"I wanted to honour both Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta country, which is why the tree separates Lake Condah to the left and the Murray River to the right. Whilst incorporating the totems on each side. Wilan the yellow tailed black cockatoo and Bayadherra the long neck turtle to the right. The designs in the tree represents connection and the many generations of my families.

Nanny Ollie (Olive Jackson née Smith), is my Great-Grandmother a Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung & Wiradjuri woman. I remember the way she would smile when she talked about the “old days” and catching possums with her Father (Pop Yorkie).

One of the stories that stood out as published in an Aces book, was about when her mother (Muriel Charles) passed away. Her Granny Smith took her and her brother Artie in. They were in danger from being taken by the welfare. Once the word got around that the welfare were watching them, Granny Smith (Kitty Lyons) left her husband and took to travelling to keep the kids safe. The 3 long neck turtles represent their journey of being on the run. It felt fitting to have 3 Bayadherra in the Murray river to represent that chapter of her life."