Local Wiradyuri elders have already been consulted about a proposal to paint the two pylons that currently support promotional banners that are hung across William Street outside the council chambers.

Bathurst man Bob Triming used public question time at Wednesday night’s monthly meeting to suggest local Aboriginal artists be invited to paint the grey pylons to look like giant didgeridoos standing either side of the main street.

“Could council supply the materials and expertise to allow the Aboriginal community to design and paint these pylons into giant painted didgeridoos or similar items with Aboriginal decoration,” Mr Triming said.

“I would not like to suggest they would be Australia’s largest didgeridoos, but it could be a unique attraction for Bathurst that I think council should take into account.”

Local elder Dinawan Djirrbang also addressed council, offering his support to Mr Triming’s proposal and said it would be a powerful symbol of unity in the city.

“It could be an Aboriginal design depicting animals significant to the Wiradyuri people here in Bathurst,” he said.

“Bathurst Regional Council has the copperwing butterfly as its logo, the little butterfly is also significant to the Aboriginal people.

“When people see the banners promoting events happening in the Bathurst area, they would also see the respect for the Wiradyuri people in this area.

“As we keep saying through the Bathurst Wiradyuri and Aboriginal Community Elders, we want to build bridges with everyone and really be part of this town.”

Mr Djirrbang said he would like to see one of the pylons painted with a girriwa (tree goanna), which is the traditional totem for the Wiradyuri people of the Bathurst region.

* Editor’s note: The Western Advocate has adopted the spelling of “Wiradyuri” rather than “Wiradjuri” at the request of the Bathurst Wiradyuri and Aboriginal Community Elders.