Ethel Thomas “Balibal – The Black Diamond Spotted Stingray” original acrylic on art board 20cm x 25cm

Description

Biography

“Aunty Sally Gabori showed me her paintings when she first visited Bentinck again aGer being away for such a long time. She gave me one because I am her favourite. Now I am doing the same paintings with my sisters and aunties. Its good painting all day to get away from the house and have a break.

“I was born at Oak Tree Point on Bentinck Island or as we call it Lookati. This is on the North side of the island. I was only very small when the missionaries came and took us to Mornington Is. I was asleep when it happened and when I woke up we were on Mornington Island. I missed my parents when we were in the dormitory and we would oGen run away to be with them. When I was older I worked in the hospital and the mission house. Not long aGer that I went to Karumba on the mainland and worked on a cattle station. I moved around a few stations and on one, Esmerelda, I met my husband George Thomas.

“He came back to Mornington with me and we got married there and had my eldest son there as well. We went back to Croydon on the mainland and was gone a long time. When my husband got sick and passed away I returned to Mornington in time for our people starting an outstation on Bentinck Island at Main Base or Ninjilki. Now I live at Bentinck Island my home again with all my family.”