DHINAWAN THE EMU

Dinewan the emu, being the largest bird, was acknowledged as king by the other birds. Goomble-gubbon the turkey was jealous of Dinewan and would envy the high flight and swift running of Dinewan and this flaunting of his superiority never failed to iritate Goomble-gubbon. Goomble-gubbon decided he would put an end to Dinewan's supremacy. One day Goomble-gubbon saw Dinewan coming towards him so he squatted down and doubled up his wings in such a way as to look as if he had no wings. Goomble-gubbon then proceeded to convince Dinewan that the other birds would think that Goomble-gubbon was the cleverest bird when they see what he could do without his wings and would make Goomble-gubbon king. One day when Goomble-Gubbon saw in the distance Dinewan coming towards her she squatted down and doubled in her wings in such a way as to look as if she had none. She tricked the Emus into cutting off their wings. HA HA HA laughed the Turkey, jumping up and down with joy and said, "I have taken you in, old stumpy wings. I have my wings, yet you are so easily taken in, old stumpy wings"
Brooding over her wrongs, the Emu walked away, vowing she would be revenged. At length, the Emu thought of a plan, then she paraded past the Plain Turkey with her two young ones.
Goomble-Gubbon asked her why she only had two children and the Emu replied, "It is too hard to find food for twelve children, it is easy to feed only two." And straight away the plain turkey killed all but two of her children. "You cruel mother to kill your children, you greedy mother, why I have twelve children and I find food for all of them. I tricked you into doing that because you tricked me into cutting off my wings." And ever since that time, Emu has had no wings and the Plain Turkey has only laid two eggs in one season.

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Artist Statement
I was born in Cunnamulla, a small town in southwestern Queensland, on the edge of Barunggam Country. My yumba—my traditional home—is the land of the Barunggam people, who, for thousands of years, have walked gently on this Country as part of the Wakka Wakka language group. Our connection to the Darling Downs runs deep, shared with neighbouring clans like the Keinjan, Giabal, Jarowair, Bigambal, Kambuwal, and Jagara—each with their own sacred stories, songs, and traditions.

As an Aboriginal artist, my work is more than a visual experience—it is a spiritual practice, a cultural responsibility, and a personal journey. My inspiration comes from the land, from our Dreaming, and from the teachings of my wise grandad. Through him, I learned that painting is not about aesthetics—it’s about storytelling. Every line, every dot, every colour carries emotion, memory, and meaning.

I do not paint to follow trends or fit into boxes. I paint from feeling and truth. My art is a language—spoken through ochre tones, deep blues, and patterns shaped by the rhythm of Country. It is how I honour my ancestors, how I keep our stories alive, and how I share our culture with the world.

Each piece I create is a declaration:
This is who I am. This is where I come from. This is my story.

Through my work, I hope to offer a glimpse into the soul of Barunggam Country, to connect others with the strength, beauty, and resilience of Aboriginal culture. My art is a tribute to the generations who walked before me—and a message to the generations still to come.