Germination

Polished and exposed aggregate egg form holding a double spiral basin design with rolled stainless steel pipes for perching and sentinel posts

Goodwill Park, Atwell

The sculpture’s poem reads:

Slumbering Egg Seed
Spirals through the passage of time

Basking in sunlight… warms
Bathing in moonlight… chills

Some water, a sigh, a push
And then, new life sprouts…
into the circle of life.

Nestled in the Cockatoo Food Garden at Goodwill Park, Germination is a symbolic and functional artwork that honours the Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo, a species under serious threat.

Commissioned as a bird-friendly water source, this sculpture invites both human reflection and real avian visitors. Its egg-like form draws parallels between the egg and the seed as life-giving vessels. At its core, the work reflects on the poaching of cockatoo eggs, one of the critical threats to this endangered species alongside habitat loss and land clearing.

The double spiral birdbath inlaid on top of the aggregate egg represents a continuous cycle of regeneration. A raised perch rail, made from stainless steel pipe supports the cockatoos by providing a safe place for the sentinel to overlook the area, allowing the rest of the flock to safely land before drinking — a behaviour typical to their species.

These elegant forms add a symbolic layer of protection and guardianship to the space, blending sculpture with storytelling and purpose.

The sculpture was officially completed in November 2019 for the City of Cockburn.

Call to Action

The Germination sculpture sits within a wider environmental context. Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoos, along with Baudin’s and Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, are facing imminent extinction within 20 years if urgent action isn’t taken. From loss of mature nesting trees, to starvation from the removal of pine plantations, these iconic birds are being squeezed from every angle.

I encourage everyone to watch the powerful documentary “Black Cockatoo Crisis” by Jane Hammond, which gives voice to these endangered birds and highlights the fight to save them.

Watch it on SBS: Black Cockatoo Crisis

Learn more: Wilderness Society – Black Cockatoo Action

Together, through awareness, conservation, and art, we can help protect these powerful symbols of resilience and beauty before it’s too late.