Honoring Boandik Country: OneFortyOne’s new artwork by Bonnie Saunders-Waye

OneFortyOne has commissioned First Nations artist Bonnie Saunders-Waye to create an artwork that acknowledges our shared custodianship of the environment and celebrates communities, particularly on Boandik Country.

Guided by a brief put together by Reconciliation Working Group members in Australia, Bonnie created Pini (Strong) Country.

Pini Country will be displayed in the Mount Gambier office, as a reminder of our commitment to building relationships with First Nations people and encouraging us to reflect on our own connections to Country.

Prints of the painting will be available for other sites, and elements will be incorporated into a redesign of our Acknowledging Country guidelines.

About Bonnie

Bonnie Saunders-Waye is a proud Gunditjmara, Boandik, Ngarrindjeri, and Narungga woman whose art pays heartfelt tribute to her heritage and cherished landscapes.

Born in Millicent and residing in Berrin, Bonnie’s deep connection to the land and her cultural roots shapes her creativity.

Her work celebrates First Nations culture and the natural world, blending stories of the past with visions for the future, inviting viewers to find their own personal connection with her expressive art.

Pini Country
by Bonnie Saunders-Waye

I hope Pini (Strong) Country evokes memories for everyone in their own unique way. Creating it was a deeply reflective journey for me, allowing me to draw on my own experiences and special memories and share them with others. I feel incredibly proud to share this piece with you.

The top left features meeting circles, symbolizing the communication between OneFortyOne and the First Nations community. This is very important as developing and strengthening those relationships are a huge part of moving forwards together focusing on reconciliation.

The metallic colouring reflects my love for Berrin in autumn, inspired by the colours of falling leaves. I use seed pods to represent family connection and growth, highlighting our community’s strength and support during tough times.

The bottom right features my interpretation of a topographical map, representing the diverse landscape and volcanic ranges of the southeast.

The beautiful blue and aqua circles at the bottom represent the amazing water sources in the southeast, noting that some of these are connected through cave structures.

The bottom left shows men hunting, paying homage to our ancestors on Boandik land.

The detailed animal footprints include wombat, emu, kangaroo, frog, swan, koala, and echidna. I have focused on detail for these footprints to highlight the importance of each as food source and significance to healthy and cared for Country. Surrounding the footprints are hunting tools – a spear, boomerang, and boondi, all sourced from local trees and made by our men who had the important job of caring for our Elders, our women and children.

Lastly, the dots featured are in colours I love from the local coastlines. I love incorporating this dot technique into my work as a subtle element rather than a focus.

I hope this piece brings a sense of connection and reflection, allowing you to share in the journey and memories it represents.