Virginia Keft
matjam yapin yapin tja (flying foxes in the spring) 
 
raffia, found eucalyptus wood, wire 80 x 100 x 20 cm
 
The grey-headed flying-fox, or, in the language of my people, matjam, are a recurring motif in my practice. They represent a celebration of connection to place and community. In this work, matjam are woven using Indigenous weaving techniques. Threads of Culture are woven together through learning from Elders, listening to Country, and caring for Land. Matjam are one of Australia's most important keystone species. They are responsible for spreading up to 80-100% of seeds from Native Australian plants - without them, Australian Eucalyptus forests, and the wildlife they support, would not regenerate. This important species is now threatened due to urban development that began with European colonisation. The Cooks River precinct is home to a colony of up to 12,000 Grey-headed flying foxes. The Greenway plays an important role in preserving the habitat of this colony and ensuring they continue to survive and thrive well into the future.