The gugaa (goanna)
Totems are significant in Aboriginal culture. They are a mutual and spiritual relationship between Aboriginal people and nature. They can be an object, plant or animal. While an Aboriginal person will have four totems (nation, clan, family, and personal), the Aboriginal people of Wiradjuri Country all have the gugaa as their ‘nation’ totem.
The gugaa is a symbol that connects all people, past and present, to the Wiradjuri nation; as Aboriginal culture considers everyone and thing created equal.
Wiradjuri people have the responsibility of ensuring the gugaa’s protection, passing that accountability and knowledge on to the next, and every, generation.
The shape and alignment of the Gugaa reflects the geography of the Trigalong Creek and charts the progress of the Temora community by linking Altora, via the aviation precinct and Lake Centenary, back to the original Temora Pastoral Station.
The lines
The line in the artwork are a traditional Wiradjuri symbol that represent, in the artwork, our waterways in Temora Shire.
The circles
The circles in the artwork are a traditional Wiradjuri sign symbolising various waterholes and meeting places in Temora Shire.
The Temora Shire colours
The artwork colours were taken from the varying wildlife and landscapes of Temora Shire, including flora, fauna, watering holes, sunsets and land.
“The Red and Orange are very relative to the dirt/clay colours we get in Temora Shire. With red being typical to the South & West and orange being more likely found on the North & East.” - Bill Speirs
Temora Shire Council’s communications team was engaged to digitise Stewart’s painting and apply various colouring for further consultation with the artwork committee. The final five colours (pictured above) were agreed on for their relativeness to our landscapes, dimensions when displayed together and for visibility.
The Temora Shire colour names are:
- Charcoal Black
- Orche Red
- Clay Grey
- Sunset Orange
- Eucalypt Blue