New cultural water fountains at Deakin University will provide free access to fresh drinking water and reduce plastic waste while also quenching students, staff and visitors’ thirst for knowledge about Traditional Owner culture and history.
A joint initiative between Deakin University, Barwon Water, and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, the fountains feature Aboriginal artwork and inscriptions created by Wadawurrung artists Billy-Jay O’Toole and Corrina Eccles, designed to facilitate storytelling and an understanding and appreciation of Traditional Owner culture and history.
The fountains are designed to teach, inspire and raise awareness of Wadawurrung values while also expressing gratitude and thanks to the Traditional Custodians for nurturing and caring for Country, which sustains us all.
They also reduce the need to purchase single-use plastic bottles and the amount of waste generated on campus. This will bring the university one step closer to its goal of achieving zero waste by 2030, a target that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
