Tuesday July 8, 2025

Six striking paintings by local Woi wurrung and Yorta Yorta artist Simone Thomson now grace the walls of the Renal, Acute Dialysis and Vascular Surgery Unit.

Above: Yeelugna Dutan, Evening Star – Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health

The initiative, led by Nurse Unit Manager Libby Teiwes, was born from a vision to create a more culturally safe and welcoming environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers and families. With support from the Closing the Health Gap Committee, the artworks were selected and installed as a visible and meaningful acknowledgement of First Nations culture.

Above: Dhungala Woka, River Country – Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health

The purchase of the works was made possible thanks to a generous and anonymous donation to the Eastern Health Foundation.

“Staff have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from patients, families and colleagues. We are deeply thankful for the donation that allowed us to bring Ms Thomson’s powerful and stunning artworks into our ward,” Ms Teiwes said.

Above: Yeelugna Dutan, Evening Star – Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health
 
Find out more about Simone Thomson’s work here

The artwork is currently on display on Ward 8.1 at Eastern Health Box Hill.

Above: Dhungala Woka, River Country – Aboriginal people have been the caretakers for country since time immemorial. Our strong connection to Country runs through our blood, it is in our spirit. When country is sick, we feel sick, we are unsettled. We believe that if we look after Country – Country – will continue to care for us and share its bountiful gifts. Traditional methods of firesticks were used in controlled burning to promote regeneration of native grasses and medicinal plants. Firestick markings and new regrowth are signified by the broken sections around the river.  Campsites line the riverbanks along the long and winding Dhungala, the Murray River. Grandfather river redgums provide canopies of shelter, they are the seeds of our ancestors – their stories are in the bark, their stories are in the scars. Land and water knowledge is taught from birth, we are taught the significance of caring for Country and not to disrupt nature, to only take what is needed so it can heal and grow again. Artwork: Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health
Above: Healing River – We are spiritually connected to the land and waterways; this is where we gain our identity. Our wetlands play a vital role in the survival of everything and everyone. Our river systems weave throughout country offering a vital food and drinking source and are the healing ingredients of all our bush medicine. Underground river systems are often found in dry and remote areas by the traditional way of using a stick and Songlines to locate them. Artwork: Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health
Above: Baan Biik, Water Country – Birrarung, the majestic river of mist and shadows weaves gently across country from its birthplace at the southern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, Wurundjeri Country – to the saltwater of the Bay in Naarm, the place known as Melbourne. For thousands of years this river known as the Yarra has been an essential food and water source providing plentiful eel, river fowl, barramundi, yabbies and fish amongst other things including vital medicine plants and reeds.

It was also an important means of travel for Wurundjeri in which river redgums from along the banks would be used for bark canoes including shields and coolamons; oblong shaped ‘platters’ in which food was carried – and infants cradled. Birrarung was used as a meeting place for visiting Kulin Tribes where regular trade would take place and important ceremonies and cultural business were conducted. The river was once the place of a beautiful idyllic blue lagoon with copious birdlife of all kinds and bountiful colourful wildflowers. A rocky crystal waterfall divided the salt water of the bay to the freshwater of the river signified by the rocky pebble-like dots separating the waterholes. Artwork: Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health

Above: Two Rivers of Barmah Forest – Barmah Forest adjoining the Millewa Forest is the largest river red gum forest in the world. Ancient gums lie on the floodplains and wetlands of this spiritual place, an important feeding and breeding site for many waterbirds and fish such as the Murray Cod and the iconic long neck turtle. The narrowest section of Dhungala, the Murray River is upstream of Barmah, bound either side by the Moira and Barmah lakes. This is an important and sacred area to the Yorta-Yorta people where we connect to country for healing. Artwork: Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health
Above: Milky Way –  The Creator Spirit of the Kulin Tribes is Bunjil, who comes in the form of the Wedgetail Eagle. He created all the rivers and mountains, the valleys and trees. He used the clay of the riverbank and moulded it into the shape of his people, then took the string from the stringy bark tree and used it for their hair. After he did this, he was tired. He asked Waa the Crow, the Keeper of Wind and Water to open his magic bag of wind to create a whirly wind to help carry him into the sky.

Waa did as he was asked but the wind was not strong enough, so Bunji asked him to open it wider. Waa opened his magic bag wider creating a powerful cyclone lifting Bunjil into the sky carrying him into the Milky Way where he became the bright stars with his wives the black swans. That is where they remain today watching down on his creation ensuring people care for Country and the lore of the land. Artwork: Simone Thomson Image: Eastern Health

 
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