Acknowledgement of Country

From the 2022 Victorian Architecture Awards celebration at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country.

I would like to start by acknowledging the Country we are within and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Peoples as the Traditional Custodians who have cared for this Country since time immemorial and pay my respects to Elders and Knowledge holders. I also extend this acknowledgement to peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation who have deep connections to this place through time. Tonight we are gathering for the purpose of connection and celebration. A distinctive characteristic of the Victorian architecture community is our connection and care for each other. Our culture of gathering and celebrating together has been challenged by the events of the last few years so it is genuinely wonderful to be back together in a room sharing the same space. I would like to congratulate everyone that has received an award, and while sitting in this congratulatory space, also take a moment to reflect on the responsibility we hold as people who shape Country through our work to remember the before Country. Where we stand today was once a wetland, a place of life connected through flux to the Birrarung, the river who is waiting patiently for the day we all realise the impacts of our profession on her health and her rights, and take on our responsibility to care for her through our actions. The birds, fish and insects whose homes have been modified for human gain, the river confined to limit its risks to humans. The wetlands infilled to create more land surface for our buildings. The land carved by invisible lines and commodified. The path of the winds forever changed. The slow and constant change of Country, halted by our actions. I say these things as it is important for us to remember the before Country, a time for Country that we can’t go back to in whole, that our profession of the past has changed without knowledge or understanding for her rights. Each one of us carries the responsibility to heal Country with every project we undertake. If I can ask you to take away one thing from tonight, I ask you, for every project that you undertake from now on, to give due respect to Country and treat her as your client, and really think about what that means. Please have a wonderful evening of celebration and connection.

nayri nina tu Sarah Lynn Rees, Trawlwoolway Associate, JCB Architects