Aboriginal Art Exhibition

I have been creating artwork for more than 25 years. As a young man I worked as a tattooist and that’s when I first started to draw. Then, in 1995, when I went to prison, I started to paint, and I loved it. When you are an Aboriginal man it’s easy to end up in prison. For a lot of us its like there’s a highway running from school to jail, but it’s not all bad. In jail a lot of Aboriginal men get to meet their extended family and spend time with their Uncles. It’s there, in prison, where young ones can learn a lot about who they are and where they come from.

Thunggutti painter Milton Budge was born in 1941 at Burnt Bridge Mission, Kempsey, New South Wales. He spent his early years on the Mission before being removed at the age of 13 by the Aborigines Welfare Board to nearby Kinchela Boys Home where he spent the rest of his childhood. After completing his High School Leaving Certificate at Kinchela, Budge undertook an apprenticeship in auto-mechanics at Willoughby on Sydney’s North Shore and did his study at Ultimo Technical College. He then worked as a Telegram Delivery Boy for the Kings Cross Post Office in Williams Street, Kings Cross before he returned to Burnt Bridge Mission in 1960 where he undertook casual seasonal labour working on local farms.

"I’m a Dunghutti women and I’ve lived my entire life in Kempsey. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m very creative and social. In particular, I love cooking and making arts and craft. I’ve always loved art and craft, and these days I mostly do a lot of sewing. I love making bags and tableware and towel sets. I like to support Aboriginal people and organisations with my cooking and sewing. Every time there is a local community event or special gathering, everyone wants me to make my fried scones and damper. I think the art and craft Aboriginal people do is very important for keeping our culture strong and for supporting our young people and showing them the way forward."

"My name is Kelly Roach and I'm a Kamilaroi woman from Moree in New South Wales. I am an artist, hairdresser and Ambulance Officer who is married with two daughters and one grandson. I developed an interest in art from watching my mother paint when I was a teenager and my love for art just grew from there. I was 17 when I had my artwork included in an exhibition and since then I’ve had work exhibited across Australia and around the world. In Australia, I’ve had artwork exhibited at Gosford Regional Gallery, at the Sydney Opera House, in the NSW Parliament House and at the Wyong Art Gallery. Overseas I’ve been included inn exhibitions in Canada, America, France, Singapore, Pakistan, Japan and Germany. I’ve won a few art awards along the way, and have developed my own range of cosmetics and souvenirs."

"My name is Veronica Smith, but everyone calls me Aunty Lola. I’m a Gumbaynggbirr/Dunghutti Nation woman who has lived in the Macleay Valley for over 50 years and I call Kempsey home. People often say I’m a women how knows what she wants in life. Really, I’m just passionate about my family and my local community and I want the best for them. I’ve got six children and many grand children and many great grand children, so I’m very passionate about supporting young people and I’m doing my best to be a bit of a role model for them. I’m a member of the Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council and like to do my part when it comes top local Aboriginal leadership. Like other Aboriginal women in the local community, I see making art and craft as an important way for us to share our culture and show our young people what’s possible."

"I am a proud Anaiwan woman who has lived in the Macleay Valley for more than 60 years. I married a Dunghutti man and together we had three children. Over the years, our family has grown and I now have more than 20 Great Grand Children. On top of my love for family, I am a passionate gardener and homemaker and that’s where I get my love of arts and craft from. I love making things for the home and for my family. I’m also very passionate about young people. I think showing them our art and craft and sharing our stories is a great way to help them find a good path in life. As well as being an artist, I like being a community leader. I’m a member of the Kempsey Local Aboriginal Land Council and think I bring a lot of life skills and experience of supporting families and culture to the table."

My name is Nancy Pattsion and I’m a proud Dunghutti woman from South West Rocks, which is near the mouth of the Macleay River, about 40 kms north of Kempsey. I’m a mother, artist and business woman. I love making unique handwoven jewellery using a range of bush materials and natural fibres, and I also design clothing including a range of swimwear. Earlier this year I started up my own creative art and design business called ‘Minaku’, which is the Dunghutti word for ‘Pelican’. I set up ‘Minaku’ to promote and sell my jewellery and clothing and to be a role model for other young Aboriginal women who want to share their culture and stories.

I have lived in Kempsey NSW, all my life with my mum and sisters. I am a proud Dunghutti and Bundjalung man and very much into my Aboriginal culture. I first started painting about 4 years ago and when I am painting, I forget all what is going on around me. I get totally lost in the moment. My designs represent the animals and colours of the landscape for each painting.

My name is Beverly Hoskins and I’m a Dunghutti women. I’ve lived all of my life in Kempsey, New South Wales. My Dunghutti name is Dudjiria Barunbatia, which was given to me by Aunty Rita Scott, which means ‘Teacher of the Dreamtime’. My mother had 10 children — 5 boys and 5 girls. My mother’s totem is the Cat Fish, and mine is the Turtle. I’m a very creative person and I love painting and sewing. I like sharing stories about my family and my culture through my paintings and the things I sew. I like to paint stories about going hunting and fishing and gathering food.