Janet Wilson
Our Yarra Story
I came from Scotland and Douglas came from the Western District. We were living at Edenhope and I was feeling pretty cut off when we had the opportunity to move to Lilydale in 1979. We moved with our two small daughters, Genevive and Freedom.
Coming to the Yarra Valley was like arriving in Paradise. It soon became 'our place'. I hesitate to imagine that is feeling of place is like 'country' in the Aboriginal sense, in that we are not original people of the area. However it is as close to that as it can be. In the 26 years we have lived in the valley we have walked by the river, swum in it, thought beside it, celebrated, slept and picnicked beside it.
My patch encompasses all these aspects intertwined, through the way in which the river has nurtured our family. The acrylic paint I used depicts Douglas, Genevive, Freedom and Janet as river people moving seamlessly from the mountains at Warburton to the city's edge.
Over the mountains the Aboriginal totem Bunjil watches over all that happens in this country. On the other side a huge River Red Gum symbolises the life force of the area. The Arts precinct of Melbourne is depicted in pen; it is a lively vibrant part of the river but it is also peripheral to the natural elements, which have been here forever. The Yarra is a mystical and timeless force.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my thoughts on fabric and all the best with the project.
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