all the stories got into our minds and...

H i s t o r y Pa i n t i n g sal l the stor ies got into our minds and eyes

8 P a r a p P l a c e ( U p s t a i r s , e n t e r v i a g re g o r y s t r e e t ) , P a r a p , n o r t h e r n te r r i t o r y 0 8 2 0

P : 0 8 8 9 8 1 4 8 2 2 F : 0 8 8 9 8 1 4 8 7 7

E : i n f o @ o u t s t a t i o n . c o m . a u W : w w w. o u t s t a t i o n . c o m . a u

o u t s t a t i o n - a r t f r o m a r t c e n t r e s a n d

Wa r a k u r n a a r t i s t s a re p ro u d t o p re s e n t

H i s t o ry Pa i n t i n g s

all the stories got into our minds and eyes

s h o w i n g M a y 6 t h - J u n e 3 rd , 2 0 1 1 .

Cover iMage: Judith yinika Chambers. ‘Mr grayden’ (detail), 1016 x 1016mm, acrylic on canvas, 2011.

© Judith Chambers. Photo courtesy Warakurna artists.

T h i s i s a n i m p o r t a n t s e r i e s o f p a i n t i n g s

b y Wa r a k u r n a A r t i s t s t h a t e x p l o r e

‘ h i s t o r y ’ f r o m a Ya r n a n g u p e r s p e c t i v e

f r o m t h e l a s t h u n d r e d y e a r s i n t h e

N g a a n y a t j a r r a L a n d s .

W A R A K U R N A A R T I S T S - H I S T O R Y P A I N T I N G S

4

1 9 2 - 1 1 . 7 6 2 m m x 1 0 1 6 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s

D O R c A S T I N N I m AY B e N N e T T

Giles Weather Station

Dorcas was a very young child when she first walked through the country at the base of the Rawlinson

Ranges near the Giles Meteorological Station. Her memories of the early days of the Weather Station

are reinforced by stories told to her by her Mother, Nyurapayia Bennett.

“They were bringing the steel on trucks from Woomera or Adelaide. They put it in the ground making

the frame of the buildings that are there now.”

In this topographic view of the Meteorological Station, Dorcas has included the older corrugated tin

sheds that were installed on the site in the beginning to serve various purposes. Over the years, with

many changes of staff the old functions of these buildings have been forgotten.

“There was one tin shed. It was the shop for all the whitefella workers there.”

The shop has long since closed and the tin shed now houses gym equipment.

The Giles site houses some curiosities of the era. For instance, the grader cage, housing the grader

used by Len Beadell to grade the ‘cut line’ track and a remnant from one of the Bluestreak Rockets

fired from Woomera.

Dorcas tells of the relic: “A rocket fell from the sky. Only the whitefellas were there to hear

it. All the Yarnangu were gone to the Missions with Mr McDougall and Mr Macauley. Later on some

people, Yarnangu, found it in the bush at Warlyirya, near the Wingellina Road.”


5


J e A N B u R k e

miners

This is a story from Wingel l ina, near Jean’s birthplace. She paints a group of miners from the

ear ly days working in a nickel mine.

One man went in (to the mine shaft) with a dynamite. One other man was standing outside,

pul led the ladder out and the dynamite went off , BLEW!

The man with the ladder ran away. He didn’t tel l the other whitefel las (miners). He just ran into

the bush. The whitefel las (miners) at the camp got worr ied and came from the camp looking

round that mine hole and saw that man f in ished.


6


J e A N B u R k e

my Father’s Donkeys

My Father got the donkeys from Amata to use for travel l ing. We went from Amata to Warburton

and back to Blackstone, then Wingel l ina. We stopped in Wingel l ina. Everybody knew my

Father’s three donkeys because we used them to walk around from place to place, they

carr ied our things.

These white men, travellers, not from here. They saw this donkey with long ears, it was staring at

them and they got frightened. They shot my Father’s donkeys – they thought it was a mamu?

We wanted to go out camping. We were looking round for those donkeys and we found them

wiyar ingku (dead).

When the Government came around to the community we told him about this white man who

shot al l of the donkeys and he was upset. He knew my Father was looking after those donkeys

from Amata. That man went to ja i l ‘cause those were my father’s donkeys he shot.


7


J e A N B u R k e

camel Lady

In the late 1970s Robyn Davidson, a lone woman and her three camels travel led into the

Ngaanyat jarra Lands. Somewhere near Wingel l ina Robyn met Jean Burke’s father. Jean’s

father would trek with Robyn across the Ngaanyat jarra Lands to Warburton showing her the

water sources along the way.

