Jenna Oldaker On Embracing Country

Bold in colour and rich in symbolism, Delama Dja traces the waterways, songlines and stories of Wadawurrung Country, carrying forward knowledge passed down through generations.

For Jenna, the artwork is both a tribute and an invitation – a way of welcoming us all to open our eyes to Country.

Talking about the story behind the artwork and what it means to “embrace Country”, here’s Jenna, in her own words.

On Learning to Paint from My Grandmother

I was a food microbiologist in another life. That’s what I went to university for and started a career as. But I’d always painted. It was something I shared with my grandmother who taught me. She was the oldest-living Wadawurrung Elder until she passed away at the end of 2025, and so much of what I now share with the world started with her.

But it wasn’t until COVID, when so many of us suddenly had time we didn’t know what to do with, that painting stopped being a hobby and became something else entirely. I told myself I’d keep going until people stopped wanting to see it. Thankfully, people wanted to keep sharing my artwork.

I create artwork under the name Murrup Art – murrup is the Wadawurrung word for “spirit”, Storytelling is at the heart of everything I do. My work draws on my connection to Country , to family, to community, and to the cultural knowledge that’s been passed down to me through generations of ancestors. It’s a way of expressing those stories and being able to share my culture with people.

So, when I was asked to create a piece for Nyaal Banyul, it was a really special one, both as a Wadawurrung woman and as an artist. Nyaal Banyul is such a significant place on the waterfront – even the name itself, an invitation to “open your eyes to the hills”, resonated with me and those hills are represented in my artwork.

My mother Auntie Joy is also a Wadawurrung Elder, and she’s part of the mural on the outside of the building that Rone created called Our Time in Geelong. To have her feature on the walls outside and mine inside, that’s really special.

On Why I Invite You to Embrace Country

I name all my artworks in our traditional language because language is such an important part of culture and identity.

So Delama Dja means “Embrace Country”. That’s really what I wanted people to do. Not just look at the land, but understand what it holds: our stories, our ancestors, our identity and the relationships we have with one another.

Embracing Country means honouring where we’ve come from, appreciating what the land gives to us and how we care for it, so it stays strong for future generations.

I like to think of the title as an invitation, as well. A way of asking people to open themselves up, to learn a little about Wadawurrung Country and the place they’re living in.

Caption: A preliminary sketch of the Delama Dja artwork

On the Symbolic Meaning of Delama Dja

Every symbol in Delama Dja carries its own story. At the centre sits the meeting place – people gathering on Country, sharing knowledge, connecting with one another. Around it, tradition U-shapes represent families and communities coming together, and flowing journey lines trace the songlines that symbolise our relationship with each other and to this land.

You’ll see the beautiful blue waterways, too. The Wadawurrung were once known as the water tribe, indicating how reliant we were on the rivers, wetlands and the beautiful surf coast. That resonates with people because that’s what they think about when they think about Geelong and the Great Ocean Road, all those beautiful parts of Wadawurrung Country.

Above it all, Bundjil, our spirit creator, who watches over us, while the stars represent the Elders and ancestors who continue to guide us from the skies.

At the centre, three circles hold past, present and future together. That symbolism was really important because it honours our past history and how far we’ve come in the present, and acknowledges how we need to continue to grow for the next generation.

Caption: Jenna’s vibrant artwork Delama Dja, invites you to “Embrace Country”

On the Importance of Colour

I like to express myself and my work through colour. I’m very much a contemporary Aboriginal artist, and I lean into bright, bold colours as a way to draw people in. I hope that colour makes them stop for a moment, get a little bit curious and discover something new.

In Delama Dja, the colours trace the changing hues of water on Country: the warm oranges of sunrise softening into sunset, and the deep purples and blues of dusk. Blue is particularly significant as it ties into our connection to water.

If someone walks past my piece and leaves feeling a little more connected to Wadawurrung Country – a little more curious about it – then it’s done its job. I want people to understand that our culture isn’t something confined to the past. It’s living, right now, in the hills, the waterways, the animals, the language, in the Country we all walk on, work on, breathe on every day.

Caption: A detail from Delama Dja of Bundjil, the spirit creator

On My Connection to Geelong

Geelong holds a special place for me. Even though I was born and bred in Ballarat, I spend so much time in this part of Wadawurrung Country and I love its diversity. The coastlines, the wetlands, the hills and places like the You Yangs, all hold the spirit of our ancestors and so many of our stories.

Djilang, the name for Geelong, means “tongue of land”, and that’s a reference to the landscape and the shape of the bay itself. It’s a place where we come together . Hopefully, with things like this artwork and this beautiful new convention centre on Wadawurrung Country, we have the perfect way to continue that on.

___

About the Artist

Jenna Oldaker is a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner and Aboriginal artist, based in Ballarat on Wadawurrung Country. As a visual artist, Jenna explores the sacred traditions of storytelling, culture and heritage through her brightly coloured and joyful artworks.

Come and Embrace Country

Delama Dja is just one of the artworks waiting to be discovered at Nyaal Banyul.

Head to the venue to explore a collection of First Nations artworks that celebrate Wadawurrung culture, connection to Country, and the stories still being told today.

Explore Artworks