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Return to Country

Return to Country

Year: 2014

Medium: Sandstone, corten steel and  recycled jetty timber

 

Public Artwork, Jezzine Barracks, Townsville, North Queensland.
Collection of: Townsville City Council

Photographed by: J Mulcahy

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    Return to Country

    This sculpture was conceived and constructed to honour the military service of indigenous men and women of north Queensland. Focusing on the return of soldiers to country, family and tribal tradition the work is located at the Bill Coolburra lookout, Jezzine Barracks, Townsville, north Queensland.

    The circle of stones references traditional weaving patterns practiced by indigenous tribes  throughout northern Queensland. The circular design signifying the strength of the spiritual bond that binds us to country, family and tradition. Further, it references the links and commonalities of shared experiences both during war time and then on returning to country thus providing a focus on normality and daily life.

     The circular shape also alludes to the Vietnam war and the tunnels of Cu Chi, where Bill Coolburra, a sapper with the 3rd Field Troop was one of the first to venture underground, his job as an engineer to clear tunnels of booby traps and to defuse bombs. The lookout where this work is located is named after Mr Coolburra, thus honoring his exemplary war service and his later work as a respected tribal elder and Catholic Lay Pastor. 

    The low timber and Corten wall which partially embraces the stone circle references the shape of a boomerang and symbolizes the disparate realities of those, who, immersed in traditional indigenous life, found themselves plummeted into modern warfare. The timber alluding to connection to country, the steel, to military service.

JENNY MULCAHY

CERAMICIST & MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

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CONTACT 

P: 0402 860 564

Email: jenny.km@bigpond.com

©2021 Jenny Mulcahy. All rights reserved. All images contained in this site are under automatic copyright to the artist. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of any image may be reproduced by any process without written permission of the artist. Enquiries should be addressed to Jenny Mulcahy.

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