Van Galen

 ‘Kunawarr Keeling’

This arial view mosaic is of the internationally significant wetland environment of Lake Connewarre Reserve on the Bellarine Peninsular, Victoria, Australia. You may be able to discern the Barwon River, flowing from the north-west into the vast spread of two interconnected lakes of Reedy Lake and  Connewarre, before continuing its flow south-east through the river mouth at Barwon Heads, and into the ocean. In this series of work over 800 individual photographs were taken over two days in summer 2020/21 as I navigated on foot the wetlands of the Reedy and Connewarre lakes, revisiting the sights, sounds, smells and memories I have from my lifetime of connections with this Country.

Life Aquatic

A small number of other images were taken around other waterway connected to these lakes, via water flow or bird movement, including the Moorabool river in Maude, the Leigh River at Inverleigh, the Barwon River mouth at Barwon Heads and the 6000-year-old aquaculture site of Budj Bim.

Furcarbanil Kunuwara

(Black Swan), 600 x 500
If you have spent some time around theses wetlands you may already know some of the treasures that are held there. Hidden amongst the largest expanse of remnant indigenous vegetation on the Bellarine Peninsular are flocks of Black Swans which can gather in their thousands and give Connewarre it’s Wadawurrung language name Kunawarr Keelingk,(Black Swan Lake).

Flight over the wetlands

Soaring over the wetlands are raptors, including the magnificent White Sea Eagle, as well as processions of Pelicans and Ibis. And if you are truly fortunate you may chance upon a Brolga or two.

Lovers of Water

These images, mostly of fauna and flora, water and sky, create the ‘palette of colours’, a selection of which were then used to generate each mosaic image. Scattered amongst the landscapes are scenes of humans enjoying these environments, no doubt sharing my love of water and all the life which it supports.

Flora, Aqua, Terra

The shallow waters, tall reeds and extensive sea grass meadows harbour native fish, eels, and endangered birds whilst around the lake edges close inspection of the flora will reveal delicate displays of Australian Salt-Grass, Samphire and Silky Wilsonia herbland.

Care for this Country

There waterways have history and stories, held by the Traditional Owners of these lands, the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation, stretching back thousands of years.
The intrinsically balanced way in which the clans of the Kulin Nation lived with their environment resulted in little evidence of their hundreds of generations of connection to land, at least not to the uninformed eye. We need to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to this knowledge if we are to truly value and care for this Country. I love the wetlands and waters of these lakes and I offer my respect and thanks to the indigenous peoples past, present and emerging who have, and continue to, care for this Country.