Miara Watson designed the artwork for the Reconciliation Statement in 2007 when she was a first year student in the Bachelor of Contemporary Indigenous Australian Art at Griffiths Queensland College of Art.
The work is entitled 'Gari - The Sun' and the original medium for the design was a print with watercolour. Miara says that "The Sun symbolizes a new day, a bright future, healing, cleansing and strength. There are many pathways leading to the centre - these represent the different backgrounds, lives and origins that Australians take to Reconciliation."
Miara is a Gooreng Gooreng woman who was raised in a family of artists in Brisbane. Miara said that "My aunties all came down from Bundaberg to see my artwork flying on banners at South Bank [in National Reconciliation Week]. This really helped my confidence grow as an artist."
Graduation stoles
Following extensive community consultation, culturally unique graduation stoles to be worn in conjunction with academic dress have been designed, and the prototypes have been made. Graduands will have the option of an Aboriginal and/or a Torres Strait Islander design.
Aboriginal graduation stole
Deann Grant designed the stole and explains the story of the design as follows:
The stole design is based on the theme of from little things big things grow. The main colours of the stoles are red, black and yellow and this is significant of the colours of the Aboriginal Flag.
The yellow section of the design represents the rippling effect one person can make once they graduate from university. It only takes one person to make a change and this change can make a rippling effect.
The red section of the design represents the small beginnings each student makes when they start at Griffith University - this is represented as a seed which then blossoms into a long journey captured in lines.
The black section of the design is to remember where you come from and the connection we have with our traditional land - this is represented in the form of rock art.
The images of hands relate to the individuals making their mark on the University. The coolamon represents women's business, hunting and every day life; it was used for carrying babies, berries and digging. The message stick is a culturally significant implement; it represents a safe journey we all make to and from studying on traditional land. The boomerang is men's business; it's a throwing stick that can be used for a variety of purposes but in this design it represents the return effect one can make if they wish to return to study.
Deann is an Aboriginal woman from the Kuku Yalanji Language Group, Daintree Rainforest, far North Queensland. She also has family in Yarrabah. Her work was chosen to decorate the baptistery in the St. Monica's Church in Cairns. This will feature in the largest stained glass in the region. Deann's work was exhibited in the 3rd World United Nations Conference against Racism, Durban, South Africa. She has designed a poster for the Department of Housing, completed commissioned artwork for Sinclair Knight Merz, sold work in the Frances Jill Reilly Art Gallery in Eumundi and exhibited with a variety of artists in group exhibitions around Australia.
Deann is a qualified Secondary Art teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts and is currently completing her Master of Visual Arts (research) degree from Griffith University Queensland College of Arts. Deann has presented lectures and tutored in Australian Indigenous Studies at Griffith University.
Torres Strait Islander graduation stole
Eddie Nona designed the stole, and explains the story of the design as follows:
Mab Neseurm simply means the journey to the stars; Mab meaning to walk in Kala-Lagaw-Ya (Western Island language) and Neseurm means stars in Meriam Mer (Eastern Island language) from the Torres Strait.
Mab Neseurm is a representation of the struggles that lay ahead of each individual student, as they put forward their goals in striving to succeed at Griffith University. Once the students accomplish their goals they will then be able to bring their knowledge back to their home communities or further their dreams to success.
The design in itself depicts a life cycle of a turtle and how the turtle tends to struggle in life, especially from the day they hatch. Once the turtles have hatched, they make their way out to the ocean while trying to avoid their natural predators ? goannas, pigs and birds. The surviving turtles then face the fish that lurk in the shallow waters, strong currents and the treacherous reefs before they can reach the open waters. In the design the patterns represent the strong currents and the arrows represent the direction of success as students enter university.
The placement of the Dhari and star at the top of the stole design is symbolic of the student reaching their goal of university. The Dhari is culturally and symbolically significant for Torres Strait Islanders ? it signifies unity to our people ? while the star plays a significant role in our lives. To the Torres Strait Islanders, the star represents destination and purpose, having provided guidance to our forefathers who navigated the waters by using the stars.