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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Ngarre (sugarbag), 2018

by Shirley Purdie

Ngarre (sugarbag), 2018

“This is me. I was cutting that sugarbag (bush honey) and my niece (my brother’s daughter) came with a billycan to get that sugarbag. And when she ate it, she was vomiting. And that was that little daughter for her. That was the sugarbag. That made her sick.”

Shirley is recounting the conception of her niece’s daughter, Melissa (Milly) Martin. Almost 20 years ago, Shirley took Milly, who was then a young woman, hunting for sugarbag from a bloodwood tree near the Violet Valley turnoff. Milly and Shirley ate the tasty sugarbag. Later on, when they came home to Warmun, Milly began to feel nauseous and couldn’t stop vomiting. It was then that they knew she was carrying her child. To this day, Milly can no longer stand the taste of sugarbag. That bloodwood tree is still there at the turnoff.

Shirley Purdie
(More information, View all 37 images)

Goollabal (Rainbow Serpent)
Winbul (pandanus tree)
Two cheeky girls
Jugurrul (bush orange tree)

Related information

Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey
Marilyn Ball, Albatross, 2018 (detail) by Linde Ivimey

So Fine

Contemporary women artists make Australian history

Previous exhibition, 2018

This exhibition features new works from ten women artists reinterpreting and reimagining elements of Australian history, enriching the contemporary narrative around Australia’s history and biography, reflecting the tradition of storytelling in our country.
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance
The National Portrait Gallery building front entrance

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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