Shadow Sisters Exhibition Catalogue

Inspired by The Ration Shed’s exhibition, Strong Women’s Shadow Boxes, Shadow Sisters is a love letter to those who came before, those that have walked alongside us and those whose history and being have contributed to our now.

Featuring 17 original artworks, this mixed media collection honours our history, our stories and the people that have made us, us.

Inala has long been known as a significant place for First Nations people, community and culture. Since its inception in the 1950’s Inala has been home to our community and our strong family and cultural ties that ensure that generations of First Nations families continue to call Inala home.

Inala Wangarra is committed to capturing the Black history of our suburb, of the Aunties and Uncles that paved the way, the knowledge keepers, truth tellers and community shapers from the 4077.

We are committed to creating work that builds pride in self, community and culture and showcases the strength, vitality and diversity of urban First Nation peoples.

Inspired by the Ration Shed’s Strong Women’s Shadow Boxes, Shadow Sisters is our love letter to those who came before, those who have walked alongside us and those whose history and being have made us, us. Shadow Sisters honours, values and privileges the contributions and lives of First Nations people. It honours, values and privileges the creative and cultural capital of our community. And through honouring these rich lived experiences and knowledges, we are cherishing, celebrating, and sharing the stories of our community.

Our artists have shared stories, photos, laughs, tears, joys, and sadness in the dreaming up of and the creation of their artworks. The intensity, commitment and depth of each artwork has been supported by a large team of artists, we thank them for their contribution. Each artwork is as individual as the truth-telling story of its artist and as connected as the family, cultural and ancestral ties that bind us together as community. Please enjoy our love letters.

Contents

Justine Bishop // Trauma Into Healing // Pages 4 – 5

Julieanne Campbell // Proud Dharawal Elder and Bush Tucker man // Pages 6 – 7

Katherine Collins // Bloodlines // Pages 8 – 13 Nonie FrenchWidders // Treasured Memories // Pages 14 – 17 Mabel Hopkins // Wakka Wakka // Pages 18 – 19 Susan Knight // Immoral and Virtuous // Pages 20 – 23 Anne Skeen // Our Rock of Gibraltar // Pages 24 – 25 Alison Skeen // Dormo Girls // Pages 26 – 27 Lyn Smith // Unidentified Aboriginal // Pages 28 – 31 Lorna Tyson // Acknowledging our Parents, Mrs Dell and Mr Claude Tyson with love from your children // Pages 32 – 35 Lauren Ware // Always There // Pages 36 – 37 Pat Williams // Tribute to Henry Munro and Resilience// Pages 38 – 41

Trauma into Healing Justine Bishop

My box represents my journey from trauma into healing and the work that I am doing to build a positive life for myself.

I have survived through tremendous trauma as a child of the system. The deep grey around my box represents this stage of my life, the feelings of blankness, my mind dull, nothing there.

Through the work I am doing with my counsellor and connecting to my community blue skies have come and rain has washed away my pain, allowing for the new growth of the roses.

I have worked hard to create a network of support and family around me through my counselling and healing my brain, learning the ukulele, volunteering at the RSPCA, and connecting with all my Aunties at Inala Wangarra through the women’s group.

My Aunties help me to connect to culture and provide me with love and support.

I am sending a message.

We can do better, we can do more, we can be stronger –to protect children.

Proud Dharawal Elder and Bush Tucker Man

Julieanne Campbell

John,

You’ll always be my forever friend, lover, husband, and soulmate.

We made a special connection long ago, at a time when our dreams were being born in our hearts.

We learned so much, we spoke about life through our talks, our laughs and sometimes, our tears.

I will always hold our memories in a special place in my heart and will always love you no matter what happens between us.

Yes, we were young. We married, learnt to be husband and wife and parents, when we had our much-loved son. However, our life together went gradually wrong. We divorced, but we missed each other every day.

Before you passed to the Dreamtime, we spoke many times each day finding out many hidden thoughts, our future and spoke of our love that matured. Love forever, Julieanne.

John was the first Aboriginal Education Officer appointed to the Royal Botanic Gardens. Those who have seen Cadi Jam Ora; First Encounters will experience some of his legacy.

He was responsible for walks and the content and flavour in Cadi Jam Ora. He was a horticulturist and made an extraordinary contribution to knowledge of bush tucker. He loved to cook with bush tucker ingredients and was writing a cookbook.

Thank you, John, for your ideas, advice, memories, and stories. They will continue to live within individuals, local councils, schools, and all those you shared with.

Bloodlines Katherine Collins

Bloodlines is about my journey to find my family tree. I have been working on this since 2010. Both of my parents passed in this year, and I was struggling with grief and loss.

I was aware of some family, but I wanted to know how we came to be us.

I sourced information from different places including The National Archives, The State archives, Trove as well as medical and personal information e.g. photos, memories and guidance from others.

I am still trying to find information but am proud of myself for discovering my TRUE bloodlines.

