Our Research Coordinator at Wollongong, Dr Vidiya Ramachandran has been featured in a new public art installation celebrating the city’s rich cultural heritage and diversity.

Vidiya’s por­trait is one of 12 that now line the walls of the Bonaci­na Walk­way in Wollongong’s CBD.

The pub­lic walk­way has been named to hon­our the lives and con­tri­bu­tion Efram and Giu­lia Bonacina.

The cou­ple migrat­ed from Italy to Wol­lon­gong in 1961 and worked for 40 years on fundrais­ing and vol­un­teer work, includ­ing the estab­lish­ment of the city’s first pro­fes­sion­al inter­pret­ing ser­vice and the Migrant Her­itage Project.

The exhi­bi­tion, unveiled on 20 August this year, is the work of local pho­tog­ra­ph­er Tad Souden and high­lights the diver­si­ty of the Wol­lon­gong com­mu­ni­ty and its workforce.

The 12 peo­ple fea­tured in the art instal­la­tion are of Abo­rig­i­nal, Chi­nese, Viet­namese, Cook Islands, Chilean, Karen­ni, Tamil, Greek, Zim­bab­wean, Syr­i­an and Scot­tish heritage.

Wol­lon­gong’s Lord May­or, Coun­cil­lor Tania Brown said the instal­la­tion is about find­ing the joy in every­day life.

“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,” she said.

As a proud Tamil woman, Vidiya’s inclu­sion in this project shows her strong com­mit­ment to lead­er­ship in the local com­mu­ni­ty and to shar­ing her heritage.

Vidiya’s involve­ment aligns per­fect­ly with NSW Health Pathology’s val­ues of inclu­sion and respect.

Con­grat­u­la­tions, Vidiya, on this well-deserved recognition!

Topics