Can you help create the Great Aboriginal Dreaming Quilt?

Students from Walgett Community College are making an enormous quilt representing their hopes and dreams.

A close up of the Walgett Community College Aboriginal Dreaming Quilt. Source: Walgett Community College

An Aboriginal community in north west NSW is hoping to create the nation's biggest "Aboriginal Dreaming Quilt" made up of squares from people around the country.

Students from Walgett Community College are performing in the Schools Spectacular in Sydney in November, and the quilt will be entered as a project in the World's Biggest Classroom exhibition program.

The theme of this year's Schools Spectacular is "Dream Big", which is something that Walgett Community College Executive Principal Karen McKinnon wants to encourage her students to do.

"This project is about encouraging Walgett youth to have big dreams for their future," Ms McKinnon tells NITV.

"We want students to feel proud of their ambitions and goals and to celebrate our shared vision for the future."

Students at Walgett Community College work on their quilt squares. Source: Walgett Community College

College students, staff and other members of the broader community have been invited to paint an image of their dreams onto a 20cm x 20cm calico square which will be combined into one big community quilt of dreams.

The idea behind the Dreaming Quilt is this: "Lying underneath the dreaming quilt, the individual shapes the story of their dreams. When we stand up and wrap the fabric around us like a cloak, we embody our dreaming and all the community stand with us in solidarity. We are Gamilaraay and we wear our identity with pride." 

Ms McKinnon says they welcome "everyone and anyone who has a dream to share" to contribute a square for the quilt, whether it be a message to inspire the students, a representation of your own hopes and aspirations, a hello from your community or club, or a bib about your town or family. 

"While we have focussed on our local community in Walgett, word about the quilt is spreading and we’ve had enquiries from people further afield, like Bathurst, asking if they can contribute," she says.

So far they have about 170 squares, so the quilt will be at least 3m x 3m. But as news of the project spreads, the quilt's potential size is growing and growing.   

"We’ll have to wait and see just how big the dream will grow."

The Aboriginal Dreaming Quilt, under construction Source: Walgett Community College