The yellow door represents my Mum’s side and the blue door, my Dad’s.

On the yellow side the first photo is from Cherboug and is of my Mum and many family members, Aunt Marcia Oliffe, Rodney Geesu, “Una” Eunice Dancey-Collins (mum), Granny Emma Roberts-Dancey, Nelson Dancey, Errol Purcell-Dancey, Nan Oliffe-Mabb and Tony “Inky” Oliffe.

The second photo is (L to R top line) Jim Collins (Dad), Nancy Collins, Edward Collins and Eunice “Una” Dancey-Collins.

(L to R bottom line) Virginia Collins-Smart, Anthony “Mono” Kussrov, Kath Collins, Paul Kussrow and Allan Kussrow.

The third photo is Virginia Collins-Smart, Greg Collins, Edward Collins, Nancy Collins, Birrin Hooper, Rebecca Collins, Eunice Dancey-Collins and Kath Collins.

The bottom photo is Errol Purcell-Dancey, Jim Collins, Bev Dancey, Eunice Dancey-Collins, Granny Emma Roberts-Dancey and Nelson Dancey.

These photos represent the Family Tree knowledge I grew up with.

Bloodlines

Katherine Collins

The blue door has the top photo of Dad hanging out at the Casino House he grew up in with relatives. The other people include George Webb, “Toonky” Collins, “Borky” Collins, Esther Webb, Great Uncle Tim Collins and Uncle Ruben Webb.

The second photo is some of Dad’s writing of a song he wanted Troy Cassar-Daley to look at. I am thinking about completing this song.

The third photo is Dad, (Jim Collins) with Greg Collins and two of his Grandchildren, Tyirri Collins and Ruben Collins.

The fourth photo is Jim Collins, Eunice Dancey Collins, Aunt Lorna Cobbo-Bond, Uncle Earl Ferguson, and Aunty Bev Dancey as flower girl.

The lock on these doors represents this was known information. When you open the doors, you see the new unknown information that I learnt on the green doors. Two different people, Mum as yellow and Dad as blue, make green.

Dad’s totem was the water hen. The first photo shows the Walker lineage. Pop Gordon’s Mother was “Dolly” Mary Ann Walker. Her parents were Edward Walker and Mary Ann Hoskins. This photo is Dolly’s other family whose modern-day descendants live in Sydney, Nowra, and Walgett.

The third photo shows the other Walker family members who I met at a 70th birthday party in Casino in 2021. I found out I have three nephews who play football, Dane Laurie, Albert Torrens and Cody Walker.

The fourth photo is Dad with his Mother’s second family, the Kings. This was the first time we met when Nan Florrie was in hospital. Nan Florrie waited for us to turn up and then passed away later on that day.

I think that we were all surprised to discover the truth. Mum’s totem is the possum.

The second photo is the Ulysses ship that brought back Great Grandfather Edward Collins from Palestine, He was a part of the 11th Horse Regiment, Blackwatch. This regiment was made up of Aboriginal soldiers from Queensland.

The third photo is Granny Emma Roberts -Dancey with her sister Geraldine Olife-Geesu and her family. This was taken at the Brisbane City Gardens near the Brisbane River.

The fourth photo is a modern-day descendant Patsi Mawn and her siblings from the Great Grandfather Edwards Collins clan. I got to meet her a few years ago when we connected to share information and photos.

I decided to colour Mum’s side maroon for Queensland and Dad’s side blue for the State of Origin football.

The inside left of my box has Mum’s side. I placed the Cherbourg permit there as Mum was in Cherbourg for many years and obtained hers to go out and work as a domestic worker like many others. The top photo is Eliza Roberts, she had many children to Bok Choy who was later name “Nugget” Roberts. He was a South Chinese man who had leprosy. You can see the leprosy spots that were passed down in our DNA. I have skin issues and allergies to this day – NOT LEPROSY! But he did give me a taste and enjoyment of Chinese foods (hence the soy sauce fish!).

Under the permit is a photo of Great Grandfather Edward Collins, next to him is Great Grandmother Daisy Roberts who are the parents of my beautiful grandmother Emma Roberts-Dancey underneath them. The Chinese coin shows my Great Grandfathers influence in our DNA and whilst in Cherbourg Mum was given Christian teachings. Granny Emma married Micheal Dancey whose mother on top of this photo was Sarah Chapman-Dancey. The middle photo is Mum and Dad’s wedding photo together.

The three pots have Vicks Vapo Rub, Oil of Olay and sand art. Mum used to rub Vicks on us when we were children and I still use it to this day. Granny Emma used Olay cream for her skin and nails. Uncle Roddy Geesu made me sand art from Palm Island. I still make sand art to this day.

Mum and Granny Emma had wonderful fine motor skills as they did crochet, knitting and sewing learnt from their days in the Cherbourg mission. Mum believed in Education and supported us all to get to the highest level of education we could achieve. As a result, some of us, including myself, have two University degrees to our names. We also all participated in sports.

