TAWNY GUARDIAN | Aunty Jennifer Newman Memorial

Adam Laws, Darug & Darkinjung Artist 2026

Sandstone and Corten steel, approx. 2m high
Cooks River, Ewen Park, Hurlstone Park

This public artwork honours Aunty Jennifer Newman's enduring relationship with the Cooks River and its vibrant ecology. The Tawny Frogmouth, a bird held close in her life, keeps watch over these waters from a regenerating gurrundurring stump. The present day course of the nearby river is carved into sandstone, anchoring the work in place and memory.

A proud Wiradjuri woman from Narromine, NSW, and a devoted member of the Cooks River Valley Association, Aunty Jennifer’s deep connection to Country began on the banks of the Wambuul and guided her lifelong commitment to caring for the Cooks River and protecting cultural and natural heritage across Australia.

Client: City of Canterbury Bankstown

Fabrication Partner: Daniel De Chellis