Gorong Darrang Munga-k Wurrdhadindu Marram-Nganjin
“We Scar Many Trees“
We, the Taungurung people of this Biik (Country), have been removing the bark from trees to use for various purposes - such as baby carriers, food collection vessels, bark canoes and thatching for our dwellings - for at least 2000 generations.
These carvings symbolise our relationship to the Waring (Goulburn River) and its associated rivers, creeks and Ngarrak (Mountains). These symbols we carve, have been used to articulate our relationship to our Ancestors and Country,
as Kulin people for thousands of years.
as Kulin people for thousands of years.
Along the length of the Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT), we have removed the bark from healthy eucalypts, and then carved a message in the sapwood. Each tree we have scarred has marks at the top that represent how are old people cut and scarred their bodies. The marks below tell different aspects of our connection to our Biik and each other.
As part of the trail Mick and his two sons Mitchil and Corey scarred a series of twenty trees between Tallarook and Mansfield. The trees share our stories of connection to our Country.
You can read more at the Great Victorian Rail Trail website. You can also watch more in a series of videos by @thirdrowfilms about We Scar Many Trees & The Great Victorian Rail Trail on YouTube
You can read more at the Great Victorian Rail Trail website. You can also watch more in a series of videos by @thirdrowfilms about We Scar Many Trees & The Great Victorian Rail Trail on YouTube
Thank you to Murrindindi Shire @discoverdindi, Mitchell Shire @discovermitchell and Mansfield Shire @mansfieldshire for your support and for this opportunity to share our culture across our Biik (Country).
Thank you also to Lisa from @globalartprojectsmelbourne @visitvictoria
Please tag us @ngargawarendj and @greatvictorianrailtrail on social media with your photos of the trees you see while you travel along the trail - we would love to see them
26th May 2023
It was a fantastic day on #taungurungcountry sharing a welcome to country and smoking ceremony at
@trawool_estate for the opening of the art sculptures on the Great Victorian Rail Trail.
It was a fantastic day on #taungurungcountry sharing a welcome to country and smoking ceremony at
@trawool_estate for the opening of the art sculptures on the Great Victorian Rail Trail.