On the blue side the top photos are great, great grandparents Mary Ann Hoskins- Walker. My Dad was in four different Aboriginal missions near his relatives. The permit shown in what he needed to leave the missions.

On the left is great Nan Mary Ann “Dolly” Walker and next to her is great grandpop Dugald Davis with their son, Pop Gordon Davis next to Nan Florrie Hart-Davis-King. Next to Nan Florrie is her mother, Great Nan Louisa Hart.

This image is from the State Archives of her on one of the Aboriginal missions. The photo on top of Great Nan Louisa is Great Great Nan Ginny, her traditional name was Nhujung.

The bottom picture is Dad’s train certirficate he completed. He was a train driver in Sydney driving the XPT from Sydney to Brisbane. He was stationed at Yeerongpilly for years. This is why I became a bus driver. Dad used to burn incense to calm down after work and always tried to keep the peace.

We were always told to be proud of being Aboriginal and that is why the flag is on the top!

My family are strong Stolen Generations peoples from five generations of stolen Aboriginal Clans from different areas. Despite this my parents were able to come together and make a beautiful life.

I love the learning about my family and am still seeking information about my family tree. Bloodlines.

Bloodlines Katherine Collins

Grandmothers

This poem is about the influence that both ladies had on us growing up. Granny Emma was a wonderful cook on the Western QLD properties – a masterchef!

Later in life, she moved around visiting relatives we have in different areas. When ever she came to see us she would do all the cooking and we would do things together, fishing and visiting the Toowong Planetarium. She always had Oil of Olay and her nails where just beautiful. She looked much younger than her actual age She was BEAUTIFUL!

Nan Florrie was not known to us. She lived in New South Wales. She had another family after she had Dad. Dad was given to great aunt Louisa to care for. He was with her and other family members on the missions. We met her later in life and I gave her a copy of the green room photo.

Nan Florrie and Granny Emma are my two Grandmothers. Granny Emma is Mum’s Mum.. I know I look like her. We grew up with her around us.

Like a true Murri she moved around.. Coming and going like the winds

Nan Florrie was not known to me.. but I met Pop Gordon.. Honestly I thought she had passed. I started doing the family trees And shazam found her at last!

Granny Emma was a wonderful cook.. Whenever she visited we all smiled We knew she’d spend time with us And oh the glorious food!!

Nan Florrie had given Dad away.. I didn’t know why But soon found out there was a secret.. She had moved on and had another family.

There is a huge difference between the Ladies

We had the wonderful presence of one who influenced us all so greatly.

Then we had another that was like a ghost..

Two very different ladies who influenced us in different ways

We have their DNA in us.

And look more like one than others no matter what –I love them both.

Family Tree Photos

This poem is about me discovering my maternal Great Grandmother, Daisy Roberts. She is in an Army wedding photo that was given to me from the State archives. It was taken in 1917 at Saint Mary’s church which is now The Pancake Manor in Mary St, Brisbane. My maternal grandmother Emma is her number one child in the first family.

I can see similarities between us. I found her journey in life through records. Some of the language she used was inappropriate! But she was determined and persevered through trials and challenges.

She ended up passing away on Fantome Island –a leprosarium isolated from other people in an unmarked grave. We journeyed up there, a beautiful island paradise with a dark history.

The search has begun What is your name? What do you look like Am I the same?

I recall a name

The memory brings a smile My beautiful Mum and Granny Can I go the mile?

The lady gives me the phot I am so surprised…

She wears the same glasses And so short just like me

I find her life story And work out the health woes Men who she wed and loved I see the journey

She has a record that shows character I find similarity in health challenges I’m finding my identity In her beautiful image

Treasured Memories

Anne (Nonie) French-Widders

Me: Anne (Nonie) French-Widders

Late husband: William Widders

Parents: Pat and Molly French

Siblings: Tom, Maurice, Pat and Alex, Beverley, Audrey, June and Mary

I was born in Old MacMasters Ward in the hospital at Moree. There was a special part sectioned off for Aboriginal people. We even had our own Aboriginal nurses.

I was raised on the Mission in Moree know as New Mission then later changed to Meli Crescent. We had a Church, community hall, swimming pool (built by our Fathers, Uncles and male cousins), an oval, medical clinic and school.

The Mission Manager, Assistant Manager and Principal of the school also lived on the Mission. There were approximately 37 homes on the mission. I have fond memories of my early childhood days growing up on the mission with my family that I will treasure forever.

We experienced a lot of racism over the years in Moree. Some of these experiences were not being allowed to swim in the Moree Memorial Public Swimming Pool until Charlie Perkins came to town with the Freedom Ride, being ushered to the front of the cinemas because that was where Aboriginals were to sit, being served last because of the colour of your skin. Aboriginal people were denied housing, education and employment. We were always classed as second-class citizens. Then again this happened all over with our people, not just in Moree.

