Sand Goanna and Water Snake Dreaming

Sand Goanna and Water Snake Dreaming tells the story of strength, resilience, and the shared responsibility of caring for Country.

In the Dreaming, when the sand goanna first evolved from the water and began walking across the land, he would often return to the riverbanks to drink and rest beside the waterhole. Watching closely from beneath the water was the water snake, guardian of the river and protector of the waterways.

The water snake became curious about the goanna and wanted to test his spirit. If the goanna was going to move across the snake’s Country and visit the waterhole, he needed to prove that he was strong, wise, and respectful. He had to show that he could watch over the land and riverbanks while the snake continued to care for the water itself.

So the two spirits met in the water and began to dance, circle, and challenge one another. They twisted and moved through the currents, testing each other’s strength, resilience, and heart. The light blue colours within the artwork represent the movement of water as they danced and battled beneath the surface. The swirling patterns symbolise the many circles they travelled together — each turn carrying lessons of understanding, balance, and respect.

No matter how many times they challenged one another, they always returned to the same truth: both carried deep love for Country, and both wanted to protect and care for the sacred waterhole.

In the end, there was no winner or loser. The sand goanna and the water snake resolved their differences in peace, understanding that true strength comes through unity, respect, and working together to care for the land and waterways for future generations.