WARAMI

In Dharug, WARAMI means ‘hello’ and ‘good to see you, wherever you’ve come from’. A greeting with no beginning or end. This film reimagines a traditional Welcome to Country by placing Dharug Ngurra (Country) as the central, living character rather than a mere backdrop.

Journeying across a single day, the work captures the shifting rhythms of light, water, and landscape. Guided by three generations of Dharug dancers from the Jannawi Dance Clan, who move as spirit entities connecting people to place, the film offers a sensory reprieve. It provides a warm, profound embrace amidst the bustle of the airport, inviting every traveller to breathe in the enduring beauty that lies beneath, above and surrounding Western Sydney Airport.

We’re beyond proud to be part of welcoming travellers to Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, the newest airport in Australia. A new airport is a new front door to the country, and for so many people, their first steps here will be onto Dharug Ngurra. Being part of that first moment of welcome means a great deal to us.

Woven through the film is the airport’s own branding, which our motion design team brought to life as animated graphics. Lines, patterns and forms that were first drawn to sit still now move with the dancers and the light, flowing across the screen like water and wind across Country.

WARAMI came together over two years and belongs to many people. Our deepest thanks to the Jannawi Dance Clan and incredible creatives that brought this project to life. We would also like to pass on a thanks to the consultation done by Balarinji Studio and WSI Dharug working group. WARAMI will be hosted on WSI website and social channels as well as welcoming travelers for many years to come.