Artwork connecting sport to Gunaikurnai Country
Published: 15 July 2026Gunnai artist Alice Pepper’s artworks will be included in the upgrades at Ted Summerton Reserve and Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park, highlighting the local Gunaikurnai culture and heritage.
The Regional Sports Infrastructure Program upgrades in Moe and Morwell will feature designs celebrating community gathering and active living.
Having lived and worked in Moe and Morwell most of her life, Alice won netball premierships at Ted Summerton Reserve in her younger years. She was also recently elected for a third term as a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, implementing Treaty in Victoria.
‘To be able to contribute to these two spaces on Gunaikurnai Country where my grass roots connections originated from is very meaningful to me.’
‘It is an honour to be able to highlight and weave our cultural stories and the connection of our people to country into a space where we all can feel welcomed to enjoy through gatherings and watching our future generations excel and be healthy and active through sports,’ she said.
Alice has also been involved in many local projects including the design and branding of Latrobe City Council’s Indigenous Employment Program, performing cultural dance for the opening of the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre and was the winner of Latrobe City’s Young Citizen of the Year Award in 2002.
Latrobe City Council Mayor Cr Sharon Gibson said Alice’s artwork showcased a deep connection to the land and will be a special addition to the two projects.
‘We’re happy to work alongside GLaWAC with the support of Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program to bring this to life and leave a lasting tribute to the Gunnai Kurnai people,’ she said.
Once completed, Ted Summerton Reserve will feature a reconstructed oval surface, new oval lighting, new change room pavilion, electronic scoreboard, refurbished existing pavilion, new undercover terracing, new cricket practice nets and improved accessibility.
Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park will feature a new grandstand pavilion, 3 upgraded natural turf pitches and a new additional synthetic pitch, all with new lighting and players facilities, new change pod and more parking.
Construction on Ted Summerton Reserve and Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park is expected to be completed in late 2026.
There are 4 projects in the Latrobe City region and 18 projects across regional Victoria that are part of the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, making our communities even better places to live, work, stay and play.
Transcript
Latrobe art installations – Alice Pepper
Vision: Title: Latrobe art installations. Ted Summerton Reserve. Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park
Vision: Alice Pepper walks into frame in front of a construction site
Alice Pepper
The community here is my family.
Vision: Title: Alice Pepper, Gunnai artist
Vision: Alice Pepper speaking, Peppers Copmmunity, Arts & Cultural Services logo and text, Alice Pepper variously walking through a building site and standing out on a sports field in front of a grandstand construction site.
Alice Pepper
I grew up here as a little girl. Lived here in Moe with my Nan and Pop and all my Aunties and Uncles.
It’s pretty special to be able to come home and contribute something to the sporting community, as sport’s played a big part in my life.
Vision: Alice Pepper walking, indigenous art symbols created by Alice Pepper
Alice Pepper
For artists, our Elders that have lived here, for them to see public spaces, have our stories told and the symbols that represents us as Aboriginal people, it brings pride to our community and I hope to see more of it.
Vision: Victoria State Government logo, Development Victoria logo
Vision: Title: This project is funded through the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.
