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    CELEBRATING HISTORY: From left, Wotjobaluk Elder Jennifer Beer, street artist Sam Bates, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk artist Tanisha Lovett and Maryanne Plazzer in front of the finished Horsham silo art. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
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    Tanisha Lovett is painting the front of the Horsham Soundshell stage at Sawyer Park. She hopes to finish the mural by the weekend. Another artsit, Smug, is putting the finishing touches on two murals on Horsham silos.

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    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
  • Hero image
    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
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    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
  • Hero image
    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
  • Hero image
    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
  • Hero image
    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
  • Hero image
    Artist Smug working on Horsham Silo Art project.
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    Jenny Beer, Smug, Tanisha Lovett and Maryanne Plazzer in front of the finished Horsham Silo Art.
  • Hero image
    Jenny Beer, Smug, Tanisha Lovett and Maryanne Plazzer in front of the finished Horsham Silo Art.

PHOTOS: Horsham silo tribute complete

By Abby Walter

A  tribute to former Wotjobaluk Aboriginal warrior Yanggendyinanyuk on Horsham’s former silo and flour mill on Hazel Street is complete, just in time for the launch of National Reconciliation Week.

Street artist Sam Bates, also known as ‘Smug’, finished the silo art project, Yangga Dyata – Walking on Country, which depicts Yanggendyinanyuk, who is most noted for finding the Cooper-Duff children lost in Wimmera scrub for nine days in 1864.

Wotjobaluk Elder Aunty Jennifer Beer, a descendant of Yanggendyinanyuk, was a cultural advisor on the project.



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Aunty Jennifer said the painting of Yanggendyinanyuk only scratched the surface of the history of his and his family’s life.

“This has just blown me away,” she said.

“It’s a legacy my children will get to know, and my grandchildren will get to know, as well as future generations.

“For myself, I only got to know about him when I was in grade three and I was reading a school reader to my grandfather and he then told me the story.”

Aunty Jennifer said while looking into the history of ‘Lost in the Bush’ she found many people connected to the story.

“I found going through the 150th Jane Duff memorial that there were a lot of people around that remembered the story and still carry that with them,” she said.  

Yanggendyinanyuk, which means ‘walking feet’ in Wergaia language, was also part of Australia’s first international cricket team to tour England.

The tribute to the ‘Lost in the Bush’ story is joined by a mural of a red-tailed black cockatoo on the side of the flour mill, owned by Mario and Frances Plazzer.

Their daughter Maryanne Plazzer said the finished silo art was ‘brilliant’.

“It looks so good, it’s very real life,” she said. “And there’s plenty more silo space for more of this story because there is a lot more to be told about this man. There are so many in our community who have stories about him.

“He was one of nine and you can imagine how many decedents are in this area still. Hopefully we will hear more stories.”

Ms Plazzer said the family was pleased the artwork depicted the story of Yanggendyinanyuk.

“My mum really wanted this story up on the silo and was really grateful the family agreed,” she said.

“The red-tailed black cockatoo is also significant to the area, so it was good to see that included. Hopefully we will see the whole area at the rail yards developed to open up the north side now that the artwork is completed.”

The silo art installation will be officially launched on Friday in conjunction with Reconciliation Week ‘Be Brave Make Change’ 2022.

During Reconciliation Week, Horsham’s Firebrace Street will be renamed Yangga Tyerrang, which means ‘walk together’, and Sawyer Park renamed Warta Tyerrang Muwil, which means ‘come together all’. 

As part of the Yangga Dyata – Walking on Country project, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk artist Tanisha Lovett, with mentoring from Smug, painted the front of the Horsham Soundshell stage at Sawyer Park.

Before starting the project, Ms Lovett spoke with Aunty Jennifer about the story of Yangga Dyata and Yanggendyinanyuk.

Ms Lovett said it was a privilege to be chosen to paint the mural.

“It’s based around people walking and coming together but also walking on the land of our ancestors and to always acknowledge that and be mindful of the land and waters that you see around us,” she said.

“It was my first ever outdoor mural so it’s something I’ll always remember and I’m glad I can share it with the rest of the community.”

The entire May 25, 2022 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire May 25, 2022 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!