Photo: The meeting point of the Gawler and Para rivers.

This Exhibition is now closed.

This exhibition's theme is based on the fact of Gawler being located at the point where the Northern and Southern Para Rivers meet to form the Gawler River. The theme also encompasses the aboriginal heritage of the area, in particular the Kaurna people whom Cherie Watkins represents.

"Official Opening Weekend Success"

Opening weekend of this exhibition was highly successful with in excess of 150 people braving the stairs to view the work on display during the two days of the Gawler Centenary of Federation Festival.

Officially opened by Cherie Watkins, a local representative of the Kaurna People, the area's original inhabbitants.

A part of Gawler's Centenary of Federation Festival

Cherie began her opening speech in her people's native language before moving on to the more familiar English language for the benefit of the majority of people present.

In her speech Cherie outlined the importance of the meeting point of two rivers in aboriginal culture She was very impressed with the number and range of artworks focussed on the land and the environment. Cherie went on to highlight the history of the the aboriginal people in South Australia, noting that, in SA, aboriginal people actually had their right to vote removed at Federation. That right was not restored until the 1960s.

Despite this point Cherie said aboriginal people were happy to celebrate Federation as a way of supporting peace, co-operation and harmony.

ArtsAction President, Judy Ferguson, rounded off the opening ceromony by thanking Cherie and also thanking a number of members who worked hard to make this exhibition possible.

- David Arandle

Right Column: Images of the exhibition.
Photos by Dannielle Cripps.

A Centenary of Federation Exhibition on
display Upstairs at:

The Gawler
Visitor Centre

2 Lyndoch Road, Gawler

From:

November 3rd - 17th 2001
Open from 10am - 4pm daily

Entry Fee:

Gold coin donation.

Official Opening:

by Kaurna People representative,
Cherie Watkins, at 3pm,
November 3rd.

ArtsAction Banners and Display Screens

In preparation for our 'A Meeting of Two Rivers' exibition ArtsAction used some of the exhibition's grant monies to commission the creation of two banners and four sturdy,
metal display screens.

One banner features the ArtsAction logo and measures
450mm x 1800mm while the other smaller banner features
the word 'Exhibition' and measures 250mm x 1800mm. Both
banners are Maroon coloured text on white, plasticised
canvas which is hard wearing and should last many years.

Our four display screens measure about 6 feet high by
8 feet long and are made from sturdy metal frames with strong, square mesh wire as a base to support the picture frame hooks. All have removeable feet and are covered in
an earthy green hession material.

The screens were made by Gordon and Colleen Gates with assistance from Margaret Taylor who all worked to a very
tight deadline. ArtsAction certainly thanks them for all their
hard work in creating these valuable assetts for our group.

ArtsAction plans to make these screens available for hire
to other art and craft groups in the near future.