She was a good woman. She had a dream about a k ind man who would help her f ind her way,

then she met my father near Wingel l ina. He knew that country and he helped her.

They went from Wingel l ina to Blackstone to Linden Bore then to Ranges (Warburton) and then

she went on her own al l the way up to Broome.

When she wrote her book, Tracks, my father was in there.


8


J e A N B u R k e

The Wati who was Looking for Lasseter

There was a White Man. He was travel l ing around looking for Lasseter. He went and camped

at a rockhole south of Docker River. He then went to another rockhole where he drank the

water and washed his face. Some people saw him. They must have got jealous and got wi ld.

They speared him and he f in ished.


9


J e A N B u R k e

making the cut Line With Len Beadell

This paint ing by Jean Burke tel ls the story of the graded road made by Len Beadel l and his

crew to service the Gi les Meteorological Stat ion. Jean was a student at Warburton Mission

School when the road bui ld ing machinery f i rst came to the community.

“That f i rst road went to Gi les. I t was the old one, the Carnegie Road, i t went up to the North

going Pat jarr way and back around to (Warburton) Ranges. Len Beadel l-ku road.

We were young chi ldren at Warburton School when the bul ldozers f i rst came. We didn’t know

what they were. Some t j i t j i (chi ldren) were real ly fr ightened, crying and running away. They

thought i t was mamu.

Then the bul ldozers made a road around to Mt Davies and Blackstone and went back to Gi les

on the Carnegie Road. I t was only piranpa (whitefel las) making that road. Yarnangu made a

cut l ine after.”


1 0

1 7 9 - 1 1 ( d e t a i l ) . 7 6 2 m m x 1 5 2 4 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s

J e A N B u R k e

macauley and mcDougall

Bob Macauley and Bi l l McDougal l were Nat ive Patrol Off icers working in the vast expanse

of the Central and Western Desert region dur ing the late 1950’s and 1960’s. Many Yarnangu

remember these two men fondly as fr iends of the people who l ived in these lands.

“At hol iday t ime we were walking back towards Blackstone. Mr McDougal l and Mr Macauley

would l ight a f i re in the spini fex to let us know that they were nearby, next we would send up

a f i re to show them where we were camped. Like sending a message on the telephone, we

were talk ing from a long way.

Then they would come to the camp in the yel low truck with the mirka (food). We were al l

happy to see him, chi ldren and dogs were running around happy.”


1 1


J u D I T H Y I N Y I k A c H A m B e R S

Warburton mission: Leaving Time

In the mid 1960’s the condit ions at the United Aborigines Mission at Warburton had become

crowded. New sett lements at Docker River had opened and people were beginning to f ind

alternat ive places to l ive.

Judith chambers tells this story: “ I t was very busy there at Warburton in mission t ime.

People heard about the new sett lements start ing up at Docker River. That was near our Ngurra

in the East so my fami ly went there.

Some people went down to the mission at Laverton. Those were people from the West near

Cosmo Newberry.

Other people were also going to the East. They were walking to Amata. There was a sett lement

there too.

You can see al l the people were picking up their things. They were talk ing saying ‘Where are

you going?’ and some would say ‘ I ’m going to Kaltukatara (Docker River). ’ or ‘Oh, we are

walking down to Laverton.’ and then they would go on walking. Chi ldren, dogs and al l . Some

were walking, some dr iv ing.”


1 2

1 7 6 - 1 1 . 5 0 8 m m x 7 6 2 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s


mr mcDougall and Tommy Dodd

Judith Chambers was born at Mit j ika, a rockhole North of the Great Central Road near Wanarn

community. Her mother is the wel l known art ist Carol Maanyat ja Golding.

In the ‘ear ly days’ Judith attended school at Warburton Mission with her s isters. She now l ives

in Warakurna, her Grandmother’s homeland, with her fami ly.

“When I was l i t t le I saw them, Mr McDougal l and one halfcaste man, Tommy Dodd. They were

going from camp to camp helping the people to come into the mission (Warburton Mission).

Tommy Dodd came from Amata, he was talk ing Yunkunyt jat jarra and Mr McDougal l was talk ing

Pit jat jant jarra and a l i t t le bit Ngaanyat jarra tel l ing al l the people about the mission. People

would get in the truck and go with them to the mission camp. Those are the stone mission

bui ld ings in the middle”


1 3



early Days Way

Judith Chambers was born near Warbuton at a waterhole and now l ives in Warakurna with

her fami ly.

