Parrga Yawarra – Paths of the Ancestors

This painting is a visual map of Country, telling the story of Parrga Yawarra – the sacred pathways laid down by the Ancestors across Bidjara, Kunja, and Gunggari lands in and around Cunnamulla. These songlines are not just tracks on the ground – they are living energy, connecting waterholes, campsites, ceremony grounds, and stories passed through generations.
The concentric circles represent gathering places and water sites, such as those fed by the Great Artesian Basin, where mobs would come together for trade, ceremony, and kinship. The white flowing lines trace the movements of the Dreaming beings – the Emu, Kangaroo, and Rainbow Serpent – who travelled these lands, carving stories into stone, earth, and sky.
The painting holds the memory of the Bidjara, the Kunja, and the Gunggari peoples — each with their own languages, stories, and law — yet all bound by shared ties to land and water. The dot work and patterns reflect bush foods and seasonal knowledge: guli (goanna), mayi (fruit), yulu (emu) eggs, and coolabah trees that shade the riverbeds.
Starburst and spiral symbols speak to the old ones watching from the night sky, and to the interconnected Dreamings that move across the land, carried in story, dance, and song. Each mark on the canvas is a footprint of those who walked before, reminding us that we too, are caretakers of these tracks.
This painting is a tribute to the strength and survival of the Bidjara, Kunja, and Gunggari mobs, and to the enduring power of Country — always speaking, always guiding.

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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.