Allsopp Park
Mural's story in dual languages, as recounted by the artists.
Commissioned by Lismore City Council in 2017, the mural in Allsopp Park was painted by local indigenous artists Gilbert Laurie, Lewis Walker and Oral Roberts. The mural depicts an important creation story from the Bundjalung Nation and, in 2018, Nimbin Community Centre received a grant from the Commonwealth Indigenous Arts and Languages Program to explain the mural's story in dual languages, as recounted by the artists.
Back when it happened
(Guurii Abuu)
In the Ancient Peoples Dreamtime (Guurii Abuu Buuthrum) the two headed serpent (nyah buulabu bawurr nguyribaa) and the sleeping lizard (wuddarm narmal) had a battle (boombalare). The sleeping lizard (wuddarm narmal) was woken by the serpent (nguyribaa) which was destroying the sacred sites (juubihl) and taking the lives of our people (nuli guurii) and the animals (gudjim) as they rumbled and tumbled, creating the valleys (gabang), the mountains (dugun) and our mystical river ways (bulan).
The old man platypus (mabang Djungbung) called upon the sea animals (burugar gudjim) and the land animals (jugan gudjim), to bear witness to the battle (nyah boombalare). Then the willy wagtail (Djirrah-Djirrah), the peacemaker came to the battling giants and told them to go (yanbihba) to the battle ground (nyah boombalare). So they went to a place now called Evans Head (Gamii Garraa) the east coast of our country (ngali jugan) and more rivers (bulan) and valleys (gabang) were created as the goanna (Dirrawong) stood up on her two back legs and forced the mighty serpent (Noungbah) to leave our sacred land (wan-jugan).
And now today
(bayarn) we know the Goanna Headlands (ngamaal bawurr juganbu) as the land of the Goanna (jugan Dirrawong).
As told by Lewis Walker
Gilbert Laurie speaking about the mural: https://youtu.be/-L3mlkG2ptk
Lewis Walker speaking about the mural: https://youtu.be/wjjL-RMSy58
The unveiling of the dual language explanation: https://youtu.be/6IVLX7Arjgs
Mayor Isaac Smith speaking and unveiling the mural sign: https://youtu.be/W-Ptf1zslKg
