The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Eye and Ear) in partnership with the Western & Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (WCMICS) are pleased to announce the unveiling of the Baagon Walert Walert Possum Skin Cloak Project during NAIDOC Week yesterday. Our Possum Skin Cloak will join our Aboriginal Art installation located next to Cafe 1863 on the ground floor of the hospital, and will tell the story of what reconciliation means to the Eye and Ear and its partners.
The launch of the cloak was attended by Aunty Gina Bundle OAM, a proud Bidwell Djiringanj Walbunja woman. Her significant contributions to Aboriginal health and cultural preservation in Victoria led to her being inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2020; she was also awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Victorian Indigenous Community in 2023.
Having Aunty Gina perform an Acknowledgment of Country was a particularly special moment, as it was through Aunty Gina’s guidance and expertise that the Eye and Ear was able to create this cloak.
The cloak project was initiated, organised and led by the Eye and Ear’s Mirring Ba Wirring Team; Natalie Tieri and Carleen Miller. The cloak itself is etched with understanding and commitment, in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal symbols. It tells the story of our work towards Reconciliation and Closing the Health Care Gap for our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients.
Each Eye and Ear department contributed a design and spent time with Aunty Gina in workshops during Reconciliation Week learning how to carefully burn and colour their designs onto the possum pelts. In addition, members from community and partner organisations also joined us on this journey and submitted their own designs. You can view the stories behind each design on our Aboriginal Art Page here.
The cloak will be showcased in a custom glass cabinet, allowing all Eye and Ear patients, carers and visitors to view and appreciate the cultural significance of the cloak and its designs.
