Portrait Of A Snapper Person, 2021
Acrylic and graphite on board
122 x 81cm
BKE008
Copyright The Artist
I wonder about the original inhabitants of Wallumatta. When did they first arrive in the area? What were some of their names? What and where did various activities and ceremonies...
I wonder about the original inhabitants of Wallumatta. When did they first arrive in the area? What were some of their names? What and where did various activities and ceremonies take place? What are the Indigenous names for the creeks, rivers and landmarks of the region?
There are so many things I’d genuinely love to know.
During the 70’s at Kent Road Public School (in Wallumatta) we were taught about ‘The Australian Explorers’ (Europeans), but nothing was ever mentioned about the Indigenous people of Wallumatta. Nothing.
There’s a 10m long whale carved into a huge sandstone outcrop not far from where I went to school but we were never told about it. I’d never even heard the name Wallumatta until I was almost 50.
In 1978, while in 3rd class, I did a school project about ‘The Aborigines’ and thinking about it now, I realise it was full of inaccurate and outdated information commonly taught to children at the time. It really is embarrassing to think about.
Since the invention of radiocarbon dating and modern archaeological techniques, there’s way more accurate scientific information available, not to mention the oral history of our First People, if people cared to listen.
I wonder what an 8-year-old child’s school project about ‘Australia’s First People’ would be like these days? There’s really no excuse for it to be inaccurate, dated or untruthful.
There are so many things I’d genuinely love to know.
During the 70’s at Kent Road Public School (in Wallumatta) we were taught about ‘The Australian Explorers’ (Europeans), but nothing was ever mentioned about the Indigenous people of Wallumatta. Nothing.
There’s a 10m long whale carved into a huge sandstone outcrop not far from where I went to school but we were never told about it. I’d never even heard the name Wallumatta until I was almost 50.
In 1978, while in 3rd class, I did a school project about ‘The Aborigines’ and thinking about it now, I realise it was full of inaccurate and outdated information commonly taught to children at the time. It really is embarrassing to think about.
Since the invention of radiocarbon dating and modern archaeological techniques, there’s way more accurate scientific information available, not to mention the oral history of our First People, if people cared to listen.
I wonder what an 8-year-old child’s school project about ‘Australia’s First People’ would be like these days? There’s really no excuse for it to be inaccurate, dated or untruthful.