The artwork on the city’s waste trucks are a symbol that represents both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people coming together, living and working towards a brighter future for the City of Ipswich.
Approximately 12 months ago, Ipswich City Council established an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employee Working Group (ATSIEWG) as an outcome of its Indigenous Accord 2020-2025, to increase council’s efforts towards inclusion.
ATSIEWG identified an opportunity to promote and celebrate cultural diversity and reconciliation with a new and exciting initiative that included the Indigenous Accord artwork on council waste truck wraps. The first of these was officially launched on 12 July.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said they would be daily affirmations of the city’s commitment to reconciliation and raising cultural awareness.
“The new truck wraps are a great example of collaboration across the organisation and council is looking forward to seeing more of these on our future new vehicles,” Mayor Harding said.
“This initiative joins other milestones in the implementation of our 2020-2025 Indigenous Accord, including holding the city’s inaugural First Nations Business and Employment Showcase in June, which was an incredible success.
“We are also progressing a Ceremonial, Healing and Remembrance Place in Queens Park and Indigenous Soldiers Memorial Plinth in Memorial Gardens in Nicholas Street, supporting learning and appreciation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities that maintain strong connections to their culture, language and traditional lands.”
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the wraps on the trucks were part of a broader strategy to increase cultural awareness.
“Council is also incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork and cultural heritage iconography in the Colleges Crossing draft plan, as well as implementing a Days of Celebration calendar that includes significant dates of importance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Cr Tully said.
“We also work with local businesses to provide opportunities to come together and share experiences through Black Coffee network meetings.”
The wraps and current Accord artwork is commissioned until 2025.
The artwork on the trucks is by Brad Elliott and Riki Salam.
Starting from the inner circle, the dots represent the Traditional Owners of the Land and the blue circle with fish represents the river and abundance.
Moving outwards the landscape is represented, including the rolling hills which surround the city. The triangular motifs represent a brighter future for Ipswich.
The seated people around the outside represent members of Ipswich City Council and members representing the Accord and the community, all working together.
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