成人大片

The 成人大片 recognises and celebrates the Kaurna Aboriginal people and their deep connection to the Adelaide Plains, with the opening of the University鈥檚 new Kaurna Learning Circle.

Officially opened yesterday by the University and Kaurna elders, the Kaurna Learning Circle is an open-air meeting place and ceremonial space to be used by all.

Created as a collaborative project between the University鈥檚 Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education and Kaurna cultural advisers, the Kaurna Learning Circle is the new landmark of the northern (riverside) entrance to the University鈥檚 North Terrace campus.

The outdoor venue includes a steel fire pit for ceremonial use, and a steel structure inscribed with a welcome to country: 鈥�Kaurna miyruna wangkanthi marni naa pudni, Kaurna yarta-ana鈥� (鈥淜aurna people say good you all came to Kaurna country鈥�).

The immediate northern entrance to campus also features the 鈥淲angu Poles鈥�, striking new artwork designed by talented Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri artist Paul Herzich. The seven poles, ranging in height from 6-8 metres, contain references to Kaurna dreaming stories, ancient ceremonial practices, and traditional life along the nearby Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens).

Comments from Uncle Rod O鈥橞rien, Kaurna Elder and University Cultural Adviser:

鈥淭his new addition to the North Terrace campus is representative of something much older than any of us, our University or even the city of Adelaide. It connects us to the history of this land and the physical, cultural and spiritual importance of the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens).

鈥淎s a Kaurna man I am very proud of my culture and language, and to see it acknowledged in this way is very special. The Kaurna Learning Circle is a place for reflection and discussion to strengthen our cultural knowledge, and to help others understand; I hope that it encourages more people to learn about our culture and history.

鈥淚 thank the 成人大片 and the Kaurna advisers involved for their commitment to our people, to place, and to our cultural heritage.鈥�

鈥淎s a Kaurna man I am very proud of my culture and language, and to see it acknowledged in this way is very special.鈥�Uncle Rod O'Brien, Kaurna elder

Comments from Professor Mike Brooks, Acting Vice-Chancellor:

鈥淭he Kaurna people are the traditional custodians of the ancestral lands on which we gather every day for learning and teaching here at the 成人大片. The new Kaurna Learning Circle is designed to showcase those connections to our University and to celebrate Kaurna culture and places of learning.

鈥淲e have created a beautiful meeting place and ceremonial space to be used by all, long into the future.

鈥淲e are very proud that the Kaurna Learning Circle now forms part of the main northern entrance to our campus. This project has been developed as part of the University鈥檚 Reconciliation Action Plan, Yangadlitya (鈥淔or the Future鈥�), which has highlighted the need for spaces to promote Indigenous culture.鈥�

Comments from Professor Shane Hearn, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement):

鈥淐oncentric circles in Aboriginal world view represent meeting place or ceremonial site. The circle is an important part of First Nations culture. It has been used by our peoples for centuries to learn from, build respectful relationships, and to preserve and pass on our cultural knowledge.

鈥淭his location will be part of teaching and learning, students鈥� understanding of First Nations knowledge, or even using it to take 鈥榤e time鈥� and reflect. This space is for students and staff and community.

鈥淭he entirety of the new riverside entrance to campus, Karrawirra Parinangku (鈥淔rom the Red Gum Forest River鈥�), is now a physical dedication to the Kaurna people, and that is a great statement from the University of our commitment to fostering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander empowerment and self-determination.

鈥淲e have been delighted with the contributions made by Kaurna elders, cultural advisers and artists towards this major new space on campus, and I thank them for their dedication to this important project.鈥�

The Kaurna Learning Circle is a key development in the University鈥檚 Public Realm project, which has just been awarded the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) .

Details about the Kaurna Learning Circle and surrounds

Kaurna Learning Circle

The Kaurna Learning Circle is a meeting place for ceremony, cultural exchanges and learning. The earthy brick paving contains a welcome in Kaurna language, "Marni naa pudni tirka kurruru-ana" (鈥済ood you all come to learning circle鈥�). The circle contains a corten steel fire pit for ceremonial use, with the pattern of the Karrawirra pari (River Torrens) engraved. Stone seating is provided along one side of the Kaurna Learning Circle, with back rests to accommodate elders and senior representatives for cultural events. A steel shade structure partly covers the Learning Circle and is inscribed with a welcome to country, "Kaurna miyruna wangkanthi marni naa pudni, Kaurna yarta-ana" (鈥淜aurna people say good you all come to Kaurna country鈥�). The design of the shade structure is based on the water and driftwood in the river. The structure contains integrated lighting, Wi-Fi and power for everyday use and events.

Wangu Poles

This art installation was designed by Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri artist Paul Herzich and consists of wangu (seven) large aluminium poles, laser cut with thousands of hand-drawn circles to tell an ancient Kaurna story of the relationship between the Wardlipari (the Milky Way) and the Karrawirra Pari (River Torrens). For thousands of years the Kaurna people have used the Karrawirra Pari to sustain their way of life. This artwork embodies traditional ritual knowledge of the Kaurna community. The poles create a new entrance statement for the northern entrance to campus and can be seen from the other side of the river, and at the top of the University鈥檚 red brick stairs, day and night.

Reconciliation Garden

Behind the Kaurna Learning Circle is a new garden with circular stone seating discs, compacted sand and garden beds with trees and shrubs from Kaurna country.

Spriggina floundersi

To the west of the Kaurna Learning Circle is another new sculptural installation, Spriggina floundersi, by local artist Silvio Apponyi. The sculpture depicts one of earth鈥檚 earliest known animals on earth. The genus named in honour of Reginald Sprigg, geologist and 成人大片 graduate, who discovered the fossil remains in the Flinders Rangers in 1946. This sculpture was donated to the University through the Australian Government鈥檚 Cultural Gifts Program by The Hon. Tom Gray QC.