This is a story about how people l ived in the bush. They would travel rockhole to rockhole

hunt ing along the way. They would meet up with other fami l ies. They would then come back

home and stay with wives and chi ldren. This is how people used to l ive in the ear ly days.


1 4



kungkarangkalpa

Judith’s paint ing depicts an important Ngaanyat jarra women’s story, Kungkarangkalpa (Seven

Sisters Dreaming). Seven sisters were travel l ing from Warnan to Warakurna. A wati (man)

spied on them whi lst they were digging deep water holes for dr inking water. He wanted to

make the youngest one his wife but the sisters ran away and hid from him.

They then crossed the country passing through sand hi l ls and dug for water as there was

none in the creeks.

Eventual ly they reached Docker River where they were safe from the man.


1 5

1 6 3 - 1 1 . 1 0 1 6 m m x 1 0 1 6 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s


mr Grayden

Bill Grayden travelled through the Ngaanyatjarra lands in the 1960s. He travelled from camp to

camp and photographed many people l iving in the area called Yuliya or the Rawlinson Ranges.

“They were looking for the smoke from the campfire then they would go to the camp and meet

those people. They would col lect the papa skins and give the people food and clothes. My

father and mother met Mr Grayden near Yul iya.”

“Mr Grayden travel led a long way round, through tal i country. From waterhole to waterhole.

Start ing at Warburton, he went down Walu way and up to Tjurt juranyarra (Circus Water).”


1 6

2 5 7 - 1 1 . 1 0 1 6 m m x 1 5 2 4 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s

J u D I T H Y I N I k A c H A m B e R S , D O R c A S T I N N I N m AY B e N N e T T A N D

m A R T H A WA R D

cutline. Warakurna to Warburton.

This painting is about Yarnangu building the road between Warakurna and Warburton in the 1970s. All

the families helped. We camped along the way in swags. Even the kids came along. We had a green

tractor. Sometimes we got a flat tyre and had to fix it. Everyone had to help clear the road. We had

axes and had to cut down trees. It was a really big job and hard work.


1 7


D I A N N e u N G u k A L P I G O L D I N G

Tjanpi!

This paint ing is about Tjanpi. We make baskets and sculptures from spini fex grass. We were

going out bush to make things with Jo. We had big tarps to s it on.


1 8

1 6 2 - 1 1 ( d e t a i l ) . 7 6 2 m m x 7 6 2 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s

P O L LY PAW u YA J A c k S O N

Tjanpi

Polly Butler was born at Yulpigari a soak near Tjukurla. She has been making grass and fibre baskets and sculpture with Tjanpi Desert Weavers since the late 1990’s.

“There’s a lot of parts to making Tjanpi. First we all go out bush in the yultu(vehicles) to collect the tjanpi together. There is some special tjanpi that we use. You can get it when it’s dry or take it when it’s wet and lay it out in the sun to dry.Then we make the baskets. Ladies sit down together, talking, sharing stories, it’s fun for us. The young girls, daughters and granddaughters watch their mother and kaparli (grandmother) make the baskets and they learn. I learnt like that.

Then we sell the baskets to Tjanpi (Jo), we can buy swags, crowbars, blankets and bags or go to the shop for mirka (food). Tjanpi will sell our baskets and papa and tjitji all over the world.”

The first Tjanpi basket weaving workshops were held in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in 1995. Since then tjanpi making has become an important part of Ngaanyatjarra women’s creative tradition included in women’s song and dance.


1 9


A N N A P O R T e R

mission Time

Anna Porter was born at Mi lyat jarra, the place known today as Warburton Community. Anna

paints this scene, a memory from ‘mission t ime’ at Warburton.

“That bui ld ing was the f i rst stone bui ld ing they made in Warburton. Mr Wade was l iv ing there

with his wife and two chi ldren. We were fr iends with those kids.

Mr Wade would give sweets to al l of the chi ldren. We were l in ing up to get those sweets in

the afternoon.

Those tal l trees are down the bottom end of town near the West’s house. They survived the

cyclone in Warburton a few years ago. They keep on going. They must be gett ing bigger with

al l th is rain.”


2 0


e u N I c e Y u N u R u PA P O R T e R

Land Rights

In June 2005 the Austral ian Federal Court came to recognise the exclusive r ight of the

Ngaanyat jarra people to some 180,000 square ki lometres of land between the Great Victor ia

Desert and the Gibson Desert.

