Saltwater People of the Fatal Shore

The focus of Saltwater People - Sydney's Southern Beaches is on the shoreline - that high energy intersection between sea and land where waves, whipped-up by wind and storms, sometimes thousands of kilometers out to sea, announce their arrival in a final dramatic explosion, or caress it with a gentle cascade. This constant, hypnotic dance with the shore can be calming, and it can be confronting. When the swell appears excitement grows and the coastline becomes energized.

The surfzone both attracts and influences us - and in turn our presence affects this playground on the edge of the vast Pacific. It is not just surfers that are attracted to this zone. Sydney's magnificent beaches have produced some truly unique individuals and some incredible stories. They are home of the world's most recognized painters, potters, writers, poets, photographers, film-makers, musicians and architects. Saltwater People - Sydney's Southern Beaches pays homage to those remarkable people who have made this coastline home. When asked, very few people living in Sydney know about the Aborigine people who lived along the coast for tens of thousands of years before the coming of the Europeans.

There are also many misconceptions about the culture of the first people. One common belief is that they were all somehow frightened of the ocean, but this is far from the truth. The Aborigine clans along Sydney's beaches were true saltwater people, at home not only in the sparkling estuaries and rivers, but also in the ocean waves. Theirs was a canoe culture. They fished with spears, or lines and hooks, and were accomplished swimmers completely at home in the surf.

This part of our history has remained largely hidden, and it is important to reveal here the influence of our Aboriginal heritage not only on the people of Sydney, but also on our national psyche. If we had listened, the Saltwater People would have also taught us much about protecting the coast and its valuable resources. There is now a growing awareness that something is wrong. The natural beauty of the area is under threat. It is obvious that the first people protected this country, and, as they did for many millennia before us, we need to think from the heart and preserve the area for future generations.