It’s always an honour to deliver a Welcome to Country on Gundungurra Nation — and last week was filled with meaningful moments celebrating Buunyal, the sun, and culture in practice.

After a rewarding week sharing Buunyal stories at Scenic World, I had the privilege of heading to the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre for the opening of the Wynne Prize 2024 and Sari by Anjum Olmo.

The team at the Cultural Centre continues to set a strong example, ensuring every exhibition acknowledges the full history of this land. It’s a space where art, truth, and culture are held with care and respect.

It was a pleasure to reconnect with Uncle Chris Tobin (Dharug), Mayor Mark Greenhill OAM, and Sally Webster from the Art Gallery of NSW — all doing great work to support cultural expression and truth-telling through the arts.

One phrase from Sari stood out deeply to me:

“Cultural practices in the modern context of globalisation.”

For Indigenous people in Australia, this is not just a theme — it’s a daily experience. Navigating the pressures of colonisation and globalisation while holding strong to culture is a balancing act. Sari prompted me to reflect on those tensions, and how Buunyal — the rising sun — connects us across stories and lands.

Miwatj, meaning ‘sunrise side’ in Yolŋu Matha, reminded me of our Gundungurra story of Buunyal — the first light rising in the East. These are the kinds of cultural threads that remind us we are all walking stories.

I encourage everyone to visit the Wynne Prize 2024 and Sari exhibition at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre — another brilliant showing of art, place, and reflection.

Photos courtesy of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.