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The Creation Story (Three Brothers) connects our Community Services Centre in Goonellabah with our Centre at Conway Street, Lismore. The mural by Sheldon Harrington again continues the story of knowledge that flows through Widjabul Jogun (Country).
This close connection is the foundation of Aboriginal knowledge, allowing the generational connections and relationships to flow and move as a living being.
A long time ago,
Yaabriin, Maamang and Biriin with their families and Gamii were travelling in their canoes.
After a long journey the three brothers and their families arrived at Chinaman’s Beach in a place now known as Evans
Head. The families set up camp and rested. After resting the brothers decided it was better for Gamii to stay and rest after such a long journey.
The brothers headed off to gather food and medicine even though they didn’t have the same understanding and knowledge as Gamii. But all agreed to go for 3 days. By the 3rd day, Gamii had realised the three brothers had not returned, Gamii started to worry about her grandsons.
The next morning, Gamii went off with her magic digging stick to start looking in the direction the brothers went. After a while, the brothers returned to camp with plenty of bulang (meat), not knowing that Gamii had went to look for them. The families decided to wait for Gamii to come back. The brothers decided to continue north after waiting three days for Gamii. Finally returning, Gamii found the camp empty, not knowing what happened she ran towards where the canoes were. All of the canoes were gone. Gamii knew they had continued the journey without her. Running as fast she could to a high place, Gamii looked north to see if she could be see her three grandsons. Spotted in the distance, Gamii waved and yelled for them to stop. But Gamii could not be heard, the brothers were too far out.
After realising that no one could hear or see her, Gamii tired and exhausted continued to what is known now as Razorback Lookout. Gamii with her magic digging stick began to sing up strong wind and waves to push the brothers ashore. With the changing winds and waves becoming stronger, the brothers soon heard their grandmother’s song.
They knew straight away that they had left Gamii behind. The brothers and their family quickly got to shore at what is now known as Boundary Creek. The brothers quickly returned to pick up Gamii and continue their journey north to Bullinah.
Having been in Bullinah for a little bit, the families found out about the lack of fresh water available. It was decided that the families would travel a little further north to a place now called Lennox Head. It was at the southern end of
Lennox Head the eldest Brother Yaabriin thrusted his spear into the ground. Freshwater flowed from where the spear was thrusted, Yaabriin made sure there was enough for all and decided to setup camp in Lennox Head.
Over time living on Country at Lennox Head, the brothers came to understand that Country is a delicate environment not able to sustain large populations over a long period of time. And it was here, right in Lennox Head, that the first
Bora Ring was created. The brothers each decides with their families to head off in different directions with and live on Country.
Yaabriin the eldest travelled further north to the now Tweed River.
Maamang the second brother, chose to stay on the now Richmond River.
Biriin, the youngest, thought he would go back south to the now mighty Clarence River.
And Gamii wanted to head back to the first spot they all landed at Evans Head and chose her camp known as Gama Garra. Creating the birthplace of the Bundjalung people and the many families that make up Bundjalung Jogun-naa.
Sheldon Harrington is a young local Widjabul Artist from the Bundjalung Nation on the Far North Coast of New South Wales.
Sheldon has been painting, designing and creating for more than 10 years and continues to learn and share the knowledge that has been passed down through his family.
'My art is more than just tangible objects, it also encompasses values, kinship systems, ways of learning and teaching, communicating and decision making through our way of knowing and doing. As Aboriginal knowledge is alive, living and moving within the country that it belongs to.'
Sheldon works across mediums including painting, textiles, digital art and traditional artefacts to blend traditional Aboriginal art and contemporary/modern design.
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