Symbol & Stories

Looking more. Can you ...

Find the Aboriginal symbol for "a gathering"?
Identify the Aboriginal symbol for "a woman"?
List any symbols you use in your daily life?
Count how many different symbols are on the panel?
Create a story using at least 5 of the symbols on the panel?

Learning more. Do you know ...

Why Aboriginal people in Australia have a tradition of using symbols to convey stories?
How symbols convey meaning to you in your everyday life?
Which symbols are most important to your daily life?
The meanings of other symbols on the other mosaic panels?

Learning more

Symbols in CONTEMPORARY WESTERN SOCIETY

Some symbols, such as road signs, are designed to convey very specific, unambiguous meanings, such as “No right turn” or “Halt”. Other symbols don’t necessarily have a particular meaning, but they can evoke memories in people and prompt them to tell stories. For example, a national flag can evoke particular memories and emotions, although someone unfamiliar with it will see just a meaningless arrangement of colours and shapes.

Some symbols are ambiguous, inviting an observer to make more than one meaning of them. The more ambiguous the symbol, the harder it is to say, "This is what it means" and the easier it is to ‘see’ your story in it.

ABORIGINAL symbols and stories

Traditionally, Australian Aboriginal people had oral cultures in which stories, histories and cultural meanings were shared through (re-)telling them, not through (re-)writing them.

Consequently, Aborigines have often used symbols to convey their important cultural stories and messages across nations and generations. These symbols vary from region to region and from nation to nation. this panel features symbols that are generally understood within the local Wathaurong community.

Why are these symbols on this panel?

Each symbol on this panel has a particular meaning for Wathaurong people (see below). However, taken together, the symbols tell no particular story. We invite you to look at the panel and find your own story or stories in it – either in a particular symbol or in the panel as a whole. The sacred emblem of the Wathaurong people - 'Bunjil' (Wedge-tailed Eagle) - soars overhead in this panel and in many of the others.

What role do symbols play in your life?

Do any of these symbols evoke a memory or a story from your life? We invite you to send a memory or story to us and tell us which symbol/s evoked it. We’ll post the best stories from time to time on this web site.