WEBVTT
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Hello everyone,
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and welcome to The National Portrait Galley.
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We're so excited to bring this conversation to you today
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between two amazing women who we're going
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to introduce just very shortly.
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Before we begin I'd just like to give you a couple of tips,
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so that you enjoy the experience.
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Unfortunately due to the number of participants
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we have today, we are unable to take questions
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using the video function of Zoom.
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But, we would really strongly encourage you to use
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the Chat icon, which you can find on your bottom menu bar
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if you'd like to ask any questions of our speakers.
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If you do decide to ask a question, it'd also be super nice
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if you could consider letting us know
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where in the world you are right now.
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'Cause it's always really interesting
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to hear where our audiences are.
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You might like to adjust your camera view to Speaker view
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and also you may also notice that your microphone
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is currently muted and we'd really appreciate it
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if you keep it that way.
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The final thing that I just wanted to go through
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would be that if you happen to have any tech problems
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or there's a last minute family emergency,
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don't worry we're recording the session
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and we're going to put it up on our social media channels
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soon after the event.
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So, if you'd like to see it again in full
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you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram
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or Twitter using the handle @portraitau.
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So, without further ado I'd like to hand over
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to our Manger of Access and Learning, Krysia
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who will be introducing our speakers today.
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Hello everyone, and welcome.
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Welcome to Matilda Naabami:
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Thou shall/will see me/us.
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Dr. Matilda, thank you.
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Ah-hmm.
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I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land
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and pay my respects to the elders,
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past, present and emerging.
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I also acknowledge the Aboriginal
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and Torres Strait Islander peoples
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who are present here today.
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Here on site and as part of our virtual community.
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And, I'm really delighted to be introducing
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Dr. Matilda House and Brenda L Croft
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here on Ngambri-Ngannawal Ngunnawal country.
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Dr. Matilda House is one of the elders of this country,
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a proud Ngambri-Ngunnawal women who has dedicated her life
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to the pursuit of social justice
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for Indigenous people in the wider community.
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She's a tireless supporter of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
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back when it was established in 1972.
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And, helped to establish the Aboriginal Legal Service
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in Queanbeyan in the 1980s.
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And, has served as a member of
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the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee.
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Dr. House has also a long and respected association
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with the ANU and she was instrumental in establishing
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the Tjabal Indigenous Higher Education Centre in association
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with the Indigenous students on campus in 1989.
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And, she received an honorary doctorate
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from the ANU in 2017.
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Matilda is a member of many Canberra
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and Queanbeyan Indigenous committees and organisations.
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And as noted, by then ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope
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in naming her 2006 Canberra Citizen of the Year.
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And, I quote, "It is hard to think
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of any organisation involving Indigenous interests
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with which she has not been involved." And, powerfully so.
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Thank you.
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And, Brenda L Croft is from the Gurindji,
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Malngin, Mudburra people's from the Victoria region
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of the Northern Territory of Australia
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and Anglo-Australian, German, Irish, Chinese heritage.
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(giggles)
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That's for my mum.
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Yeah, no, claim it all, absolutely.
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She's been involved in the Australian First Nations
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and broader contemporary arts and cultural sector
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as an artist, arts administrator, curator,
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educator and consultant for over three decades.
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Brenda lives and works in Canberra
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on Ngambri-Ngannawal Ngunnawal country
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where she is Associate Professor,
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Indigenous Art History and Curatorship
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at the Centre for Art History and Art Theory,
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School of Art and Design,
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College of Arts and Social Sciences
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Australian National University.
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That's a long title.
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Sorry.
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No, no, no need to apologise, it's great.
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And, she is completing her doctoral research
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through the National Institute
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for Experimental Arts at UNSW Art and Design.
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And Brenda, is the creator of this extraordinary
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and powerful portrait of Dr. Matilda House.
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And, we're delighted that you're going
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to both tell us about it.
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So, over to you both.
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Thank you.
Thank you.
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Thanks Krysia.
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Well I must first pay my respects to
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Dr. Auntie Matilda House here and also custodians
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of this region Ngambri-Ngannawal Ngunnawal peoples
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and I feel very privileged to be able to live and work here.
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But, it's just been such an honour
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to be able to have your image selected
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for the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
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And, you've heard why,
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she's completely deserving of being photographed, so.
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This is weird because I haven't done something
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like this before and I've know Auntie Matilda since,
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when did I first meet you, I was really little.
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Yeah.
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I met you through my dad.
Yeah.
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Yeah, I've known this very proud Gurindji woman
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through her father, who I worked with in the
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70s and 80s,
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the 90s at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
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It was then over at (clears throat)
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in the MLC Tower in Woden.
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Her father was a very, very powerful person that I knew.
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And, it was him who introduced me to,
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then about the Stolen Generation.
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Because you know, even though I was part of that
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I didn't realise how much that
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Joe Croft,
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in his life
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had gone through.
Mm.
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And,
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after being, talking a lot to your dad,
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who was a very, very good mentor as well.
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And, it's not only me but there's a lot
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of people working in that department
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that he was also mentoring without
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knowing what the word was in them days.
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He was a mentor and I know his old mate, Charlie Perkins
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used to always make him go down and make sure
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that all of us were right
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and we always had to
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maintain our vigilance about what we would actually doing in
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the Department of Aboriginal Affairs
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and that is what Joe Croft was doing.
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Making sure that we knew what we were there for.
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But, through the years have gone by I've been part
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of Brenda's life for such a long, long time.
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And, I'm very happy and also, I have an affinity with people
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from not only Gurindji but to the Larrakia people
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who I'd met in them years gone by,
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or the Lee family for instance.
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They were going there, he was to the ANU.
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Mm-hm, mm-hm.
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And, then through all the work that we were doing
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and then I happened to meet another girl
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from around that way, Francesca.
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And, all her life she has been here maintaining
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the well-being through art and everything else
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for Aboriginal people, as well.
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So with Brenda, I have accumulated (laughs)
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quite a few people who I am very proud to walk with today.
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When we first got together about this photo
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that's at the back of me here,
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I just thought nothing is ever gonna come of this.
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(laughing)
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Because I'm sitting there you know,
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in this little dark room what the hell's going on, you know.
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But, here I was doing the things that
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I was ordered to do by Brenda.
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(giggles)
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And, she's a very powerful, powerful Gurindji woman
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and just as well she had a lot of tucker there on the day.
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(laughing)
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'Cause it was going fast.
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(laughing)
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And, of course we had a great time.
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Each individual when they went in, it took time
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and that's what I really appreciated Brenda,
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what you had done, you took time.
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And you know, people had travelled.
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Mm.
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You know, from down the South Coast,
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you know from Sydney as well.
