Coraki Healing Stones

The Coraki Healing Stones were created by artists and volunteers as a tribute to reconciliation between culture and environment. They were constructed and installed over a two-month period using local clay by Goonengerry artist Suvira McDonald. Volunteers were involved in workshops with the Environmental Science Department of Southern Cross University and learnt about environmental and cultural issues in the region. During the workshops volunteers were involved in tracking animals which resulted in an exhibition called “Tracks”. This lead to different tracks being added into the Healing Stones. The director of the Lismore Regional Gallery asked if the workshops could be continued to create a public artwork. The main feature of the piece are the stones themselves. These were inspired by scarred bark which was used as shields by local Aboriginal people. During the opening of the Healing Stones, community members created tiles which now form a pathway down to the stones. Volunteers from the workshop and Richmond Valley Council helped to install the artwork, which has survived various floods since its installment. In 2018 the piece was restored with the help of Richmond Valley Council.