Wa-dam-buk Murrup Biik – Renews Spirit of Country

SEC commissioned highly acclaimed First Nations artist Simone Thomson to create an artwork that represents Country, the story and cultural significance of First Peoples, and how this intersects with SEC’s story.

Our energy systems – powered by wind, sun, water, and land – are inherently drawn from elements that First Peoples have long held sacred. This artwork represents First Peoples’ knowledge of energy systems, grounded in the layers of Country.

Simone’s wonderful artwork, Wa-dam-buk Murrup Biik – Renews Spirit of Country, beautifully embodies SEC’s commitment to self-determination and to work and walk alongside Traditional Owners and First Peoples.

"We – are people of earth. We are people of Country.

We are people of the saltwater coasts and the freshwater waterholes, and the forests and rust red deserts. Our stories and spirit are embedded in the soils and sands we walk upon, and in the waters that nurture our grandfather trees that line our winding riverbanks.

The rhythms of Country speak to us. Our songlines are engrained in the fabric of earth and delivered to descendants in song. They are the memories of the ancestors and are the ancient trade and travel routes created at the dawn of time. The ancestors sing to us in the whispering wind with the songlines of knowledge that imprint to the lands and waters. We are the custodians of these cultural protocols that have been handed down over thousands of years that ensure continued management of Country and our precious resources.

Softly shaded Clan territories mark the earth from the aerial view with the thirty-eight sovereign Countries within the state we know as Victoria. These homelands represent all First Nations Peoples and their sacred knowledge systems and acknowledges the profound and deep-rooted connection all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have with their traditional lands and waterways.

Three waterways overlay all Clan territories and represent the river and creek systems of these lands and their eventual path to Saltwater Country in Naarm, the place we know as Melbourne. They signify the interconnectedness of all waterways to their respective tributaries on shared Countries and represent SEC’s commitment and respect to First Peoples across Victoria to acknowledge, understand and to contribute to care for our environment.

Merri Creek – merri merri; meaning very rocky in the Woi-Wurrung language, originates from the north and flows into the significant junction of Birrarung, the majestic river of mist and shadows. Birrarung, known as the Yarra River, weaves gently from the east and from the southern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and signifies deep respects to the traditional lands in which SEC head office operates, Wurundjeri Country.

Maribyrnong River, meaning ‘I can hear a ringtail possum’ runs from the north-west and flows into Saltwater Country to the southern waters of the bay encompassing all waters from the north, east, south and west.

Each of these waterways, all resource rich environments and significant meeting places for Clans and ceremony – represents the past, the present and the future, and signify SEC’s commitment to renewable energy and the sustainable practices of caring for Country.

Animal tracks lead to various parts of the waterways symbolising First Peoples' knowledge of animals, birds and wildlife and their instinctive close proximities to this vital life source. Ancient River Redgums flourish within the layers of Country and along the riverbanks and symbolise growth and regeneration. Their haunting silhouettes speak to the ongoing rich resource they, and other trees provide, and the fuel gifted for our campfires, tools and housing. The spirit of the trees represents intergenerational knowledge and speaks to ongoing sustainable energy practices. Arc shaped symbols intersperse throughout the trees signifying campsites of Clans from the past to the present day and future guardianship.

Markings along the riverbanks signify our ancient aquaculture knowledge and the traditional use of stone weirs and water soaks and speak to the preservation and uses of this precious resource. Wind patterns within the waters signify the relationship the land and waterways have with Sky Country and its system of interconnectedness where all elements are in constant relation with the landscape.

Culturally significant mountain ranges border these waterways, the aerial map of Naarm from the SEC head office. Corhanwarbul, the Dandenong Ranges to the east, Geboor – the Macedon Ranges to the north-west, and the You Yangs to the west. Mountains were used as fixed points to gauge the position of the Sun in Sky Country for seasonal calendars, which also assisted in the tracking of stars and predicting weather. Each layer of Country speaks to the relevance of seasonal knowledge systems in predicting wind patterns critical for firestick burning. Cross hatchings along these mountains represents our scar trees which bear the fingerprints of yesterday’s tools and items that were used in maintaining cultural protocols and living in harmony with the land.

Connected fire circles signify firestick burning practices that First Peoples have had for thousands of generations and speak to the sustainable land management skills and practices all Clans across Victoria have with caring for Country and renewable energy. The fire circles represent our gathering circles and symbolise the importance of kin and story, and the shared responsibility we all have to care for Country. These circles symbolise our respectful and ancient customs of conducting business around the talking circle, accompanied by people on the outer circle – the ‘U’ and ‘n’ symbols. From the bird’s eye view, this is the shape a person makes whilst sitting on the ground with their knees crossed and represents community.

Sparse lightning bolts break from above the mountains signifying the layers of Sky Country and SEC’s integral connection to energy and power. Elements of Sky Country including clouds, wind, rain, hail and snow work in unison with the Sun, the Giver of Life. Observing the Sun’s pathway helped Clans establish understanding and knowledge of navigation and seasonal patterns which helped prepare for extreme weather. Depending on the season, shelters and huts were positioned in direct heat or within shaded areas to benefit from its solar advantages or to stay cool. Circular sunrays orbit around the Sun representing campsites of all Clans and Countries and symbolise the seasonal calendar and the year-round connection we have to the Giver of Life. The Sun indicates climate culture and the interconnectedness to all things on Earth and symbolises rebirth and SEC’s commitment to renewable energy transition for all Victorians.

It Wa-dam-buk Murrup Biik – Renews Spirit of Country.

Simone Thomson – Wurundjeri, Yorta-Yorta, Wiradjuri"