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And, you gave them the best time to do the things
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that you wanted out of that vision that you had yourself,
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how this would turn out.
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And, I just took it for granted that it's just a photo.
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But, I was wrong.
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(laughing)
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And, through that,
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and through that sitting down yarning up with all those
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around the table, it was just magic.
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Mm.
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Aboriginal people you know, just sitting around this table
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at the ANU, at the art centre, and yarning up
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and having a cup of tea and everyone was so relaxed
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and that was the whole thing that got me.
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Was everybody was relaxed, you know.
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And, some brought all their grandchildren.
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(laughs)
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And, nieces and nephews just to calm them all down.
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But, they didn't need it because everything was there ready
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for us to have a cup of tea, lunch
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and as much as what the kids could eat.
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So you know, it was a real family.
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Mm, mm.
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Situation that I was looking at.
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And, I just never realised that a photo like
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this would've come out of it.
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Because---
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Well, that's the first time you've seen it,
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isn't it, today?
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Yeah, that's the first time.
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But, I remember looking at it,
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at a little one that you showed me and,
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one of my kids said to me.
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They said, "Why are you so black?"
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(laughing)
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And, I said, "Be proud."
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(laughing)
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"Be proud." you know because that's what it's all about.
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And, that's what she captured on the day.
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And, I can assure you Brenda, my parents, grandparents
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and great, great grandparents you know,
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my mob that came from here, they would be ever so proud
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to look at that and to know that you know,
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being part always of something
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that another person is doing to
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you know, to put me in a place
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on the land you know, Black Harry.
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To do that, it's just something that never happened before
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and will it ever happen again, you know?
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Because, when an artist can do things like this
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and you can do that once, it's very hard to come up with
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and slam dunk another one, you know?
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But, that was part of working with people like yourself
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and your also your granddaughter, Leah who's here.
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Yeah.
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And, the group of women and girls
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over a period of a week
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and working with people like Prue, who helped me greatly
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and having the facilities, at the Canberra School of Art
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to do that.
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I think with photography I've always,
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it's about the relationship you have
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with the people that you're photographing.
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So, it's not just kind of whipping you in
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in front of the camera and then taking
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the photo and then you go on your way.
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It is about allowing the relationship
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that exists between the people that you're photographing
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and developing a relationship with people too
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that you haven't met before,
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and people that I love and respect.
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And so, whenever I look at you,
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I see all the people around you that we've known.
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My brother, Lindsey.
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Yeah.
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My dad.
Yeah.
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I mean---
Tim.
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00:13:41.057 --> 00:13:42.640
The first thing we said talking outside
265
00:13:42.640 --> 00:13:45.050
was how we wish our parents were still here
266
00:13:45.050 --> 00:13:47.360
so we could have conversations with them.
267
00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:49.070
'Cause there's always things I think of
268
00:13:49.070 --> 00:13:51.530
that I'd like to be able to talk about with,
269
00:13:51.530 --> 00:13:52.713
you know with my dad.
270
00:13:54.830 --> 00:13:59.653
And, living on Ngambri-Ngunnawal country I'm always
271
00:14:01.020 --> 00:14:06.000
aware of the people I've met here who are no longer here.
272
00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.850
Mm.
273
00:14:06.850 --> 00:14:08.960
And, how lucky we were you know,
274
00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:13.960
to have a chance to meet all those First Nation's peoples
275
00:14:14.260 --> 00:14:16.790
who came through Canberra in the early days
276
00:14:16.790 --> 00:14:18.815
of Department of Aboriginal Affairs
277
00:14:18.815 --> 00:14:22.450
and Aboriginal Development Commission.
278
00:14:22.450 --> 00:14:23.863
And, as you get older,
279
00:14:24.830 --> 00:14:28.020
for me anyway I think of the generations before
280
00:14:28.020 --> 00:14:32.440
like all your mob you know, I feel I can feel them around
281
00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:34.690
when I'm looking at this country here.
282
00:14:34.690 --> 00:14:39.160
I always feel that presence and feel really grateful
283
00:14:39.160 --> 00:14:41.370
to be able to live here.
284
00:14:41.370 --> 00:14:42.203
Yeah.
285
00:14:42.203 --> 00:14:45.200
And, that's what I wanted to try and capture
286
00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.150
in the photograph.
287
00:14:47.150 --> 00:14:49.120
And, it's the technique that actually makes you look
288
00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.543
so black, because it's a particular technique.
289
00:14:51.543 --> 00:14:52.376
I know, I love it.
290
00:14:52.376 --> 00:14:56.910
That comes out of collodion wet plate processing.
291
00:14:57.920 --> 00:15:01.810
'Cause it's a UV
292
00:15:01.810 --> 00:15:04.480
technique and so it shows everything.
293
00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.216
And, that for me is it doesn't hide anything.
294
00:15:07.216 --> 00:15:09.400
It's not about Photoshopping.
295
00:15:09.400 --> 00:15:12.030
It's not about making people look
296
00:15:13.850 --> 00:15:14.750
something that they're not.
297
00:15:14.750 --> 00:15:18.360
It's about showing everything that you've lived through,
298
00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:20.350
all that you've learnt.
299
00:15:20.350 --> 00:15:22.470
And, even in younger people you can see that
300
00:15:22.470 --> 00:15:23.540
the way they've been photographed
301
00:15:23.540 --> 00:15:27.420
because it's a slow, it's a lovely slow process
302
00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:30.100
and we do everything so quickly today.
303
00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:32.000
I mean, weirdly that's one of the things
304
00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:35.560
I've really enjoyed about COVID-19 restrictions
305
00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:40.100
is having to slow down you know, and just stopping,
306
00:15:40.100 --> 00:15:42.540
having to stop and think about things a lot more
307
00:15:42.540 --> 00:15:46.080
than just this rushing through everything.
308
00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:49.720
And, I only took three photographs of you on that day.
309
00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:53.160
Most people I took five, six, sometimes more.
310
00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.950
But, as soon as I saw that one I knew that was it.
311
00:15:54.950 --> 00:15:57.173
That was the slam dunk one.
312
00:15:58.250 --> 00:15:59.190
Lucky me.
313
00:15:59.190 --> 00:16:01.746
(laughing)
314
00:16:01.746 --> 00:16:04.430
What did you think when you first saw the little tintype
315
00:16:04.430 --> 00:16:06.530
of it when I brought that out of the dark room
316
00:16:06.530 --> 00:16:08.610
after Prue and I processed them?
317
00:16:08.610 --> 00:16:12.163
Oh look Prue, I was trying to find some words, Prue.
318
00:16:13.570 --> 00:16:17.400
That day because you were there to support each
319
00:16:17.400 --> 00:16:18.950
and every one of us.
320
00:16:18.950 --> 00:16:19.783
And,
321
00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:25.670
the strength that you had to get us through that.
322
00:16:25.670 --> 00:16:28.420
Because, they were very challenging because,
323
00:16:28.420 --> 00:16:31.457
sometimes we couldn't, we just, we were talking too much
324
00:16:31.457 --> 00:16:33.300
you know, with Kathy Craigie there
325
00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:35.410
'cause she'd talk, talk, talk, talk.
326
00:16:35.410 --> 00:16:38.250
And then, you've got Eddie, talk, talk, talk, talk.
327
00:16:38.250 --> 00:16:40.320
And, we just didn't wanna get up half of the time
328
00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:44.020
and then all of a sudden Prue and Brenda would come in
329
00:16:44.020 --> 00:16:46.730
and say, "I think we've gotta go in there now."
330
00:16:46.730 --> 00:16:51.620
So, (laughs) we were so comfortable in ourselves
331
00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:53.123
with what was happening.
332
00:16:54.070 --> 00:16:57.460
But, once we got in that dark room it was just---
333
00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.610
Mm.
334
00:16:58.610 --> 00:17:00.350
How's this gonna work?
335
00:17:00.350 --> 00:17:02.990
Mm, was it, did it feel confronting
336
00:17:02.990 --> 00:17:05.870
'cause you're stuck in front of a huge camera?
337
00:17:05.870 --> 00:17:06.703
Yeah.
338
00:17:06.703 --> 00:17:07.536
With lights.
339
00:17:07.536 --> 00:17:08.369
Yeah.
Was it, did it---
340
00:17:08.369 --> 00:17:09.980
But no, it felt great.
341
00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:14.526
Yeah, no, I couldn't feel anything that
342
00:17:14.526 --> 00:17:16.490
would make me walk back out of the room
343
00:17:16.490 --> 00:17:19.173
and say, "Oh you know, stuff this, I'm going."
344
00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:22.970
I had a good rapport in that room
345
00:17:22.970 --> 00:17:25.920
with yourself and the others.
346
00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:29.360
And, I knew Prue was around just in case we needed water
347
00:17:29.360 --> 00:17:30.193
or anything else like that.
348
00:17:30.193 --> 00:17:31.860
Well, we couldn't have done it without Prue
349
00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:33.870
'cause Prue was the technical whizz.
350
00:17:33.870 --> 00:17:34.703
Yeah.
351
00:17:34.703 --> 00:17:36.048
I had the idea about how I wanted to do it.
352
00:17:36.048 --> 00:17:36.900
Yeah.
353
00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:40.390
And, I'd done wet plate processing before
354
00:17:40.390 --> 00:17:44.230
but, to be able to work in partnership with somebody
355
00:17:44.230 --> 00:17:47.920
and have the access to fantastic facilities over at
356
00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:51.420
the School of Art was just amazing, to be able to do that.
357
00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:53.025
That's why we, I think we ended up producing
358
00:17:53.025 --> 00:17:55.360
over 100 in that week.
359
00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:58.980
We had about seven different,
360
00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:01.030
maybe eight different groups of people come through.
361
00:18:01.030 --> 00:18:03.750
So, it really, it sounds like it was a bit of
362
00:18:03.750 --> 00:18:07.000 line:15%
a production line, which is why we had so many people there.
363
00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.833 line:15%
It didn't feel like it.
364
00:18:07.833 --> 00:18:09.968 line:15%
So, you can be talking with each other.
365
00:18:09.968 --> 00:18:12.650 line:15%
And, I loved that, just listening
366
00:18:12.650 --> 00:18:15.360 line:15%
to everybody telling stories and you know,
367
00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:17.060 line:15%
thinking about your own lives.
368
00:18:17.060 --> 00:18:19.123 line:15%
Yeah, and reading all the books.
369
00:18:20.176 --> 00:18:21.009 line:15%
Yeah, it was great.
370
00:18:21.009 --> 00:18:23.140 line:15%
Because you, can you give us a little bit of background
371
00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:25.480 line:15%
about your earliest memories
372
00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:27.800 line:15%
of growing up and coming to Canberra,
373
00:18:27.800 --> 00:18:30.470 line:15%
your earliest memories of coming to Canberra?
374
00:18:30.470 --> 00:18:34.370
Oh look, I was coming here even
375
00:18:34.370 --> 00:18:36.410
when I was a tiny, little girl.
376
00:18:36.410 --> 00:18:38.320
I'd travel over with my grandparents
377
00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:41.620
from the Aboriginal Mission in Yass.
378
00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:43.110
It was called 'Hollywood',
379
00:18:43.110 --> 00:18:45.850
far from being Hollywood I can assure you.
380
00:18:45.850 --> 00:18:50.700
But, my grandparents were always doing domestic things
381
00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:55.060
in people's places and my grandmother used to,
382
00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:57.800
would get in with the horse and sulky and my grandfather
383
00:18:57.800 --> 00:19:02.440
would bring us over here and we'd be, we'd camp up
384
00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:06.130
on Flinders Way, which is now a registered site.
385
00:19:06.130 --> 00:19:07.090
Mm.
386
00:19:07.090 --> 00:19:10.050
Where Aboriginal people used to come and camp.
387
00:19:10.050 --> 00:19:13.573
And, my grandfather was also a stockman.
388
00:19:15.315 --> 00:19:16.600
And he
389
00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:19.020
did work for Mr.Russell
390
00:19:19.020 --> 00:19:21.663
who had cattle up there on Red Hill.
391
00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:27.410
So yeah, I've been coming here since then.
392
00:19:27.410 --> 00:19:31.970
And, even before I got married I was coming here,
393
00:19:31.970 --> 00:19:35.563
to be with my husband, my you know,
394
00:19:37.760 --> 00:19:41.483
'cause he lived in a boarding house, used to sneak in.
395
00:19:43.130 --> 00:19:45.143
And this is how my,
396
00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:50.187
not knowing how much this country was meaning to me.
397
00:19:50.187 --> 00:19:51.670
Mm, mm.
398
00:19:51.670 --> 00:19:56.159
You know, not knowing how much it was meaning to me.
399
00:19:56.159 --> 00:20:00.400
Because, at the end of the day after my grandparents used
400
00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:02.910
to talk to me about this place.
401
00:20:02.910 --> 00:20:03.743
Mm, mm.
402
00:20:03.743 --> 00:20:08.743
And, when we was you know, a little girl at the camp site,
403
00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:14.090
this Red Hill Campsite, just down from Boys Grammar
404
00:20:14.090 --> 00:20:16.290
and there's a creek there running around it.
405
00:20:17.550 --> 00:20:21.580
And, that's what drew us, my grandparents
406
00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:24.297
to camp there at that site, because it was running water.
407
00:20:24.297 --> 00:20:25.640
Mm, mm.
408
00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:27.233
This running water and,
409
00:20:30.310 --> 00:20:33.390
course I'd had to help didn't I, to take the horse down
410
00:20:33.390 --> 00:20:36.150
to get a drink of water and help my grandfather,
411
00:20:36.150 --> 00:20:39.470
which I thought was why are we hobbling the horses,
412
00:20:39.470 --> 00:20:41.160
you know, putting stuff on 'em.
413
00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.230
'Cause he doesn't wanna run away
414
00:20:43.230 --> 00:20:46.110
'cause we have to walk all the way back to Yass.
415
00:20:46.110 --> 00:20:51.000
So, that was my part of growing up in that era
416
00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:56.000
when my grandparents came here and worked.
417
00:20:56.730 --> 00:21:00.320
And then much, much later my own father
418
00:21:00.320 --> 00:21:04.090
came here as well, and worked.
419
00:21:04.090 --> 00:21:07.740
So you know, this affinity with a family line
420
00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.430
that's going on and on you know,
421
00:21:09.430 --> 00:21:12.540
with my great grandfather, Black Harry,
422
00:21:12.540 --> 00:21:16.183
who worked at Tharwa, at the,
423
00:21:18.478 --> 00:21:20.630
what's now called Cuppacumbalong
424
00:21:23.557 --> 00:21:27.497
but, it was part of the De Salis family and that.
425
00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:33.123
And, how I know all that, well because,
426
00:21:35.970 --> 00:21:38.550
the De Salis family had a diary
427
00:21:38.550 --> 00:21:40.700
and they wrote in it nearly every day,
428
00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:42.610
as they did in them days.
429
00:21:42.610 --> 00:21:46.660
A lot of white people, if blacks were there working for them
430
00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:50.490
they used to put it in a diary and that's how we know.
431
00:21:50.490 --> 00:21:52.610
And, we discovered that over at
432
00:21:52.610 --> 00:21:56.370
the National Library.
Library, yeah.
433
00:21:56.370 --> 00:21:58.993
And how we lucky we were for those,
434
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.190
the De Salis' to do that.
435
00:22:02.190 --> 00:22:04.880
So, they must have had a lot to do
436
00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:06.930
with Aboriginal people there as well,
437
00:22:06.930 --> 00:22:09.630
because my grandfather lived
438
00:22:09.630 --> 00:22:11.597
and worked there for them for so long.
439
00:22:11.597 --> 00:22:16.597
You know, and then, till he met my great grandmother, Ellen
440
00:22:18.370 --> 00:22:21.340
and then later on after they had some children
441
00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:22.581
they moved back to Yass.
442
00:22:22.581 --> 00:22:23.423
Mm.
443
00:22:23.423 --> 00:22:25.737
You know, because,
444
00:22:25.737 --> 00:22:29.010
you know they needed to be where
445
00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:33.303
their other grandchildren were, as well so.
446
00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:39.010
But, I've thoroughly have been part of the land for so long
447
00:22:39.010 --> 00:22:41.783
and even when going to,
448
00:22:43.260 --> 00:22:48.260
in the 1980s, 87, I think or nine that we put Tjabal up.
449
00:22:49.552 --> 00:22:54.060
And, that was a long, long time ago, quite a few decades.
450
00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:57.260
But, that was my growing a part of it as well.
451
00:22:57.260 --> 00:23:00.020
My daughter, Michelle, she was part of
452
00:23:00.020 --> 00:23:02.290
that opening as well of Tjabal.
453
00:23:02.290 --> 00:23:04.035
Over at the ANU, yeah.
454
00:23:04.035 --> 00:23:04.868
Yeah.
Yup
455
00:23:04.868 --> 00:23:09.276
Yeah, so, you know some great people that was there.
456
00:23:09.276 --> 00:23:10.109
Sammy Whipman and
457
00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:15.130
Davey Johnson and lots of other people
458
00:23:15.130 --> 00:23:17.960
and now we have a wonderful girl
459
00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:20.613
over there now, Anne Martin that's there.
460
00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:24.410
And you know, I'm surrounded by such wonderful,
461
00:23:24.410 --> 00:23:27.550
wonderful people like yourself and
462
00:23:28.770 --> 00:23:33.770
you know, Francesca and all of that mob and others.
463
00:23:34.530 --> 00:23:38.190
That I, but with you I've always had this great affinity
464
00:23:38.190 --> 00:23:42.130
because I can always just ring you up
465
00:23:42.130 --> 00:23:46.140
and you know, get a feed or whatever.
466
00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.973
And, tell me off.
467
00:23:46.973 --> 00:23:48.478
Yeah, yeah we do.
468
00:23:48.478 --> 00:23:49.311
(laughing)
469
00:23:49.311 --> 00:23:53.920
So you know, and have this great rapport with,
470
00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:56.310
you have with this country.
471
00:23:56.310 --> 00:23:58.940
Because, you practically, you did you grew up here.
472
00:23:58.940 --> 00:23:59.910
Mm, mm.
473
00:23:59.910 --> 00:24:02.090
You grew up on this land,
474
00:24:02.090 --> 00:24:05.493
with a beautiful mother and a wonderful father.
475
00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:10.810
And you know, a man who finally got to meet his family.
476
00:24:10.810 --> 00:24:14.810
You know, after all them years, as a grown man,
477
00:24:14.810 --> 00:24:18.430
he met his family you know, after he was taken away
478
00:24:18.430 --> 00:24:20.640
from Stolen Generations though.
479
00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:23.440
You know, a lot of happiness came through this country
480
00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:26.763
and stayed here and a lot of terrible stuff.
481
00:24:28.444 --> 00:24:30.870
In '72 when the Tent Embassy was set up.
482
00:24:30.870 --> 00:24:32.500
It was
483
00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:34.350
my brothers
484
00:24:34.350 --> 00:24:39.237
and four beautiful black men that came down from Sydney,
485
00:24:41.950 --> 00:24:46.750
you know Bertie Williams, who was part of our Williams clan.
486
00:24:46.750 --> 00:24:49.783
You know, Tony Coorey and,
487
00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:53.250
the other two.
488
00:24:53.250 --> 00:24:57.120
You know, and everybody called it 'The Tent'.
489
00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:58.850
But, they didn't even have a tent.
490
00:24:58.850 --> 00:25:01.110
Because, the next day when it was raining
491
00:25:01.110 --> 00:25:02.857
someone bought them out an umbrella.
492
00:25:02.857 --> 00:25:05.830
Beach umbrella.
Beach umbrella.
493
00:25:05.830 --> 00:25:08.880
So, there it was the Tent Embassy was born.
494
00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:10.670
There you go, so.
495
00:25:10.670 --> 00:25:13.640
And, it's still there today but it's,
496
00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:16.600
I feel that we're still missing a lot of the things
497
00:25:16.600 --> 00:25:20.670
that happened that we fought for for that day in '72.
498
00:25:20.670 --> 00:25:24.600
When you know, we had a terrible time with the police
499
00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:27.610
and trying to maintain something
500
00:25:27.610 --> 00:25:32.300
which isn't far from here, you know and---
501
00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:33.770
Well, you were just speaking up there
502
00:25:33.770 --> 00:25:35.410
at the Black Lives Matter---
Yeah, I was---
503
00:25:35.410 --> 00:25:36.968
Rally, that your granddaughter organised.
504
00:25:36.968 --> 00:25:37.801
I was speaking up there
505
00:25:37.801 --> 00:25:42.080
with my granddaughter, Leah and others,
506
00:25:42.080 --> 00:25:44.913
you were there, but way at the back with Christopher.
507
00:25:47.350 --> 00:25:51.300
But you know, when we talk about Black Lives Matter
508
00:25:51.300 --> 00:25:54.380
I went to that place and I've been there
509
00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:58.826
and know that how Aboriginal men and women have suffered.
510
00:25:58.826 --> 00:25:59.659
Mm.
511
00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:04.659
Through the brutality of life that colonialistic values,
512
00:26:04.910 --> 00:26:07.800
what they claim have got values,
513
00:26:07.800 --> 00:26:10.860
were put to Aboriginal people.
514
00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:14.540
And, the greatest shame that I find
515
00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:18.660
is when you know that an Aboriginal woman
516
00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:20.863
when taken into custody you know,
517
00:26:20.863 --> 00:26:22.723
they just don't come out alive.
518
00:26:24.030 --> 00:26:26.060
A woman doesn't come out alive.
519
00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:27.540
Mm, mm.
520
00:26:27.540 --> 00:26:29.830
And, that's the saddest part of how
521
00:26:32.267 --> 00:26:36.153
I feel in my life when I know that a woman
522
00:26:38.510 --> 00:26:41.940
went into jail and never came back alive.
523
00:26:41.940 --> 00:26:44.870
Well, that was part of the inspiration behind
524
00:26:44.870 --> 00:26:48.430
this series was Barangaroo.
525
00:26:48.430 --> 00:26:51.732
One of the First Nation's women to be---
526
00:26:51.732 --> 00:26:52.565
Yeah.
527
00:26:52.565 --> 00:26:56.330
Recorded in the colonial records who was,
528
00:26:56.330 --> 00:26:58.950
she was the second, she was noted as being the second wife
529
00:26:58.950 --> 00:27:00.580
of Bennelong but we could say
530
00:27:00.580 --> 00:27:03.590
that he was her second husband as well.
531
00:27:03.590 --> 00:27:07.380
And, she was such a staunch Cammeraygal women
532
00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:12.120
she was renown for telling the colonists off all the time
533
00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:14.845
and refusing to wear European clothes.
534
00:27:14.845 --> 00:27:15.678
No.
535
00:27:15.678 --> 00:27:19.070
Wouldn't wear European clothes, died shortly
536
00:27:19.070 --> 00:27:24.070
after giving birth to her and Bennelong's child.
537
00:27:24.070 --> 00:27:29.070
And, now we have a precinct in Sydney named after her
538
00:27:29.300 --> 00:27:31.340
but who really knows who she was.
539
00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:34.150
So, she was the inspiration for me
540
00:27:34.150 --> 00:27:37.770
to create this work and the series that I've been working on
541
00:27:37.770 --> 00:27:40.850
with other Aboriginal women that I know.
542
00:27:40.850 --> 00:27:45.660
So, it's that thing of constantly remembering
543
00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:49.230
who has been before us, and honouring the people
544
00:27:49.230 --> 00:27:51.360
who are here now and thinking about
545
00:27:51.360 --> 00:27:54.840
the people who are going to come.
546
00:27:54.840 --> 00:27:59.040
And, for me working especially with women,
547
00:27:59.040 --> 00:28:02.950
friends who I, you know I don't have direct sisters,
548
00:28:02.950 --> 00:28:06.423
but these people I consider my sisters, my aunties.
549
00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:10.453
You know, I have so much love and respect for you,
550
00:28:11.330 --> 00:28:14.050
because I've known you since I was a kid.
551
00:28:14.050 --> 00:28:17.740
And, when I look at you I see my dad
552
00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.080
and I see my brother.
553
00:28:19.080 --> 00:28:19.913
Yeah.
554
00:28:19.913 --> 00:28:23.150
And you know, seeing the love that you have for Lea
555
00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:26.080
that comes through in those photographs.
556
00:28:26.080 --> 00:28:30.890
And so, it was just such a privilege to have
557
00:28:30.890 --> 00:28:33.250
the work selected for here on your country.
558
00:28:33.250 --> 00:28:34.083
Thank you.
559
00:28:34.083 --> 00:28:37.740
And, to be in this place and
560
00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:41.160
I've just felt kind of overwhelmed
561
00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:44.060
by how people have responded to the image.
562
00:28:44.060 --> 00:28:46.610
And, I hope we'll get to show the other ones too
563
00:28:46.610 --> 00:28:48.497 line:15%
that were taken in that series.
564
00:28:48.497 --> 00:28:49.330 line:15%
Yeah.
565
00:28:50.380 --> 00:28:52.500 line:15%
But, you just look, that's you.
566
00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:54.693 line:15%
It just captures you so beautifully.
567
00:28:57.307 --> 00:28:59.110 line:15%
And you know, that's the reason I love it,
568
00:28:59.110 --> 00:28:59.960 line:15%
not because I took it.
569
00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:04.130 line:15%
Just that I see you so strong in that image.
570
00:29:04.130 --> 00:29:05.783 line:15%
Mm, I see me,
571
00:29:06.890 --> 00:29:07.929 line:15%
too.
572
00:29:07.929 --> 00:29:09.600 line:15%
(laughing)
573
00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:12.810 line:15%
But, the other thing that I wanna say
574
00:29:12.810 --> 00:29:16.913 line:15%
is that being involved with other women from Victoria.
575
00:29:19.826 --> 00:29:21.560 line:15%
They travelled up here to see me
576
00:29:21.560 --> 00:29:26.560
and we started doing possum cloaks and possum rugs.
577
00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:30.450
And, it's through other people that journey
578
00:29:30.450 --> 00:29:33.880
from other country in Australia that come to see me
579
00:29:36.360 --> 00:29:37.810
and they want to do something
580
00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:41.100
together with me.
581
00:29:41.100 --> 00:29:46.100
And, I find that very, very old hardly, just so good.
582
00:29:46.520 --> 00:29:50.540
And, it's not just that I have this affinity too
583
00:29:50.540 --> 00:29:54.460
with other Aboriginal women from all over Australia.
584
00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:59.120
But, I do also have with a non-Aboriginal girls
585
00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:01.200
that I know from the ANU.
586
00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:05.300
And, it's through them that you know, Annique and Kerry-Lee
587
00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:07.710
are always there for me to help me
588
00:30:07.710 --> 00:30:12.370
through some things like art and whatever.
589
00:30:12.370 --> 00:30:17.370
And so, it's having those contacts and them making time
590
00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:21.870
and sparing the time you know, like we had with Brenda
591
00:30:21.870 --> 00:30:26.870
and also with other, the girls from Victoria.
592
00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:30.410
Absolutely, it's absolutely so lovely
593
00:30:30.410 --> 00:30:34.400
when you sit down with the women and we talk about
594
00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:39.400
the you know, the things of how proud we are to be black.
595
00:30:40.037 --> 00:30:41.060
Mm.
596
00:30:41.060 --> 00:30:42.210
And, how proud we are
597
00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:46.810
for our things that we do
598
00:30:46.810 --> 00:30:49.450
will be passed on and on and on.
599
00:30:49.450 --> 00:30:53.340
And, that's how we will maintain
600
00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:56.320
you know, the sense of belonging,
601
00:30:56.320 --> 00:30:59.083
the sense of belonging, you know.
602
00:31:02.600 --> 00:31:06.333
At the end of the day we can look,
603
00:31:07.630 --> 00:31:11.507
not look at us in ways that people would think,
604
00:31:11.507 --> 00:31:15.860
"Oh well you know, it's just another black woman's story."
605
00:31:15.860 --> 00:31:19.383
But you know, it's not like that.
606
00:31:20.762 --> 00:31:22.630
People have gotta take a stand
607
00:31:24.229 --> 00:31:25.479
and have a yarn
608
00:31:26.547 --> 00:31:29.690
and have a cup of tea with people.
609
00:31:29.690 --> 00:31:32.110
There's nothing wrong with approaching
610
00:31:32.110 --> 00:31:35.660
someone who you want to have a yarn with
611
00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:38.050
because this is how things happen.
612
00:31:38.050 --> 00:31:41.383
I mean, I just always, I talk to anybody.
613
00:31:43.760 --> 00:31:44.593
I don't know what about,
614
00:31:44.593 --> 00:31:46.770
but we all end up talking about something.
615
00:31:46.770 --> 00:31:51.180
Even about dogs, I mean, I've got layers of my life.
616
00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.013
Yeah.
617
00:31:52.013 --> 00:31:54.866
Layers and layers of it you know, I've travelled the world.
618
00:31:57.845 --> 00:31:59.763
I showed my dogs at Crufts.
619
00:32:00.833 --> 00:32:03.403
I showed my dogs at Madison Square Garden.
620
00:32:04.430 --> 00:32:07.680
You know, so, being that part of my life all them years
621
00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:09.197
and years ago which I don't have anymore
622
00:32:09.197 --> 00:32:10.813
but I still have a dog.
623
00:32:11.730 --> 00:32:14.631
'Cause you know, you can't be a black fellow without a dog.
624
00:32:14.631 --> 00:32:15.780
(laughing)
625
00:32:15.780 --> 00:32:17.230
You know, her name's Jetta.
626
00:32:18.170 --> 00:32:21.083
You know, and Jetta is,
627
00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:25.283
a black Staffie and,
628
00:32:26.800 --> 00:32:29.690
she rules the roost but in the last few months
629
00:32:29.690 --> 00:32:33.203
she packed her bags and left and lived with my daughter.
630
00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:36.127
And, I said to her, "Are you coming home?"
631
00:32:36.127 --> 00:32:39.790
"No." that's what they do to you these dogs.
632
00:32:39.790 --> 00:32:40.710
(laughing)
633
00:32:40.710 --> 00:32:45.193
You know, doesn't matter, she's still my Jetta.
634
00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:50.840
And, all the work that I've seen happening here
635
00:32:50.840 --> 00:32:54.010
with Aboriginal women you know,
636
00:32:54.010 --> 00:32:57.430
it's people coming from all over like I said.
637
00:32:57.430 --> 00:32:58.900
Just having Vicky
638
00:33:01.230 --> 00:33:02.590
and Lee---
639
00:33:02.590 --> 00:33:03.660
And Trina.
640
00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:05.123
And Amanda,
641
00:33:06.390 --> 00:33:09.020
being here with me on country
642
00:33:09.020 --> 00:33:13.165
making our possum cloaks, it's just wonderful.
643
00:33:13.165 --> 00:33:13.998
Mm.
644
00:33:13.998 --> 00:33:16.100
Because, to have that closeness
645
00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:19.320
and that affinity to always maintain
646
00:33:19.320 --> 00:33:22.743
that we'll always be together no matter what.
647
00:33:23.730 --> 00:33:28.410
And, that's how I felt when I was with Brenda and Prue
648
00:33:28.410 --> 00:33:31.023
of how we all did our little sessions together.
649
00:33:32.030 --> 00:33:35.548
And we moving on and with my other mates Kerry-lee and that.
650
00:33:35.548 --> 00:33:38.960
So, I have all of this stuff but,
651
00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:43.000
all these things, it's not stuff, but that's how I talk.
652
00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:46.350
But, it's all the things that surround me
653
00:33:47.230 --> 00:33:49.793
and I love it, you know.
654
00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.827
I guess when you're 75 you get that old,
655
00:33:52.827 --> 00:33:54.470
you'll love anything.
(laughs)
656
00:33:54.470 --> 00:33:56.230
But, at the end of the day
657
00:33:56.230 --> 00:33:59.360
I really do appreciate the kindness
658
00:33:59.360 --> 00:34:01.910
and just walking,
659
00:34:01.910 --> 00:34:03.413
still walking together.
660
00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:06.430
And, that's what we've gotta do, you know.
661
00:34:06.430 --> 00:34:11.000
We're not gutted fish, we can still maintain our dignity
662
00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:14.840
and talk about how we want to be.
663
00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:17.170
Brenda, and I can't thank you enough
664
00:34:17.170 --> 00:34:18.300
for what you have done.
665
00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:22.700
You have done a marvellous job with everything you've done,
666
00:34:22.700 --> 00:34:25.360
living here and being away,
667
00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:30.260
when you were down at Boomalli and those places.
668
00:34:30.260 --> 00:34:31.913
You made a difference.
669
00:34:33.150 --> 00:34:34.850
And, you always will.
670
00:34:34.850 --> 00:34:37.460
Look at the difference you've made today?
671
00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:39.590
Yeah, but it's because of people like you.
672
00:34:39.590 --> 00:34:42.160
It's because of everyone who's gone before you.
673
00:34:42.160 --> 00:34:44.220
It's all the people who help you.
674
00:34:44.220 --> 00:34:49.110
You don't do anything alone and you know, there's such joy
675
00:34:49.110 --> 00:34:51.980
in spending time with people like yourself
676
00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:56.960
and the other you know, Cheryl's mom who passed away.
677
00:34:56.960 --> 00:34:57.793
Yeah.
678
00:34:57.793 --> 00:35:01.230
Who was in the photo shoot and it's such an honour
679
00:35:01.230 --> 00:35:04.430
to spend even a small amount of time
680
00:35:04.430 --> 00:35:07.170
with people and to hear stories you know,
681
00:35:07.170 --> 00:35:11.350
people trusting you enough to share stories
682
00:35:11.350 --> 00:35:12.930
and,
683
00:35:12.930 --> 00:35:17.530
if that's all I get to do the rest of my life.
684
00:35:17.530 --> 00:35:20.100
And for you know people, Christopher being able
685
00:35:20.100 --> 00:35:21.653
to meet people like yourself.
686
00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:26.400
We're getting a wind up, aren't we?
687
00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:28.130
Did we talk too long?
688
00:35:28.130 --> 00:35:31.430
The time has flown and it's been wonderful
689
00:35:31.430 --> 00:35:36.430
just to listen to you telling us about relationships
690
00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:39.870
and community and connection.
Thank you.
691
00:35:39.870 --> 00:35:42.340
It's been lovely to listen.
692
00:35:42.340 --> 00:35:47.340
And, also that close relationship is really evident I think
693
00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:48.750
in the portrait.
It is.
694
00:35:48.750 --> 00:35:51.497
It's, you can tell you love each other
695
00:35:51.497 --> 00:35:53.560
and that's what we need more of too, I think.
696
00:35:53.560 --> 00:35:54.670
Ah yeah.
697
00:35:54.670 --> 00:35:55.890
Don't you reckon?
698
00:35:55.890 --> 00:36:00.070
Anyway, I'd like to, Jule's gonna read out some
699
00:36:00.070 --> 00:36:03.070
of the comments, they've been streaming in
700
00:36:03.070 --> 00:36:06.510
and we'll keep them as a record for you.
701
00:36:06.510 --> 00:36:09.520
Because, there have been very powerful comments
702
00:36:09.520 --> 00:36:12.540
coming from people who have been Zoomed in.
703
00:36:12.540 --> 00:36:13.580
Yeah.
704
00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:16.320
But, before we do that I do want to thank both
705
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:18.720
of you very, very much for taking the time.
706
00:36:18.720 --> 00:36:20.013
Thank you for having us.
707
00:36:20.013 --> 00:36:23.840
And, yarning with us, while you're yarning together.
708
00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:27.660
So, it's been really, giving us the opportunity to listen.
709
00:36:27.660 --> 00:36:30.760
And, I think you've stressed the importance of that
710
00:36:30.760 --> 00:36:32.850
to listen to each other, okay.
711
00:36:32.850 --> 00:36:34.970
Yeah, I'm just glad it happened.
712
00:36:34.970 --> 00:36:37.060
It did I know, we had a false start did we?
713
00:36:37.060 --> 00:36:38.347
Yeah, we did didn't we?
714
00:36:38.347 --> 00:36:40.590
A big shut down right as it was all gonna happen.
715
00:36:40.590 --> 00:36:42.300
Yeah, in March.
716
00:36:42.300 --> 00:36:45.227
Yeah, but thanks for hanging in there.
717
00:36:45.227 --> 00:36:46.060
(laughing)
718
00:36:46.060 --> 00:36:47.270
That was really good.
719
00:36:47.270 --> 00:36:49.877
Okay Jule, I'll just---
Thank you.
720
00:36:49.877 --> 00:36:51.810
I just wanna share some of the love
721
00:36:51.810 --> 00:36:53.650
that's been coming in on the Zoom.
722
00:36:53.650 --> 00:36:55.060
I know it's a very awkward strange thing.
723
00:36:55.060 --> 00:36:57.050
We have a few people here in the gallery which is nice
724
00:36:57.050 --> 00:37:01.120
to see some human faces in the flesh, so to speak.
725
00:37:01.120 --> 00:37:04.630
But, we do have a lot of people actually online
726
00:37:04.630 --> 00:37:07.390
who have tuned in which is really lovely as well.
727
00:37:07.390 --> 00:37:08.510
So, I just wanted to make sure that
728
00:37:08.510 --> 00:37:11.650
their voices come to both of you.
729
00:37:11.650 --> 00:37:15.500
Tracker Australia says that, "Matilda, you were
730
00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:19.350
the welfare officer in DAA when they arrived on your country
731
00:37:19.350 --> 00:37:21.720
and they were homeless once and your daughters took them in
732
00:37:21.720 --> 00:37:23.821
and they've never forgotten that, so."
733
00:37:23.821 --> 00:37:24.654
Who was this?
734
00:37:24.654 --> 00:37:27.100
A person who's name is Tracker Australia online.
735
00:37:27.100 --> 00:37:28.420
But, I'm sure they'll know who they are.
736
00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:30.168
From Alice Springs.
Yeah.
737
00:37:30.168 --> 00:37:31.070
(laughing)
738
00:37:31.070 --> 00:37:31.903
That's awesome.
739
00:37:31.903 --> 00:37:32.935
It's Tracker, thank you.
740
00:37:32.935 --> 00:37:34.807
(laughing)
741
00:37:34.807 --> 00:37:37.135
Amanda Reynolds is sending love and respect to you.
742
00:37:37.135 --> 00:37:37.968
(gasps)
743
00:37:37.968 --> 00:37:38.801
That's great.
744
00:37:38.801 --> 00:37:41.320
And, Brenda and they're always inspired by both of you
745
00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:43.162
and they're so happy to be here via Zoom.
746
00:37:43.162 --> 00:37:43.995
Oh, great.
747
00:37:44.870 --> 00:37:46.167
Victoria Firth-Smith says,
748
00:37:46.167 --> 00:37:47.870
"It's an incredible work and story
749
00:37:47.870 --> 00:37:50.317
and thanks to everybody for being here today."
750
00:37:51.470 --> 00:37:53.880
Jane Margots says, "Thank you for sharing
751
00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:55.720
the wonderful photograph and interview featuring
752
00:37:55.720 --> 00:37:58.710
these two inspirational women."
