Uncle Anthony Newcastle
A local Indigenous artist, Uncle Anthony Newcastle, was commissioned to create the logo of IAH 2025. The original painting in traditional dot art was digitised into the Congress logo. An Aboriginal man originally from the Northern Territory, Anthony has lived in five states. Anthony holds a Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work, a background in community development, conflict resolution, counselling, the performing arts and facilitated workshops. Lead facilitator at Natjul, a solution focused enterprise using 'Theatre for Change' to help people Engage, Explore and Express around the challenging issues in their lives, workplace and community. He continues to work with Aboriginal groups and communities in regional, urban and remote Australia. Anthony background in community development was strongly influenced by two experiential learning visits to India as part of Community Aid Abroad exchange tours.
The Original Sketches
The Story
What this story represents: Larger blue circles underground water reservoirs, greenish small circles represent water moving underground which at times come close to ground level. Animals, humans, birdlife move across country - country represented by yellowish and brown colours, and dark lines rocky or mountainous areas which capture water and funnel it underground. There are nine rings made up of 3, 4 or 5 circles. These represent a story and knowledge many people have (or had when I was younger) of people moving across their country or known territories desert or arid areas from one waterhole or spring to the next. As they moved from one to the next they would clear known wells or springs close to the surface of debris - sand, leaves or grasses etc that were blocking or limiting access to the water. When the humans moved on continuing their journey across country caring for country and telling its stories, they would leave behind them cleared easily accessible water for animals and birds in the area. This practice repeated from one groundwater place to the next until the people returned to this site. And around they would go again. aquifers and underground water¬ow interesting to know about. But when Aboriginal peoples lives transformed to no longer or have very limited access to country, the groundwater dried up or remains clogged and covered, and the landscapes vegetation, animal and bird life transformed, moved away or died out. Undergroundwater reservoirs, aquifers and people collaborating to create livable environments in otherwise harsh, desolate country for humans, animals and birdlife.
Look out for the final painted canvas onsite at the Congress!
The Logo
With the blessing of the artist Uncle Anthony Newcastle, our designer has taken inspiration by incorporating his sketches into our logo, combining traditional indigenous designs with shades of blue symbolic of water. The complete work is creatively encapsulated in the full graphic of Australia, showing the Indigenous representation of groundwater.