Dyalgala Ngurra (Dyalgala-ma Ngura-dha) / Embrace Country

Dyalgala Ngurra (Dyalgala-ma Ngura-dha) / Embrace Country is a striking public artwork created by Jason Wing and Maddison Gibbs, beautifully situated among the native flora and fauna at Smith’s Creek Reserve on Dharawal Country. The installation encircles four massive, abandoned pipes that fortuitously form a gateway to the Reserve. This collaborative project involved preschoolers and First Nations youth from the Campbelltown community, who participated in workshops to express the importance of traditional and ongoing Custodianship of Country. The artwork highlights endangered species native to the area, such as the Garilwa (Gah-rill-wah) / Koala, Gardai (Gah-die) / Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo, Djunidjunudj (joon-idge-ee-noodge oo) / Powerful Owl, and jindoola (Gin-doo-lah) / Lace Monitor. Commissioned by Campbelltown City Council in 2024, this initiative was made possible through partnerships with Natural Areas, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Leaping Learners, Clontarf, and NASCA, and received funding from the NSW Government's Places to Roam program.