This artwork is inspired by my Pops tribe Wonnarua telling of Tiddalick: The Little Green Frog That Grew. In this Dreaming story, Tiddalick wakes with an insatiable thirst and drinks all the water from the land—drying rivers, billabongs, and lakes. The animals, desperate and parched, gather to find a way to make him laugh so the water will return. After many failed attempts, it’s the eel’s comical dance that finally cracks Tiddalick’s belly-shaking laughter, releasing the water and restoring balance to Country.
This tale teaches the importance of sharing, community, and the consequences of greed. It also reflects the deep spiritual connection between Wonnarua people and our land in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales