Tradition meets technology – celebrating Wakka Wakka Country during NAIDOC Week
02 Jul 2025
As NAIDOC Week calls on all Australians to reflect, celebrate and walk alongside First Nations people, a new telecommunications initiative in the South Burnett region is honouring connection in every sense, through culture, Country and technology.
To mark the rollout of a fibre-optic project on Wakka Wakka Country, Yurika has commissioned a powerful piece of Aboriginal artwork by local Cherbourg siblings Robyn and Robert Langton. Blending cross-hatching with dot painting in a distinctive Impressionist and Contemporary style, the artwork tells a story of adaptation, bridging ancestral knowledge with modern innovation.
“This painting is about adapting from the old ways to today’s generational changes.”
“It shows how our people once used bullroarers to send messages through the wind, and now, we’re seeing that same concept reflected through the use of fibre, energy and digital communication” the painters said.
The artwork’s motifs are rich with meaning: the spirals represent coils and wiring; blue and white dots flow across the piece, carrying messages through air and land. At its heart lies a yarning circle which captures the enduring power of storytelling and collective progress.
“We’re proud to walk alongside Traditional Owners on this journey, especially during NAIDOC Week.”
“This is more than an artwork. It’s a gesture of respect and a celebration of enduring cultural connection,” said General Manager of Telecommunications and Digital at Yurika, Tony Riley.
Delivered in partnership with South Burnett Regional Council and proudly funded by the Queensland Government’s Regional Economic Futures Fund (REFF), the project aims to improve regional digital connectivity, supporting Indigenous communities, families, and local businesses.
In a week that celebrates voice, storytelling and healing, this collaboration reflects NAIDOC’s spirit in action. It’s infrastructure that respects the past, serves the present, and supports a more resilient future.
