Adrian Shafer Cultural Identity, Indigenous Historical Researcher carved the platypus and echidna into two trees located in the grounds of the neighbourhood centre at North St Marys. The platypus and echidna are significant as they represent totems of the North St Marys area and join the turtle which was previously carved into a neighbouring tree. Historically Aboriginal people scarred trees and would remove large pieces of the trees bark to be used for traditional purposes. Adrian removed the bark from the trees and has made coolamons from the removed bark. These coolamons will be used by Adrian for a smoking ceremony to celebrate and present the tree carvings to the local community. The carving of the trees at the neighbourhood centre not only links culture to the centre, but creates a talking point and has made it a site of special significance. The carvings are
magnificent and have become a focal point of the garden.
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