Learning through letters

Note: The original article was written prior to the senseless vandalism of the Begonia letters in Sturt Street, which caused irreparable damage. The City of Ballarat condemns vandalism – it is not only a waste of ratepayers’ money but also impacts on the presentation of the city leading into our biggest tourism event of the year – the Ballarat Begonia Festival. This article has been updated to reflect the current circumstances.

Every year in late February, large, bright letters appear in Sturt Street heralding the upcoming Ballarat Begonia Festival. Wadawurrung artist Jenna Oldaker created unique designs for the letters to help people engage with her culture. 

As a child, Jenna Oldaker learned the stories and history of the Wadawurrung people from her mother and grandmother.

Both women, but particularly her grandmother who is the oldest living Wadawurrung Elder, profoundly influenced Jenna’s creative practice, which she has cultivated in different ways since childhood.

Today, Jenna follows in her grandmother’s footsteps by sharing the stories of her culture through art, the most recent of which includes the ‘begonia’ letters which were displayed in Sturt Street in the lead-up to the Ballarat Begonia Festival.

With each letter depicting a different native plant or flower significant to Wadawurrung culture, Jenna hoped the letters would start conversations and encourage people to learn more about her culture.

There’s a very specific reason Jenna uses art to share stories and educate people about her culture.

“I think people often underestimate the power of art, but it is actually a really powerful vehicle to share stories because it is accessible to everyone,” she says.

Passive learning is weaved into Jenna’s ‘begonia’ letter designs, where people can pick up the name of the native plant depicted and how it is used in Wadawurrung culture.

One of the plants represented on the ‘begonia’ letters will be the Australian Grass Tree, the nectar of which is a traditional food source for Wadawurrung people. The flowering stems are also used to make spears and fire sticks.

“You’ve probably seen the Australian Grass Tree in your everyday life, but maybe not known about the traditional uses,” Jenna says. 

Jenna says she has been heartened to see how First Nations cultures are increasingly being valued by the broader Australian community.

She has experienced this change first-hand through her work delivering First Nations cultural education sessions at schools and in corporate settings.

“I go to schools and the young students will sing me their Acknowledgement of Country, or students will be able to tell me what Country they are on,” she says.

“I can see change. People see the value in our culture and want to learn more.”

To learn more about Jenna Oldaker and her artistic practice, visit her website murrupart.com.au.