Wonga Wetlands "Wonga" - Patricia Cerminara

Framed acrylic on canvas 835cm x 685cm

This place is Wonga Wetlands, a local wetland, and home of our beautiful platypus. Platypuses live in a range of Wonga’s freshwater bodies. They are mostly found where the banks are suitable for building stable burrows and where the water is shallow enough for them to dive down and feed on bottom dwelling creatures, and they love the areas where there are trees, shrubs and grassy banks.

The platypus is very culturally significant to Aboriginal people. It is a totemic species that features in prominent Creation stories. These stories were shared by language groups and would change as they travelled along river systems. The platypus was also a vital food source for a number of language groups.

"The platypus symbolises creativity, uniqueness and self-acceptance. It inspires us to embrace our true selves and have confidence in our own judgement.”

Whilst all wildlife plays important roles within the environments, keystone species such as the platypus are fundamental to the functioning of freshwater ecosystems due to their role as a top predator in controlling the populations of macro-invertebrates.

Aboriginal people moved up and down the river, using bark canoes cut from the majestic red river gums. The river, billabongs and wetlands were a rich and valuable food source. There were fish, mussels, turtles, crayfish, snails and birds and other animals to eat, and mussel shells were used as knives, spoons and scrapers.