Wonga and the Waratah is a local dreamtime story presented in immersive visual and sonic form. It traces the Wonga pigeon’s journey back to her nest after an encounter with a hawk. Hopping from flower-to-flower, Wonga turns each white waratah flower to red with blood from her broken wing. Walbunja, Ngarigo woman, preeminent Eurobodalla visual artist and Four Winds Aboriginal Creative Director Cheryl Davison has conceived and designed an installation sculpture based on this poignant local narrative.

For this unique Festival iteration, local musician and Four Winds Create & Inspire Director David Hewitt creates an accompanying soundscape that evokes the distinctive call of the Wonga pigeon, inviting live instrumentalists and voices into a musical dialogue, much like that of the birds as breeding pairs.

A story of devotion and loss, healing and strength brought into being by many hands from the South Coast community.