This paint ing depicts the celebrat ions surrounding the signing of the Ninety-nine Year held at

Punt j i lp i , an outstat ion near Mantamaru.

‘People had been try ing to get i t (nat ive t i t le) for a real ly long t ime. After they gave the

paper ( lease), we danced to show our culture. Some women were dancing Kungkarangkalpa –

Seven Sisters. I was singing and I danced later on. Al l the whitefel las were watching and taking

photos. I t was a real ly happy day for us.”


2 1



Walking man

There was a White Man walking the Central Desert Road. He had a l i t t le trai ler that he pul led

behind him. He was running through the desert to raise money for s ick people. My husband’s

car had broken down near Docker River and the Walking Man stopped to talk to him. I t was

lucky because he had a UHF radio. My husband cal led us and told us to come and get him and

to br ing spare parts. We were on our way to Curt in Spr ings for a big NPY Women’s Counci l

meeting. Al l the minmyas were talk ing up strong for our people. Curt in Spr ings only sel ls cool

dr inks now.


2 2



Going Home

In the 1970’s, Ngaanyat jarra people from the Warakurna area began to lobby for sett lement

closer to their homeland. Eunice’s late husband, Mr Porter was instrumental in this act ion

which ult imately lead the Porter, Yates, Bennett, Reid, Shepherd, Golding, Cooke, Mitchel l ,

But ler, Burke, Newberry, Gi les, Richards, Bates, Robinson, Pr ior and Ward fami l ies to return to

the Warakurna area.She st i l l l ives in Warakurna with her son and extended fami ly.

This paint ing tel ls of the meeting held with Government in Warburton at which the Ngaanyat jarra

people received news that their lobbying had been a success.

‘Al l the people went to Warburton for a big meeting. At the meeting we were told that the

Government were going to help us to start the communit ies in Mantamaru, Blackstone,

Tj ikar l i and Warakurna. We were so happy! People were jumping up saying ‘ Iwant go home to

Mantamaru!’ , ‘ Iwant to go to Warakurna!’ , ‘Ngurraku!’ . . .

Everybody rol led up their swags, blankets, bi l lycans. The chi ldren and old people went in the

trucks and some other people were walking. We were al l so happy to be going to our home.

In our new communit ies we didn’t have houses or a shop. We were l iv ing in wi l t jas and tents.

The government trucks would come around to br ing food and money to the community.”


2 3



Holiday Time

Eunice Yunurupa Porter was born at Wirrkural on the road between Jameson and Warburton.

She now l ives in Warakurna with her husband’s fami ly.

As a young gir l she walked with her fami ly to the Warburton Mission site where she would

begin to attend the United Aborigines Mission School. At Christmas hol iday t ime the chi ldren

would leave the school dormitor ies to travel with their fami l ies through country.

“Fami l ies went in al l d irect ions. At f i rst we used to walk to Wirrkural , my birth country. Later

the Missionar ies would br ing rat ions and clothes to Snake Bore. We would camp there with

the other fami l ies and go out hunt ing. Mr Siggs and Mr Green would drop rat ions and get the

papa-ku (dingo) skins.”

“At night when the chi ldren went to s leep. The mothers and fathers would dance and sing. I t

was a good t ime.”


2 4



The Army Plane That came to Warburton

Eunice Yunurupa Porter was born at Wirrkural, near Lulpu on the road between Jameson and Warburton.

As a young girl she walked with her family to Warburton Mission where she lived for many years.

In this paint ing Eunice recal ls the spectacle of witnessing the landing of a Hercules Jet Plane

at Warburton.

“Warburton always had a big air str ip l ike that one st i l l there now. One day they said to us al l

‘Big plane coming today.’ . So we al l went down there to see. Yarnangu pirni ( lots of people)

s itt ing down watching the big army plane coming in. They openned the back door and one

whitefel la drove a Jeep out.”


2 5



Partinyintjarra (mt Toller)


Today she lives in Warakurna with her family.

This painting tells the story of Mt Toller Copper Mine. Yarnangu across the land had heard of a new

mining settlement at Partinyintjarra (Mt Toller). Some of the men in Eunice’s family had gone to work at

the mine hearing that there was good money to be made. Their families followed and made a camp near

the boundary of the mining site.

“ We had one windmill pumping water for the bore and the shower. The girls didn’t go to the mining site

we were too frightened.”

Bob Macauley, the Native Patrol Officer, would travel past Partinyintjarra in the yellow truck with rations

of food and clothing for those who lived there.