My family are my world and I love each and every one of them. I have three sons.

• Craig and his wife Jane and their children Jinali and Tilly

• Scott and his partner Greg

• Shannon and his wife Cecilia and their children

–  Damon, Zack, Bailey, Joel, Evan and Stella

• And my special granddaughter Juluka.

My Dad

• Son of Maud Tighe and Thomas French

• Brothers: Jim, Dave, Harold, Joe, Bill, Stan

• Sisters Elsie: Mary and Sadie

My Father Thomas Patrick French was born at Wingadee Station just out of Coonamble NSW. This was where a large mob of Aboriginal families were taken to work and live on the property in the early 1900’s. Dad and his family moved to Walhallow Mission near Coroona when Dad was a young boy, then onto the Moree Mission where they lived at the Middle Camp. Dad met my mother, Molly Briggs in Moree and they married and had 3 sons, Maurice, Pat and Alex and five daughters Beverley, Audrey, Nonie (me), June and Mary. Dad had a son from a previous relationship.

Dad and Mum lived at the Top Camp early in their marriage and moved to the Mission when Alex was a baby.

My Father was a hardworking and very respected man throughout Moree and the surrounding communities. He was a very loved Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather. It was hard to find employment back in the day, but Dad always seemed to find work e.g., steam laundry at the Moree Hospital, cook at the shearing shed, labouring work, cotton chipping or stick picking. Nothing was too challenging for Dad, and he always put 100% into whatever he did.

Dad loved fishing, playing cards, dice and playing pool with his sons, sons in law and friends. My Father was always dressed to a tee and always wore a hat. He even dressed up to go fishing. Dad and his brothers were well known all over for their light feet on the dance floor.

My Mum

• Daughter of Emma Brigg and Alex White

• Sisters: Joan and Dorothy and

• Brother: Hilary

Mum was born at Bora Crossing just out of Manila, NSW. Mum’s parents moved to Terry Hie Hie just out of Moree when Mum was young and then onto Moree where they lived at the top camp. Mum met my father in Moree and after a short courtship they married and moved to the mission in Moree.

Together they had 9 children – 4 boys and 5 girls. My mother was a beautiful lady who loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her love for us all was unconditional. The things that remind me of my mother are bead necklaces, brooches, Avon, Dingo and playing cards and of course her mighty Moree Boomerangs and the Parramatta Eels. She also looked on with so much pride watching her grannies’ playing sports.

She loved to watch her serials, (dramas) Days of our Lives and Home and Away. No one would dare interrupt her while these shows were on TV.

I loved listening to mum telling us stories of her childhood. How they would ride the buggy to school and how at Christmas they’d be satisfied with boiled lollies and toys their mother would make e,g. rag dolls for the girls. Her parent always tried to get Uncle Hilary something special because he was the only boy (special handcrafted toy).

Appreciation/ acknowledgement

I am really honoured to have had the privilege to be a part of the beautiful people working on this special project, the Shadow Boxes. I would like to thank each and everyone of the ladies in our group. Thank you all so much. It was a delightful experience.

Shadow Box

Father: Thomas Patrick French aka Pat

Born: 9th September 1910

Birthplace: Wingadee Station NSW

Grew up: Walhallow NSW

Mother: Emmaline French aka Molly nee Briggs

Born: 9th August, 1928

Birthplace: Bora Crossing NSW

Grew up: Terry Hie Hie NSW

Me: Anne Frances French- Widders (aka Nonie) nee French

Birthplace: Moree NSW

Grew up: New Mission/ Mehi Crescent Moree NSW

Son: Craig Andrew Trindall

Born: 20th November, 1973

Birth place: Narrabri NSW

Grew UP: Narrabri NSW

Son: Scott Patrick Trindall

Born: 11th October 1976

Birth place: Narrabri NSW

Grew up: Narrabri and Armidale NSW

Son: Shannon Anthony Trindall

Born: 23rd February 1979

Birth place: Narrabri NSW

Grew up: Narrabri and Armidale

Angel babies: Joel Micheal Trindall Born into eternal life –6/1/1981

Jye James Widders Born into eternal life – 4/7/1985

I was born in Cherbourg in 1949. Back then it was called Barambah. I was born in the maternity hospital which is still standing today.

Growing up in Cherbourg I remember the hard ship, how we were slaves.

We was made to work without money, without getting paid. When I turned 14, I was made to leave school and go and work in the domestic science building.

The superintendent of the mission found jobs for us out on the stations. I was sent to the other side of Dalby –way out in the bush.

The people I worked with were prejudiced. I was their house keeper but I didn’t like it. I could feel I wasn’t wanted there and we never got paid.

I swore at the people and they called the Police who escorted me back to Cherbourg.

When I was 15 I hitchhiked with me two cousins, to my Granny in Brisbane. She called the Police because she was scared and they took us back to Cherbourg.

