BY ARIANA GATTI
In honour of NAIDOC celebrations this week, Lake Macquarie City Council have launched a new virtual reality experience, shining a light on the region's extensive and diverse Indigenous heritage.
The virtual technology provides an insight for users into when the Awabakal people were the sole inhabitors of land, providing an immersive, cultural experience.
The software will allow users to view and explore Lake Macquarie's Aboriginal history, dating back some 250-years-ago, showcasing three native stories.
These stories include: 'Niridiba' - about Moon Island; 'Malangbula' - the story of two sisters at Swansea Heads; as well as 'Kurrurkurraan' - which is the story of Blackhalls Park and the Petrified Forest area.
The virtual reality experience has been created in partnership with Lake Macquarie City Art Gallery's Aboriginal Reference Group, to provide the most real and accurate experience possible.
Aboriginal Reference Group Member, Doug Archibald, says these stories are essential pieces of history in which the public should all witness.
"These sites have been chosen because they're very significant to Aboriginal people here in Lake Macquarie - they span from Dreaming stories, daily life, right through to first European contact", he says.
"Through this project, now as our community moves throughout the City, they can be aware of these sites and stories, and their significance to the Awabakal people and our Aboriginal communities of Lake Macquarie today".
Image Sourced:https://www.lakemac.com.au/news/2018/07/09/lake-macquaries-aboriginal-heritage-comes-to-life-through-vr