2 6



Waiting for Shop


As a young girl she walked with her family to Warburton Mission where she was to begin school. Eunice

was to live in Warburton for many years. In this painting Eunice depicts a typical scene from Warburton

at mission time.

“Everyday they (Yarnangu) would wait for the shop so they could change papa-ku skins (dingo pelts)

with the shop keeper and get some food or rations. In Winter time people would sit around a fire and

wait while all the tjitji played near by.”

The shop was next to the mission school. At this time in the late 1950’s boys and girls would attend school

together then go to their separate dormitories of an evening. The dormitory system was abandoned in

1960 and children stayed with their families in the camps around the mission.

Eunice recalls that Yarnargu and Piranpa (whitefellas) worked together to quarry the stone from the

Brown Range close to Warburton which was used to build the mission, school, dormitories and shop.


2 7



Lasseter Story

This Painting by Eunice Porter depicts a story about the white explorer Harold Bell Lasseter. Legend

is that Lasseter discovered gold the other side of Warakurna famously known as ‘Lasseter’s Reef’

however it has never been found.

Lasseter walked from Alice Springs and travelled through the other side of Warakurna. He was

travelling alone. People had spears and they were waving them at Lasseter, they were frightened,

they had never seen a white man or camels. Some of the men followed him, they were following his

tracks. They saw his camp and hid from him.

Many Ngaanyatjarra families saw him. He was drinking out of their rockholes. They were worried and really

really scared. The children ran to their mothers. That Lasseter, he was travelling around by himself.

The camels had different tracks from all the other animals and Lasseter, his feet were funny too! He

was wearing shoes. Everyone thought he was a mamu, devil man.

Lasseter then travelled through to Lake Christopher, he camped there and was looking for gold. He

was chipping the rocks with a hammer. After that there was an aeroplane that landed at that place.

Lasseter then walked all the way to Karrku; once again he was looking around for gold. All the people

saw him but they didn’t talk to him.

The man then travelled Docker River way and stopped at Tjunti cave. Yarnangu gave him a good

feed. He stayed in the cave a while and got weak. He had lost his camels, they’d run away. He wrote

a note and gave it to a man but he didn’t understand and threw it away. The families then took

Lasseter with them, his feet were bad and he needed a stick to walk. He died near Puta Puta, the

ladies buried him traditional way. They were very sad. They had to then leave him.


2 8



NPY Women’s council

Eunice Porter is a strong community leader. She has worked with NPY Womens Council and is a strong advocate for her community and women’s rights.

This painting depicts a scene from one of the NPY Women’s Council general meetings taking place in a community.

“Piranpa and Yarnangu working together at the general meeting. The Chairlady and the staff sit side by side. We used to go to South Australia, to Ernabella and Umuwa for the meetings. It’s a very long way for us to travel so we said ‘We want to make more meetings and services for Ngaanyatjarra- west side.’

We talk about things that are important in our communities, things that make us worry like wama (alcohol), petrol (sniffing), gunja, caring for pampa & tjilpi (older women and men) and tjitji (children). We also talk about the things that are making us happy like Womens Law and Culture. I’ve been doing work with Women’s Council for a long time. Since 1980s or 90s. We’ve been talking up about wama and all.”


2 9


R O c k Y P O R T e R

Warakurna kangaroos and Warburton Tigers

This paint ing is about my team the Warakurna Kangaroos playing the Warburton Tigers.


3 0

1 9 1 - 1 1 ( d e t a i l ) . 1 0 1 6 m m x 1 0 1 6 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s

k e N S H e P H e R D

Helicopter Ride with Brooksy to see my Father’s Ngurra

Ken Shepherd was born in Leonora and now l ives in Warakurna with fami ly. Ken is a committed

painter and his v ibrant works depict his father’s Tingar i stor ies from his country, Walpirnta.

In 2007 Ken was able to see his father’s country Walpirnta for the f i rst t ime from a hel icopter

dur ing a Nat ive Tit le survey.

“ I was worrying about seeing my ngurra, my country. I told Ernest (Bennett) and he spoke to

Brooksy (David Brooks, Anthropologist) . We went in the Nat ive Tit le hel icopter.

We saw it Pinnacle Hi l l , my ngurra. I was thinking hard. I cr ied when I saw that country.

I paint this country because I love i t . Ngayuku ngurra, ngayuku Father-ku ngurra, ngayuku

t jamu-ku ngurra. I ’ l l pass i t onto my son. Tjukurrpa pulkanya.”