A lot of us young ones wanted to leave Cherbourg to make a new life. We wanted to be freed from the Act.

This box is really about Cherbourg, about my hometown. It’s about my people, the Wakka Wakka people. I will always be a Wakka Wakka woman.

Wakka Wakka

Mabel Hopkins

Immoral

Susan Knight

Immoral.

My two boxes represent myself –my life journey.

I learnt what life was like at an early age. I learnt that Inala Police could take me away and that they had control over my Mother and me. I learnt that my life was different to other children growing up.

I learnt what life was like having babies at an early age with no one to talk to, rely on or who supported me.

Welfare branded me as RETARDED, a girl who couldn’t hold a conversation and had behavioural problems. They removed me from my education in grade 3, left to clean instead of learning.

My mother was a mother in name only. Each of her children then taken by welfare, one by one.

Life was a nightmare as a kid growing up, no Grandparents, no Aunties, no Uncles and no Dad. Only a mother who was drunk, day in day out.

I survived Foster Care, Warilda Children’s Home, Nudgee Orphanage and Bindari Lodge.

I survived a foster family in Inala. My foster mother abused me for getting home late from school. I didn’t take it. I gave as good as I got and then walked from Inala to George Street and handed myself into Children’s Services and Juvenile Police Detectives.

I survived Warilda Children’s Home.

Sent by the Court I saw the Doctor on arrival. Whatever he writes brands you for life within the system. He deemed me, “a retard child who could not hold a conversation with accompanying behavioural problems.”

I surived Bindari Lodge.

Bindari Lodge was run by Children Services and the South Brisbane Baptist Church. The Pastor was evil. All smiles until you stepped over the line. The punishment? His shoe on your arse, pants down in front of everyone. I received this punishment many times at the age of 15. I ran from Bindari for three years straight. My track record got me lock up raped and abused.

Immoral Susan Knight

I was controlled by the system until I turned 18. My crimes? Running away to escape the physical and sexual abuse.

The System took control of me. Detectives played a role in my life from thirteen years on, a cycle of running away and being locked up.

I vowed I wouldn’t be like my mother. I would be a better person, a person who people wouldn’t see as a problem.

I couldn’t wait to turn eighteen to be freed from the system, to be freed from the Police controlling my life where hand cuffs were the norm.

My first child was born, and Welfare caught me. I was 13. They caught me just after I came down from the labour ward. Out came the cuffs and back to Bindari lodge for me. They took my baby into the system.

Many girls like me took their own lives, never to see twenty-one. I often wonder why I never followed this path.

I came under the Royal Commission into Sexual Abuse in Institutions and proved I was a victim. Sixty years later they recognized me as a victim of child rape. Going through the Royal Commission I took back my life.

I survived. Virtuous.

The day I turned eighteen and was freed from the state, I moved to N.S.W.

I vowed I would start my life all over again and that no one would know my background. That my children would have the things in life that I never had, they would get an education and play sports. That they would be safe.

I got a house and a job at Glebe Neighbourhood Centre, then on to Aboriginal Children Service and working in Primary Schools as a Teacher Aide. I made a life.

I came back to Brisbane in 2002 and fought the courts for the rights of my children. I vowed that the system wouldn’t take them. Domestic Violence was the only thing I hated and wasn’t going to destroy my life again. Required by the court to stay in Brisbane I was forced to make a new life. Again.

I enrolled my children in the Murri School and became involved in that community. The Murri School became my life. After years of volunteering there my son challenged me to finish my education. The Murri School started me at grade 3, the grade the State removed me from. I was 50.

I completed grades 3 through 7 in one year. Then entered grade 8 and completed my schooling with a year 12 certificate, an OP 13 and an award for Student of the Year.

Two of my sons went to school alongside me. When I started, they were in grade 3 and prep. I finished when my preppy was in grade 7.

I then went on to complete a Cert 111 Business Administration, Cert 111 in Education Support and a Cert 1V in Community Service Advocacy CH41202 Workplace Safety.

In amongst all of this I was diagnosed with both breast cancer and brain cancer. During my cancer treatments an infection meant my finger needed to be amputated and rebuilt. But I survived.

After entering a Facebook competition to meet Oprah Winfrey I was selected as Queensland runner up. I won a three day, all expenses paid trip to the Opera House.

I didn’t win the main prize but won $10,000.00. I gave it to the Murri School to buy a new school bus.

I was involved in The Murri School from 1995 to 2016 and 7 of my children went through there. After four years of volunteering with the school I built up the courage to ask the then Principal for a job. Her response, that my hands looked retarded, and children would not be able to learn from me. I had been volunteering as a teacher aide for years. I left The Murri School that day and never returned.

So once again, those in power called me a retard. I survived, again. After meeting Lorna Tyson, I connected with Inala Wangarra and participated in many groups and activities. I am now a board member there. My children are all grown up and I contribute to my community in many ways.

