River drawings

Each time the river comes down, it does so in a different way. My husband’s father remembers it coming down as if it were a tidal wave, a wall of water. I’ve seen it in the late 1990s snaking its way down, sliding down holes on its way like a serpent.

There’s been a recent flood in the Maranoa and its aftermath indicates a very strong current. The debris of wood and fallen trees shows the strength, height and flow of the river at its peak.

The drawings are part of a larger project and become more than just documenting what is there — mapping the flow of various histories and their interactions, and documenting the movements that take place, which link to a wider pattern across the river watershed and our deeper understanding of these connections.

Acknowledging the Gunggari community, Elders past, present and emerging. For the Traditional Custodians, water is an intrinsic part of creation and the Maranoa River is central to their spiritual wellbeing.

Jude Taggart Roberts, 2020