As part of this project, 11 signs were fabricated and installed across the Kiama LGA, featuring the work of local Elder, artist, and Traditional Owner Aunty Jodie Stewart. Aunty Jodie developed a collection of original artworks, each inspired by and deeply connected to Dharawal Country.
The signs are located at various entry and exit points off the Princes Highway within the Kiama Local Government Area, as well as at cemeteries and culturally significant sites, helping to educate and foster awareness to the wider community in regard to Dharawal heritage of the area.
About the artist - Aunty Jodie Stewart
A proud Traditional Owner and Aboriginal Elder within the Kiama Local Government Area, born in Kiama and raised in Gerringong who has a deep, lifelong connection to Dharawal Country and continues to contribute to her Community.
In 2022, Aunty Jodie was honoured to receive the Aboriginal Elder of the Year award at the NAIDOC Awards, representing the Illawarra, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions. As a Saltwater Woman, a descendent of the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal Nation and the Walbunja people of the Yuin Nation, her heritage is deeply rooted in this Land.
For more than 40 years Aunty Jodie has worked as an Aboriginal contemporary artist, creating works that celebrate and preserves cultural heritage. Her existence experience includes significant contributions to high-profile projects, demonstrating her ability to deliver impactful, culturally meaningful artwork that resonates with diverse audiences.
Artwork
“Out Back Gerringong”
This painting represents the mountains and Aboriginal totems of Dharawal Country. It reflects deep cultural connections to the land and its animals. Possums hold special significance for women, as their skins were used in ceremonies, to make cloaks, and as shelter. Kangaroo skins were important for men’s ceremonies and also provided a valuable source of food. The porcupine (echidna), along with kangaroos and possums, added to the traditional food sources, highlighting the strong relationship between Country, culture, and survival.
“Connection to Dharawal Country”
This piece is a powerful expression of identity, belonging, and the ongoing connection to land, sea, and community on Dharawal Country. This painting features Burri Burri the whale, a significant totem for the Dharawal people, symbolising strength, guidance, and the spiritual connection to sea Country and Ancestors. Symbols of community and meeting places are woven throughout the artwork, showing the importance of togetherness, storytelling, and maintaining cultural practice.
“Gerroa”
Gerroa means "plenty of birds." Birds hold deep cultural and spiritual meaning in Aboriginal culture. Many are recognised as totems, connecting people to Country, spirit, and identity. The owl, willy wagtail, magpie, and black cockatoo are especially significant totems. Each bird carries stories, knowledge, and a strong spiritual connection to Dharawal Country.
“Community Connections”
This artwork represents the deep and lasting connection between people, Country, and culture – where the mountains meet the sea.
On Dharawal Country, this landscape is more than just physical – it holds story, memory, and identity. The meeting place between land and ocean is symbolic of how communities come together, where paths cross and knowledge is shared.
The painting reflects the strength of community connections – between Elders and young people, between families and their ancestors, and between people and the natural world. The mountains stand for strength, stability, and tradition. The sea represents movement, change, and ongoing life. Together, they show the balance that exists within culture and Country. This piece honours the places where people gather, share, and learn – where Country connects us all.
“Stingrays”
This painting represents the stingrays that are significant to the ocean, a vital part of Dharawal Country. The stingrays gliding through the shallow waters are a symbol of connection to sea Country, tradition, and memory.
For us, stingrays are not just part of the ocean – they are part of our story. Our father taught us about them growing up, showing us how to respect the sea and understand the animals that live in it. Watching stingrays move silently through the water was part of learning about Country, culture, and who we are.
Through this painting, we honour those teachings and the quiet strength of the stingray – a creature that moves with purpose and grace, always connected to the water and the stories it holds. This artwork is both personal and cultural, reflecting our deep relationship with the ocean, our family, and the continuing knowledge passed down across generations.
“Living by the Sea”
"Living by the Sea" is rich in cultural memory, with the imagery of shellfish like pippies, lobsters, abalone, and conchs reflecting not only the artist’s strong ties to the sea, but also their upbringing and lived experience. These shellfish are more than just food – they symbolise a way of life, representing how people gathered, shared, and connected through the ocean as part of daily tradition.
“Midden Grounds”
This painting represents the Midden Grounds – places of great cultural importance where Aboriginal people gathered to eat, share, and live over thousands of years.
Middens are ancient sites, often found along the coastline, made up of layers of shells, bones, charcoal, and other remains from meals. They are evidence of continuous connection to Country, showing how people have cared for and lived with the land and sea for generations.
These grounds are not just physical sites – they are cultural records and story places. They speak of family, community, and the passing down of knowledge. They reflect the deep and ongoing relationship between people, food sources, and sustainable living.
“Midden Grounds” honours these places as sacred spaces of gathering, memory, and survival, reminding us of the strength and resilience of Aboriginal culture and the importance of protecting and respecting these parts of Country.
“Birthing Tree”
This painting represents the Birthing Tree, a sacred and powerful symbol of women’s business on Dharawal Country.
Birthing trees are places of deep cultural and spiritual significance, where life begins and women come together in strength, knowledge, and ceremony. These sites are part of women’s lore, often kept private and protected, passed down through generations of women with care and respect.
For Dharawal women, the Birthing Tree holds stories of creation, connection, and the sacred role of women as life-givers and knowledge holders. It is a place of safety, guidance, and cultural continuity.
Through this artwork, the Birthing Tree is honoured as a symbol of women’s strength, cultural identity, and the unbroken connection to Country. It reminds us of the importance of respecting and protecting women’s places, practices, and stories on Dharawal land.
“Cemetery”
This painting represents an Aboriginal cemetery, a sacred place where Ancestors are honoured, remembered, and celebrated.
At the heart of the artwork are two powerful symbols: the white dove and Burri Burri the whale. The white dove represents peace, spirit, and connection between the living and the Ancestors, symbolising hope and the journey of the spirit. Burri Burri, the whale totem of the Dharawal people, stands for strength, guidance, and deep connection to sea Country and Ancestors.
Together, these symbols reflect the ongoing relationship between the living and those who have passed on. The cemetery is not only a place of rest but a place of cultural memory, respect, and spiritual connection.
Through its imagery and symbolism, this painting acknowledges the strength and presence of Aboriginal Ancestors, reminding us to respect and protect sacred sites and to honour the stories, wisdom, and spirit that continue to guide communities today.
© Jodie Stewart, all rights reserved by the artist. No reproduction of this artwork is permitted without written permission from the Artist.
Kiama Municipal Council would like to acknowledge Elders, Traditional Owners and Custodians with their continuing connections to Land, Waters, Sky, Culture and Community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the Dharawal Nation, and their Elders past, present and future.