I am just me; I am living my life.

Our Rock of Gibraltar

Anne Skeen

Mum and Dad had fourteen of us, ten girls and four boys. Mum always worked hard alongside my dad to provide for us, we never went hungry. When we were little, she would work all day on the farm and do the washing til nine or ten at night. When she was pregnant, she would keep working on our farm right up until it was nearly time to have the baby. I worked alongside Mum to care for the chooks and ducks. She also grew strawberries and beans. She had a great love for her poodles and used to breed them. She also loved old furniture and her plants, particularly roses and frangipanis. She had a pet chook that used to sit and watch TV with her, and a pet cockatoo called Herbert. She could do anything with him, he loved her immensely.

Mum loved to knit and made many of our clothes and all our baby booties. She taught us all to cook and sew so we would know how to look after ourselves when we left home.

Mum always loved red lipstick and wearing a pretty dress. She bought herself a crystal necklace that she paid off over time.

She taught us to always stand up for ourselves in life. She truly was one of the beautiful and strong women in my life.

A mother’s love cannot be broken

In times of joy and hardship too

We always know our mum will get us through

Her love for us is what keeps us strong

So with her memory we all can go on

Remembering her smile and pretty blue eyes

Were enough to light up the gloomy grey skies

She was always there to lend us an ear

That’s why we hold her so dear

Dormitory Girls

Alison Skeen

My name is Alison Skeen. I was born on Cherbourg and was reared up in the girl’s dormitory.

I have made my Shadow Box about some of us girls. It was going to be about Melita Orcher, my elder sister but I didn’t have much to go on, so I decided to change it to us girls. We were very close knit and are all sisters. Some of us are still alive, some are dearly departed – God Bless them. The box shows my memories about the duck pond in the front of us all, and the old women’s jail.

Unidentified Aboriginal

Lyn Smith

Mum,

I only had you in my life for 21 years and never really understood what you went through as you were growing up. My memories of you as I was growing up have surfaced more and more and I can now understand your stories of feeling lonely and alone, unloved, unwanted, never being cared for like you wanted to be. Your feelings of such sadness and pain have stayed with me all these years.

I miss you so much, you left me a legacy that has made me a stronger woman. You didn’t realise it, but you had strength and spirit, you kept going through it all, the good and the bad and you passed this strength and spirit onto me.

You had to cut up many, many tons of firewood to be sold on. Chopping wood with an axe for hours because it was expected of you. You had to get your licence when Dad lost his for drink driving, even when you didn’t want to. Even driving all around Toowoomba from morning til dark delivering groceries for what felt like years to me. But it didn’t matter, you had to do it. You were the one with the licence to drive.

You cleaned houses for 50c an hour to feed us, to buy our clothes from St Vinnies because that is all you could afford. You also fed us and brought our birthday and Christmas presents out of what you earned, never seeming to have anything for yourself except grog and cigarettes, buying the cheapest of them so your money would go further. You told me Dad bought all of the presents and the clothes, only years later telling that it was you who paid for it all.

You ran away with me once when I was 4 or 5 but knew we would have to go back home so after a while we returned. I remember you telling me that Dad didn’t want you, but he said no one else could have you either.

Unidentified Aboriginal

Lyn Smith

You were deadly at making fires, the best, the hottest, the biggest. You collected branches and twigs to make the fires to keep us warm and to cook our meals, even lighting fires on the beach when you were fishing so we’d be warm and mozzie free. You loved fishing, especially down the Tweed when we were little, then later by the river.

You had a green thumb and could grow anything, even if it wasn’t supposed to grow from a cutting. We had the best veggie gardens around. You spent hours working in every garden that Dad made, some of them even spanned the whole backyard. Weeding, digging, nurturing, watering and picking.

You were a good mum when you weren’t drinking but when the grog got hold of you sometimes you were different and sad, sometimes overdosing and ending up in hospital. Love was never shown in our household, never said in words, no hugs or even praise. In all my years growing up at home I was never told I was loved. Knowing your childhood and the life you had, you probably never heard it so how could you express it to me? I tell my husband, my daughter, my grandkids that I love them all the time, finding the meaning of love after I grew up without you, knowing what your love meant to me when I lost you.

I never understood why you drank a lot but know that I am older and have put the pieces of your life together, I realise it was your way of dulling the pain and sadness.

I didn’t understand how much of your life you sacrificed your own life for me, how much you loved me and how much you meant to me.

I am sorry we fought the last time we saw each other. I am sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me. I am sorry for only thinking of my own needs, not yours. I was told you that you were a rape victim baby, allowed to stay with your mother until the age of two. You were then adopted out and never told your truth.

You missed out on so much of your life, from not doing what you wanted with you own life and not knowing WHO you really were, who your real family was and your real heritage.

You were a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, friend and without knowing it, you were a sister and had an Aunt.

You never knew that you had Aboriginal blood running through your veins. I wish you could have known before you died that you were part of the Stolen Generation. Knowing this would have changed your life.

