Gatay - Lake Cathie

This painting depicts the shallow entrance where ocean water flows into Lake Cathie and Lake Innes. The channel's position and sandiness shift daily, revealing the distinctive black crumbly ‘coffee rock’ visible due to erosion.

This entrance area is steeped in strong family and cultural connections to saltwater country. It captures moments spent together fishing and swimming, gathering our own bait, and venturing out under the moonlight to catch a feed of prawns and mud and blue swimmer crabs. The cherished times of barbecues and picnics emphasize the importance of sharing.

The circles in the sand represent the places where we would connect. While we occasionally split up to engage in different activities, we always regrouped for food and drinks, creating lasting memories with grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and many cousins. Lake Cathie is a very special place that deserves respect and care.

Acrylic on canvas
45cmx45cm

Artists Bio

Wayne Anderson is a Biripi-Worimi man who continues to develop as a successful artist. He also gives priority to sharing cultural knowledge, including 8Ways methods, that are connected to Aboriginal ways of teaching and learning. 

Wayne’s unique artwork strongly aligns to experiences on country. He has exhibited solo at galleries including Port Macquarie Glasshouse. His purchased artwork can be seen at Community Housing Limited, TAFE and Wauchope Railway Station. He has worked with other local Aboriginal artists group to produce art for Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Port Macquarie Base Hospital and Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.

Wayne has extensive experience and dynamic understanding of 8 WAYS. His understanding and use of 8WAYS strongly aligns to education, leadership, community and life experiences.