The centrepiece of the day was the unveiling of Transit Systems NSW's Reconciliation Double Decker Bus, a one-of-a-kind vehicle featuring original artwork, Vibrations of Country.
The artwork was commissioned exclusively from proud Gamilaroi/Wiradjuri artist Allan McKenzie. The bus will travel the streets of Western Sydney as a rolling symbol of unity, reconciliation and respect for the First Nations culture.
“Public transport is at its best when it reflects and celebrates the communities it serves, and today Transit Systems NSW has done exactly that,” said Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport.
“The Reconciliation Bus is a powerful and vis/ible reminder that our transport network belongs to all Australians including the First Nations people on whose Country these buses travel every day. I congratulate Transit Systems NSW on this meaningful initiative and on bringing together such a wonderful celebration of culture, community and reconciliation for NAIDOC Week.”
Last week’s event started with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Uncle Raymond Weatherall, followed by a performance by the nationally and internationally acclaimed Jannawi Dance Clan led by Artistic Director Peta Strachan, a descendant of the Darug people of the Boorooberongal clan.
“NAIDOC Week is one of the most important weeks in our calendar, and this year we wanted to do more than observe, we wanted to celebrate,” said Rino Matarazzo, Managing Director of Transit Systems NSW.
“The Reconciliation Bus is a genuine expression of who we are and who we aspire to be as an organisation. Allan McKenzie’s artwork, Vibrations of Country, speaks to something profound about connection to the land, and we are proud to carry it across Sydney every day.
“We are deeply grateful to Uncle Raymond Weatherall, the Jannawi Dance Clan, the Clontarf Foundation, and all of the community who joined us today. This is what reconciliation looks like in action and we are incredibly proud to also welcome four new Indigenous apprentices to Transit Systems NSW.”
Young people from the Clontarf Foundation joined the celebration as active participants in the day's activities.
A communal artwork canvas was also made available for all attendees to add their mark as a collective expression of solidarity.
About the artwork: Allan McKenzie is a proud Gamilaroi/Wiradjuri artist and artefact maker known for his distinctive use of traditional dot work blended with bold, contemporary colour. His work tells stories of identity, family, Country and the enduring strength of First Nations peoples. Vibrations of Country was commissioned by Transit Systems NSW to honour that tradition and bring it into the everyday lives of Sydneysiders.
About the Clontarf Foundation: The Clontarf Foundation exists to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
About Transit Systems NSW: Transit Systems operates locally in Sydney as Transit Systems NSW and is part of Kelsian Group (Kelsian), a global operator of bus, motorcoach, and marine services, trusted by governments and private clients to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable passenger transport solutions.
With over 30 years of experience, Kelsian connects people and places across complex urban and regional networks in Australia, Singapore, the USA, the UK, and the Channel Islands. Kelsian directly employs over 12,800 people and operates over 5,870 buses, 124 vessels and 24 light rail vehicles that delivered more than 383 million customer journeys over the last year.
IMAGES: Feature image - the reconcilation bus featuring the artwork, Vibrations of Country and below
Dr Marjorie O’Neill, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport.