But you died being an Unidentified Aboriginal.

Acknowledging our Parents, Mrs Dell and Mr Claude Tyson with love from your children

Lorna Tyson

The person who inspired me the most is my mother, Dell Tyson nee Cummins who was raised by Aunties in the girl’s dormitory in Cherbourg. Mum was born in Brisbane and then moved to Purga Mission.

When she was 3, she became very ill, and her mother took her to live in Cherbourg to be close to her Uncle Bill Cummins. My grandmother Cora had to go out to work so my mum was placed in the girl’s dormitory. As she grew up, she was given jobs for caring for the younger children and babies in the nursery. During this time, she met many ‘brothers and sisters’ and she loved talking about this period she spent in the dormitory.

A real bond developed between them all and they remained lifelong sisters. She would tell stories of the dormitory kids swimming in the creek and play acting as movie stars - she was always Ava Gardener. She was the only girl who could not swim so whilst the others were in the water she would sit on the bank and dolls out of reeds that she would then store in matchboxes.

Dell attended school in Cherbourg to grade 3 and was then sent out as a domestic cleaner for white people on various cattle properties around the South-West.

As a teenager my mum took an interest in Claude Tyson. When asked about their meeting, Claude told his daughters they met at social dances. They had a couple of dances, and he walked her home to the dormitory and kissed her goodnight. He said, “There… that’s it… boy meets girl, went out for a while then got married after a while!”

My Father was also in the boys’ dormitories in Cherbourg when he was a teenager. When he met Mum, they had to get special permission to marry in Murgon Catholic Church during Lent. Mum and Dad were married for 62 years only parted by death.

Acknowledging our Parents, Mrs Dell and Mr Claude Tyson with love from your children Lorna Tyson

They left Cherbourg to for Claude to take up job opportunities. Both only children they went on to have a large family of 17 children – including FIVE sets of twins! I was the only child born in Cherbourg, the others were born in Childers, Maryborough and Brisbane.

My sister, Claudette was born with cerebral palsy and to receive better care our whole family moved to Brisbane. We lived in Zillmere, Opal House in South Brisbane, and Annerley before settling in our family home in Acacia Ridge. Our family still has this house 55 years later.

We knew many Black families living in Acacia Ridge and once my last brother was born, we were the biggest Murri family in the Ridge. In fact, we were the biggest family –black or white!

My Dad worked all his life to provide for us. My mum supported her husband by keeping the home and looking after all of us kids. She made all our clothes and then washed them in the copper. She kept us all fed cooking on a wooden stove. She had a green thumb and loved gardening almost as much as she loved bingo and playing cards.

Mum’s witty personality, her quick comebacks and her wicked sense of humour came spontaneously. There was no such thing as the right time and place to handle matters, only the here and now. If she had a bone to pick with you, she’d tell you how it was. She did not mince her words or back track!

She was well respected and liked by many people. Adults and children alike. She was small in stature but huge in life and in spirit. She had a huge heart.

My mum, Dell Tyson, was a tireless community volunteer.

She was a founding member of the Brisbane Council of Elders and spent a lot of her time working in the Prisons. She worked with both men and women supporting them whilst they were incarcerated and advocated to the management for a better understanding of Aboriginal people and our ways of life.

She was also a founding member of Burringilly Respite Care and was on the committee there for a number of years.

Without the support of Dad, Mum wouldn’t have been able to be so involved in our community.

Always there Lauren Ware

My shadow box is dedicated to my mother Roxanne Trudy Maree Ware and Aunty Tracey Simone Donoghue.

Both my Aunty and my Mum have made a massive impact on my life and have contributed to all my important successes. They have inspired me to be a better person by modelling what a strong woman looks like.

They are both selfless in everything that they do. They always put other peoples wants and needs before their own. Family is at the core of all their morals and values and their homes are always open to all. They would never turn anyone away. You can always count on them when you need a bed to lay on or something to eat. There is always a mattress with your name on it and a fridge full of food, for anyone and everyone.

They talk every morning, calling and checking in on each other. Anytime something good or bad is going on and all the moments in between.

Dear Mum,

I feel extremely grateful to have you as my mum. When I think of you so many different memories come to mind. Memories that will live in my head and heart for a lifetime.

I think of your commitment. Your commitment to family and always being there for me no matter what the circumstances, no matter how foul my mood, no matter what time of day or night.

You have shown me deep acceptance, love and understanding. Whenever I need you, you always make time for me. Knowing you always have my back is one of the most comforting things in my life.

Your generosity to everyone around you has taught me to give without expecting anything in return, love unconditionally and to have an open heart. Love Lauren.

Tribute to Henry Munro (Grandad)

Pat Williams

Henry was sent to Degibo Station which was run by the Kent family. When the Kents moved to Yenda Station, they took Grandad also. Mr Kent gave grandad his name, Henry Munro and raised him as one of their own. He excelled in sprinting, high jumps, broad jumping, and cricket.