3 1

2 5 6 - 1 1 ( d e t a i l ) . 1 0 1 6 m m x 1 0 1 6 m m : a c r y l i c o n c a n v a s

k e N S H e P H e R D

midnight Oil concert in Warakurna (work in progress)

“You know that Midnight Oi l band? They came here and did a concert in Warakurna. They were

playing at the BRACs centre near the basket bal l court. I was a young fel la then. We were al l

dancing. They made a v ideo cl ip and it was on the TV”.


3 2


R O S H A N N A Y I N G A W I L L I A m S O N

making Paintings, Punu and Tjanpi

We make al l k inds of things in Warakurna. We do paint ing at the art centre, make punu carvings

at home and t janpi baskets and sculptures.


3 3


R O S H A N N A Y I N G A W I L L I A m S O N

Warakurna Roadhouse

This paint ing shows the Warakurna Roadhouse. You can also see the new training centre,

Pol ice Stat ion and Courthouse.


3 4


c e c I LY W I N T I R A G u YAT e S

Tjamu Tjukurrpa

Ceci ly Yates was born in Mount Davis near Irrunyt ju and now l ives in Warakurna with her

daughters and partner. I rrunyt ju is Ceci ly’s father’s country and she regular ly travels there to

v is i t her extended fami ly.

This paint ing is about Ceci ly’s grandfather walking from Warakurna to Warburton to get food

from the Mission. I t would take him many weeks to walk there; he would stop and camp,

l ight ing f i res to let people know where he was stopping.

“My grandfather’s fami ly from near Warburton would see the f i res and Rhonda Walkabout my

mother’s s ister would get happy that he was nearly in Warburton. He would sel l d ingo scalps

to the whitefel las for food for his fami ly”.

“He would stay in Warburton a l i t t le whi le and get a feed, he’d then start walking back to

Warakurna. He would carry very heavy loads of food back for his fami ly. This is what people

did before they had cars”.

This paint ing also shows Tj i rrkar l i , Kar l iwara (Pat jarr) , Warburton, Warakurna, Wanarn, Jameson,

Blackstone and Irrunyt ju communit ies. Al l the people from these communit ies would walk

to Warburton to v is i t their chi ldren who were at the Mission School. After they vis ited their

chi ldren they would buy food and head back to their communit ies.


3 5


T R A c Y YAT e S

Warakurna community

Warakurna is located at the western end of the majest ic Rawl inson Ranges. The residents

are mostly Ngaatjat jarra speakers. Many of them experienced their f i rst contact with non-

Aboriginals in the late 1930’s with the establ ishment of the Warburton Mission whi le for other

residents their f i rst contact was in the late 1950’s with the Nat ive Patrol Off icers working for

the Weapons Research Establ ishment in Woomera, South Austral ia.


3 6

A R T I S T B I O G R A P H I E S

Dorcas Tinnimay Bennett - 1/07/1956

Dorcas Bennett is the daughter of Nyurupayia Nampitjinpa (Mrs Bennett) a senior artist

for Papunya Tula Artists. Dorcas was born at Wurturu rockhole near Kaltukatjarra (Docker

River). After her birth her mother and father walked with her to Warburton Mission where

she was given her English name by the missionary Will Wade.

Her parents returned, walking with Dorcas to the Warakurna - Tjukurla area . Soon after

her family came into contact with Bob McAuley and travelled with him in the reknowned

yellow Native Patrol Officer’s truck to the Amata settlement. From here Dorcas’ family

walked to Areyonga where Dorcas began to attend school. After some time her family

walked back to Amata and then returned to the mission in Warburton where they were

reunited with many family members. Dorcas completed her schooling at the Docker

River settlement.

The Bennett family along with the Porter, Yates, Reid, Shepherd, Golding, Cooke,

Mitchell, Butler, Burke, Newberry, Giles, Richards, Bates, Robinson, Prior and Ward

families returned to the Warakurna homeland when it was established in the mid 1970s.

Dorcas was married and continues to live in Warakurna with her extended family.

Jean Burke - 1/01/1945

Jean Burke was born at Arnumara Pirti, a water source to the West of the current

Irrunytju (Wingellina) community site.

As a young girl she walked with her family to the mission at Ernabella where her family

stayed until her mother fell i l l and passed away. Jean and her father left Ernabella

walking westward to Mt Margaret and then to Warburton Mission where Jean would

attend school and develop a lifelong friendship with Eunice Porter.

