook these in the area with the result being that middens (indigenous waste dumps) were created.
“This is just part of a larger work which is hanging in Boorongen Djugun College.”
NMPS area manager Russell Madeley was impressed with the scope and the variety of the work and was sure Mr Campbell’s painting would look fantastic on the sign.
“The inclusion of this beautiful artwork on the Goolawah park entry sign is a positive step towards acknowledging the contribution of the Aboriginal community and I hope that it will also highlight the Dunghutti connection to country and to this reserve,” he said.
![Artists Elwyn Toby and Richard Campbell, NPWS area manager Russell Madeley and artist Steve Faulkner Artists Elwyn Toby and Richard Campbell, NPWS area manager Russell Madeley and artist Steve Faulkner](/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/storypad-34zd2PBuWVWQ9ciyLLMkLXC/ccbd0af0-f176-46c0-9cc8-90d34cc23eee.jpg/w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)