A physio, a mechanic, an IT professional, an electrician and a youth worker are among the news faces featured on the Bonacina Walkway in the Wollongong CBD. These are the seemingly 'ordinary' professions of citizens with extraordinary personal stories.
It's seen them featured in the much-loved public walkway that bears the Bonacina name in honour of Efram and Giulia Bonacina. The couple migrated from Italy to Wollongong in 1961 and embarked on a tireless 40-year pursuit of fundraising and volunteer work, including the establishment of the city's first professional interpreting service and the Migrant Heritage Project.
Council resolved in March 2014 to name the walkway linking Stewart and Burelli Streets in the couple's honour, transforming the side of the Wollongong Library into a canvas for public artworks celebrating the multiculturalism of Wollongong and the contribution people of various cultures and backgrounds make to our city.
The latest work officially unveiled on Wednesday (20 August) displays the work of local photographer Tad Souden highlighting the diversity of the Wollongong community and workforce in line with the theme of 'Wollongong at Work'.
The 12 featured subjects are of Aboriginal, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cook Islands, Chilean, Karenni , Tamil, Greek, Zimbabwean, Syrian and Scottish heritage, with UOW graduate Souden saying he was "blown away" by the cultural richness of Wollongong when he first arrived as a UOW student in 2013.
"It felt like you could meet someone from every corner of the globe during one traverse of Crown Street," Souden said.
"[It was] the whole spectrum of human experience in such a small place. With many new beginnings of diverse and often complex backgrounds, there is an openness and humbleness to the people of the Illawarra that I resonate with deeply.
"We all see each other as equals, and regardless of your ethnicity or surname - you are safe and worthy of love and connection here. Accepting the commission for this project allowed me to express my gratitude for the cultures I've experienced, and the people I've met in my time so far in Wollongong."
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown praised the work for finding the joy in the everyday life.
"Wollongong has a great mix of people from a wide array of different cultures, and it's something we enjoy celebrating," Cr Brown said.
"We hold several special events and functions to highlight the contributions migrant communities and people of diverse backgrounds make to our city, including milestone days and holidays.
"We'll continue to do that, but this striking piece of art is a powerful reminder of how much we all benefit from being part of a multicultural community every single day. Everyone has a story, and I think this work really highlights that fact.
"It's part of what makes Wollongong such a terrific place to live, and this exhibition illustrates the important role public art plays in bringing vibrancy and character to our streets and public spaces."