At the age of fourteen, Jean recalls travelling from Warburton to Amata in South

Australia by camel with her family. Whilst in Amata, Jean began working with the United

Aboriginies Mission Bible translation project translating the Bible to Pitjatjantjarra. Later

in Warburton Jean worked on a similar project translating the Bible to Ngaanyatjarra.

Jean moved to Warakurna, her late husband’s country, when the Warakurna homeland

was established in the mid 1970’s. She remains in Warakurna today l iving with her

daughters.


3 7


Judith Yinyika chambers - 1/04/1958

Judith Chambers was born at Mitjika, a rockhole North of the Great Central Road near

Wanarn community. Her mother is the well known artist Carol Maanyatja Golding.

She lives in Warakurna with her family.

Judith attended school at Warburton Mission with her sisters and completed senior

schooling at Pink Lake High School in Esperance. Her family lived in the camp at

Warburton for some time but moved to Docker River along with many other Yarnangu

from the Eastern Ngaanyatjarra lands.

The Golding family were among the first people to move back to Warakurna in the mid

1970’s when the settlement was established. Warakurna is Judith’s grandmother’s

traditional homeland.

“It was motorcar time. Yarnangu were travelling back to Warakurna with the cars all

loaded up.”

In the early days of the Warakurna settlement Judith worked at the Women’s Centre

dying fabric and sewing clothes and as a healthworker at the Warakurna clinic.

Dianne ungukalpi Golding - 1/01/1966

Dianne Golding was born near Warburton at a waterhole cal led Katart i rn and

now l ives in Warakurna. Her mother is Warakurna Art ists welknown painter Carol

Maayat ja Golding.

Dianne paints Karlaya Tjukurrpa (Emu Dreaming), Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters)

and Tjukurrpa Patirlpa Wati (Parrot Men Dreaming).

Polly Pawuya Jackson - 1/01/1957

Pol ly Pawiya But ler was born at a soak cal led Yulpigar i , c lose to Partupirr i

(Bunglebiddy) rockhole.

As a chi ld she travel led on foot with her fami ly around the Tjukur la, Warakurna,

Kur la i l and Docker River area.

Her younger s ister was born at the site of the Gi les Weather Stat ion. She

remembers fondly her Father tel l ing the chi ldren stor ies of ‘ear ly days’ people.

Pol ly attended Warburton Mission School as a young gir l and l ived in the mission

camp with her fami ly. Pol ly was a successful student and completed her secondary

educat ion at Pink Lake High School in Esperance.

Upon complet ing high school Pol ly went back to Warburton to l ive. She was

marr ied and moved to the newly establ ished Warakurna homeland with her

husband in 1976.

Pol ly worked in the f i rst school in Warakurna, a t in shed in the middle on the

community. She has raised her chi ldren in Warakurna and st i l l l ives there today

along with her chi ldren and f ive grandchi ldren.


3 8


Anna Porter - 1/07/1941

Anna Porter was born at Milyatjarra near Warburton Mission the Gibson desert,

Western Australia.

Anna’s painting talks about her family travelling around tali country and going to the

rockholes for water. “We didn’t go far away from rockholes, it was a long time ago when I

was a little one. My family bulit a wiltja to live in but I stayed in the home at the Warburton

Mission and went to school. When school was over we went our bush and collected

bush tucker”.

Anna met her husband, the late Mr Porter in Warburton and moved to Warakurna to live

in his country when the Warakurna homeland was established in the mid 1970s. She

remains in Warakurna with her children and grandchildren.

Anna began to paint with Warakurna Artists in mid 2005 and has rapidly become one of

its emerging artists. She also works with Tjanpi Desert Weavers creating baskets and

sculpture as well as Maruku Arts crafting punu.

eunice Yunurupa Porter - 1/07/1948

Eunice Yunurupa Porter’s was born at Wirrkural on the Jameson road out of Warburton Mission and now lives in Warakurna with her husband’s family. As a young child she and her family walked the country that is recognised today as the communities of Mantamaru, Papulankutja and Irrunytju.

At the age of ten (approx.) she walked with her family to Warburton Mission where she was to attend school. At school holiday time the children would leave the school dormitories to travel with their families through country.

“Families went in all directions. At first we used to walk to Wirrkural, my birth country. Later the Missionaries would bring rations and clothes to Snake Bore. We would camp there with the other families and go out hunting.”