Grandad was a great seat in the saddle and became a jockey. He rode at Gayndah, Mt Perry, Gin Gin, Wallaville, and Bundaberg racecourses.

He was a respected stockman in the area. He worked at Walla Station, Womabl Station and Moolboolaman Station and many other properties. He was a farrier and horsebreaker as well as a stockman. He also worked at the saleyards as he had a good eye for drafting cattle with lots of graziers relying on his expertise to find them cattle.

Grandad met and married Anita Coolwell in 1928. They went on to have a large family, all of whom worked around the Gin Gin area. The boys worked on stations and at the Gin Gin Central sugar mill at Walalville and Bingera sugar mills. The girls worked in cafes, hotels, service stations, private homes dairy farms and the hospital.

We moved to Black Gully in 1958, Grandad continued droving and mustering at various properties. He was a very well respected, reliable and dependable gentleman.

Grandad had connections to Queen Mariah of Childers who taught him some Badtjala Aboriginal language. He also knew of Uncle Willie Wondumma in Hervery Bay. Uncle Willie was a medicine man and showed Grandad how to use and treat with bush medicine.

Because of his outstanding work as a stockman, Grandad was nominated by the farmers of Gin Gin to have a street named after him, Munro Circuit.

Tribute to Henry Munro (Grandad)

Pat Williams

Resilience

We can trace our Aboriginal, Scottish and Chinese heritage back to the 1890’s.

Robert Cameron was a selector who came out to Australia as a 10-pound Pom to farm the “new” land. He bought an Aboriginal woman, Jane, who came under the Protection Society for Aboriginals. She was bought for rations and work on Turkey Station.

Jane went walkabout and when she returned, they would not let her take her child, Mum’s Dad (Grandpa James Cameron) and she was never seen again.

James had two sisters, Ellen, and Kate. James eventually married Edith Hawthorn and they lived in St George where Mum was born. The family moved near Baffle Creek near Bundaberg. Mum’s mum died in childbirth. When mum left school, she worked as a domestic. She married William Henry Munro after her father died. I was four weeks old, and she already had my older brothers, Kevin, and Billy.

I remember living in a big house in Bundaberg/ Gin Gin. This is where Mum’s cousins took us to safety escaping a domestic violence issue with Dad. There were no support systems back then so Billy, Kevin and I were all placed in an orphanage. I was 4 and my brothers were 6 and 8. We were there until grade 3 when all of us were taken away after a terrible incident with Kevin where his feet where badly burned. Mum used to visit us every weekend.

At this time, Mum was working as the Head cook at the Commercial Hotel in Rockhampton – a great achievement at that time. During her work Mum was witness to many famous people eating at the hotel. The French rugby players used to say that her cooking was the best food they had ever tasted. Mum was very proud of this. Each day after school my brothers and I went to the neighbours until she got home from work. She then moved to Julia Creek where she had my third brother, Ross. At this time, I was attending boarding school in Yeppoon.

In 1962 Mum decided to pack up all four of us kids and move to the big smoke of Brisbane. She got a job as a cook at Opal House, and we moved to a house in Stephens Road, not far from Opal House. Mum changed jobs and worked at the PA Hospital in the nurses’ quarters until she was 63.

Mum had a fantastic work ethic that she passed onto all her children. She loved a cuppa and a little flutter on the Sport of Kings.

She loved gardening and once retired spent a lot of time in hers. There were plenty of different varieties of flowers in Mum’s gardens. These different varieties were obtained from cuttings from other people’s gardens, the Botanical Gardens and of course, the PA Hospital gardens. She didn’t see this as stealing as she believed that the beauty of plants and flowers should be spread around.

She loved her dogs and had many including Porky Stew, Flicka, Rusty, Tuppence, Badger, Henry, and Sam Dingo.

Mum was the greatest mum. She always went without to make sure we were looked after. She was always prepared to listen to us if we had problems.

Acknowledgements

Inala Wangarra Creative Team // Jane Jennison // Belinda Duroux // Paige Parnell Artist Team // Jess Skeen-McKinnon // Jorja Bell // Guyala Bayles // Teila Watson // Kim ‘Busty Beatz’ Bowers // Djindi Jackson // Hayley Moody Project photography // Jo-anne Driessons // Photo of Lauren Ware by Belinda Duroux // Photo of Nonie French-Widders provided Catalogue Design // Navada Currie Aboriginal Artwork // Uncle Joe Skeen // Jess Skeen-McKinnon

A special thank you to the women from The Ration Shed who welcomed us with open arms and hearts and for their generosity in allowing us to use their original project as inspiration.

Thank you to the Inala Wangarra team for working around our creative process and strong paint fumes. Thank you to the Brisbane Writer’s Festival for your continuing solidarity.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

Inala Wangarra is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council.

Inala Wangarra is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.