Local artwork features in TAC's journey towards reconciliation

Published date: 12 Aug 2021

A striking painting by local indigenous artist Norm Stanley will feature in the Geelong-based Transport Accident Commission’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

Norm, who lives on Wadawurrung Country and is connected with the Kurnai/Wotjobaluk people of Victoria, had his artwork commissioned by the TAC after an expressions of interest process.

The TAC asked for submissions to reflect its reconciliation journey and represent all Victorian Aboriginal people and landscapes, as well as the TAC’s goals around road safety.

Aptly names ‘The roads that keep us connected’, the artwork will feature on the cover of the TAC’s RAP Reflect and throughout the document, once it is endorsed by Reconciliation Australia.

“The roundabout in the bottom left corner represents the many directions we may take on our journeys,” Norm said.

“More importantly, it represents the TAC target in the centre and the target number of zero. This sits at the start of the roads that keep us connected,” he said.

“Traditionally, we followed our waterways, our rivers, creeks and streams much the same as we do our roads today. We had song lines to follow like a GPS and rules connected to them to keep us safe and to guide us on our journey.”

The red circles in the picture depict all 38 tribes that belong to what we now call Victoria. The 256 white dots represent the five-year average of lives lost on Victorian roads.

The artwork was delivered in person by Norm and proudly received by CEO Joe Calafiore and Jason Lardelli, Executive Sponsor of the TAC’s RAP.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have this artwork created to represent our Reflect RAP and our commitment to reconciliation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders,” Mr Calafiore said.

“The artwork will be placed in the foyer of Geelong HQ to welcome all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our TAC office.”