In the late 1960s Ngaanyatjarra people living in and around the Warburton Mission whose traditional homelands were in the Eastern Ngaanyatjarra Lands began to move to small settlements closer to their homelands. Eunice and her husband traveled back to the settlement at Docker River where she worked as a healthworker at the Docker River clinic and a cook in the community dining room

In the 1970’s, Ngaanyatjarra people from the Warakurna area began to lobby for settlement closer to their homeland. Eunice’s late husband, Mr Porter was instrumental in this action which ultimately lead the Porter, Yates, Bennett, Reid, Shepherd, Golding, Cooke, Mitchell, Butler, Burke, Newberry, Giles, Richards, Bates, Robinson, Prior and Ward families to return to the Warakurna area.She still lives in Warakurna with her son and extended family.

Eunice painted a limited amount of works for the Warburton Arts project in the early 1990s and began painting wilth Warakurna Artists in mid 2005. She has rapidly become one of its most exciting emerging artists with her vibrant artistic interpretation of powerful Tjukurrpa and contemporary stories.

Eunice is a diversely talented artist, creating woven grass sculpture with Tjanpi Desert Weavers and crafting punu (native wood) artifacts for Maruku Arts. She is also a well known dancer and regularly participated in Tjulku (ceremony).

In 2000 she danced as part of the NPY presentation at the Olympic Games opening in Sydney and was one of the principle dancers for the Ngaanyatjarra Tjurlku at the Perth International Arts Festival.

Eunice is a strong community leader and was elected to Warakurna Artists Executive at its inception. She has been the Chairperson of the Art Centre since 2006.

She has worked with NPY Womens Council and a strong advocate for womens and community rights.


3 9


Rocky Porter - 4/07/1973

Rocky Porter’s family had decided to go to Warburton for a holiday from Docker River.

That’s why he was born in Warburton.

His father was a senior man for Warakurna Community and his mother Eunice Porter is

a well known leader.

Rocky has just started painting and enjoys figurative work.

He plays footy and has been involved in Ngaanyatjarra Media. He has been a DJ for

CAMA radio and is involved in coordinating concerts in Warakurna.

Rocky is a great singer and big fan of Elvis Presley.

ken Shepherd - 5/05/1965

Ken Shepherd was born in Leonora and now lives in Warakurna with family. Ivan

Shepherd a senior artist with Warakurna Artists is Ken’s stepfather.

Ken is a committed painter and his vibrant works depict his father’s Tingari stories from

his country, Walpirnta.

“I’l l follow in my father’s footsteps with that story and his country. It’s strong in my

heart. I’l l give that story to my son.”

In 2007 Ken was able to see his father’s country Walpirnta for the first time from a

helicopter during a Native Title survey.

Roshanna Yinga Will iamson - 18/05/1987

Roshanna Yinga Wil l iamson grew up in Jameson and moved to Warakurna to be with

her husband.

Roshanna is an emerging artist and mainly paints the Tjit j i Kutjarra story from near

Jameson.


4 0


cecily Wintiragu Yates - 15/08/1962

Cecily Yates’s counrty is near Mount Davis in Western Australia. She began to paint with

Warakurna Artists in mid 2005 and has rapidly become one of its emerging artists.

Tracy Yates - 23/06/1978

Tracy was born in Warakurna and grew up in the community. She would go out bush with

her parents and brothers and sisters.


4 1

O u t s t a t i o n - a r t f r o m a r t c e n t r e s

a n d Wa r a k u r n a A r t i s t s a r e e x t r e m e l y

g r a t e f u l t o t h e c o l l e c t o r s w h o h a v e

p u r c h a s e d t h i s c o l l e c t i o n a n d

a r e d o n a t i n g i t t o t h e

N a t i o n a l M u s e u m o f A u s t r a l i a .

T H A N K Y O U T O

D o r c a s T i n n i n m a y B e n n e t t

J e a n B u r k e

D i a n n e U n g u k a l p i G o l d i n g

P o l l y P a w u y a J a c k s o n

A n n a P o r t e r

R o c k y W i l l i a m P o r t e r

R o s h a n n a Y i n g a W i l l i a m s o n

C e c i l y W i n t i r a g e Y a t e s

Tr a c y Y a t e s

S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O

J u d i t h Y i n y i k a C h a m b e r s

E u n i c e Y u n u r u p a P o r t e r

K e n S h e p h e r d

G r a h a m N e l s o n

J o h n C a r t y

&

E d w i n a C i r c u i t t

all the stories got into our minds and...

Documents

Transcript of all the stories got into our minds and...