On my Dads side: Totem is the Red Belly Black Snake and Kurrajong Tree
On my Mums side: Totem is the Emu
I was born in Walgett NSW in 1957 and now live in Surry Hills. I grew up on a Merino Sheep Station with other Aboriginal families. My family moved to Orange in the 1970s as part of the Aboriginal Resettlement program that moved families from small country towns. In 1983 my family moved to Redfern, on The Block.
The Block was a very interesting place to live in the 1980s. There were so many Aboriginal people who lived there who came from the different Aboriginal mobs from all over Australia. Redfern was a big melting pot of various Indigenous people but everyone seemed to be very friendly and we all got on like just one big mob.
I didn’t learn to read or write until I was about 40 years old. I went to the Eora TAFE College in Abercrombie Street, Redfern. It was very comfortable to learn in such a supportive cultural environment and I have maintained lots of friends that I went to Eora with.
It was there that I wrote my first book, Widja the Green Tree Frog. This book was re written in 2024 along with 2 more children’s books which I and my family are so proud of, called Bulaa Bula The Butterfly and Jimbo’s Bush Adventure.
I attend two Aboriginal groups, Wyanga Aboriginal Elders Program in Redfern and Wolkara Elders Group in Lalor Park. I enjoy sitting with the other Elders and listening to their amazing stories of history and growing up on country. These Elders groups support cultural development that I am a part of through school and community workshops.
From a young age I grew up making Aboriginal artifacts. I make Coolamons, Digging sticks, Bundi sticks, Spears and Clap sticks. I also do traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremonies and cultural workshops for schools and communities.
I love living in the local government area, going to Wyanga, doing my art and artifacts and cultural activities, and catching up with my people.
Jimbo lived in the bush with his mum and dad, where the gum trees were red. One day Jimbo decided to go for a walk and got lost as the gum trees had turned white.
Upset and hung…
Bula Bulaa was a young caterpillar who was loved by everyone in his camp.
He loved to play games and was helpful and respectful to his Elders.
Then one day he disappeared.
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Widja is a curious little frog who wanted to see what was beyond his swamp, even though he was warned by Old Gandfather Bullfrog.
As Yamie The snail left and came back with a Sh…