753
00:37:58.710 --> 00:38:01.970
Merici College, Merici, "Thank you on behalf
754
00:38:01.970 --> 00:38:03.890
of the staff and students at Merici College.
755
00:38:03.890 --> 00:38:05.262
Your insight is inspirational."
756
00:38:05.262 --> 00:38:06.846
That's up there on, round Limestone Avenue.
757
00:38:06.846 --> 00:38:08.593
Yeah, they're looking forward to seeing
758
00:38:08.593 --> 00:38:10.560
your work in person, that's from Jamie.
759
00:38:10.560 --> 00:38:12.190
All right.
760
00:38:12.190 --> 00:38:14.460
April Phillips says, "Thank you to Matilda and Brenda
761
00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:16.630
for being such a grounding force."
762
00:38:16.630 --> 00:38:18.320
Ah, if there is time for questions
763
00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.507
we have a question, that's great.
764
00:38:19.507 --> 00:38:22.560
Then what she would like to ask, "In this portrait
765
00:38:22.560 --> 00:38:24.830
I see so much strength, how can we continue
766
00:38:24.830 --> 00:38:27.107
to find strength and speak strong?"
767
00:38:29.904 --> 00:38:31.535
(laughing)
768
00:38:31.535 --> 00:38:34.090
I don't know, just be yourself
769
00:38:34.090 --> 00:38:37.653
and maintain your identity always and be proud.
770
00:38:39.180 --> 00:38:41.840
And, that can only happen if you've got
771
00:38:41.840 --> 00:38:44.150
the people around you to do that.
772
00:38:44.150 --> 00:38:46.660
And, what wonderful people and I can't thank each,
773
00:38:46.660 --> 00:38:50.294
and you know, I forgot to thank the Portrait Gallery.
774
00:38:50.294 --> 00:38:55.053
You know, for having me today and of course Brenda.
775
00:38:56.674 --> 00:38:57.729
You don't have to thank me.
776
00:38:57.729 --> 00:38:59.462
(laughing)
777
00:38:59.462 --> 00:39:00.930
I think
778
00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:03.690
what we've seen with
779
00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:08.210
recent weeks and particularly
780
00:39:08.210 --> 00:39:10.100
I know how proud Auntie Matilda was
781
00:39:10.100 --> 00:39:14.120
of the young people involved in The Black Lives Matter Rally
782
00:39:14.120 --> 00:39:17.220
here in Canberra which included her granddaughter, Lea.
783
00:39:17.220 --> 00:39:20.280
And, hearing so many articulate young people
784
00:39:21.210 --> 00:39:23.340
and I know that was the case right around the country.
785
00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:24.173
Yeah.
786
00:39:24.173 --> 00:39:25.840
That genie's not going back in the bottle.
787
00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:28.470
So, it's having to listen to young people coming through
788
00:39:28.470 --> 00:39:33.470
and providing them with a space to put their views forward.
789
00:39:33.650 --> 00:39:35.900
And, rather than look for division
790
00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:40.000
which seems to be the overriding thing so much today
791
00:39:40.000 --> 00:39:43.103
is look for commonalities and providing space for people.
792
00:39:45.010 --> 00:39:46.920
So, I think that's the biggest thing is that,
793
00:39:46.920 --> 00:39:49.630
it's that capacity to listen and provide space
794
00:39:49.630 --> 00:39:52.030
and don't tell people what they should be doing.
795
00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:57.023
One last question Auntie Matilda.
796
00:39:57.910 --> 00:40:01.030
You had spoken about the importance of having a yarn
797
00:40:01.030 --> 00:40:03.400
and the question is I wonder if there's someone
798
00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:05.560
that you'd very much like to have a yarn with
799
00:40:05.560 --> 00:40:07.210
but you've not had the chance to?
800
00:40:08.704 --> 00:40:12.943
Oh, it's just like asking me like they say in the,
801
00:40:14.290 --> 00:40:16.923
in that magazine, what's it called?
802
00:40:18.420 --> 00:40:20.299
That Aboriginal one?
803
00:40:20.299 --> 00:40:21.452
The Koori Mail.
804
00:40:21.452 --> 00:40:24.060
The Koori Mail, they have a little section there saying,
805
00:40:24.060 --> 00:40:25.343
who would you like to have dinner with?
806
00:40:25.343 --> 00:40:26.176
Ah yeah.
807
00:40:26.176 --> 00:40:27.970
(laughing)
808
00:40:27.970 --> 00:40:30.024
No one ever wants to have dinner with me.
809
00:40:30.024 --> 00:40:31.394
(laughing)
810
00:40:31.394 --> 00:40:32.891
We're all around the the campfire, now who would you like
811
00:40:32.891 --> 00:40:34.907
to have dinner with round the campfire?
812
00:40:34.907 --> 00:40:36.523
No one ever mentions me.
813
00:40:36.523 --> 00:40:38.750
(laughing)
814
00:40:38.750 --> 00:40:40.102
You can, next time.
815
00:40:40.102 --> 00:40:41.640
(laughing)
816
00:40:41.640 --> 00:40:44.540
Yeah, no, about, what'd you say now?
817
00:40:44.540 --> 00:40:47.360
Is there anybody that you would like to have a yarn with
818
00:40:47.360 --> 00:40:50.010
but you've never had, you haven't yet had the opportunity to
819
00:40:50.010 --> 00:40:52.232
or you haven't had the chance to have a yarn with them?
820
00:40:52.232 --> 00:40:56.640
Well, I've had yarns and I've sat around and talked
821
00:40:56.640 --> 00:41:01.640
to not only women but men who came to this country
822
00:41:02.650 --> 00:41:06.480
and I walked through a lot of things with them
823
00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:08.550
as well as women who came here.
824
00:41:08.550 --> 00:41:13.550
So, it's a real hard ask to say, "Who would I like to have
825
00:41:13.827 --> 00:41:15.370
you know, something
826
00:41:16.926 --> 00:41:18.210
with because,
827
00:41:20.803 --> 00:41:21.636
you know,
828
00:41:22.553 --> 00:41:26.502
I'd like to just sit down and just have something
829
00:41:26.502 --> 00:41:30.033
with a whole bunch of people, you know.
830
00:41:30.033 --> 00:41:32.510
A whole bunch of people you know,
831
00:41:32.510 --> 00:41:35.150
who have walked the walk and talked the talk
832
00:41:35.150 --> 00:41:39.520
because I know that you could never ever
833
00:41:39.520 --> 00:41:42.930
say who you'd like to sit down and have that with.
834
00:41:42.930 --> 00:41:44.799
Because, at the the end of the day
835
00:41:44.799 --> 00:41:48.473
even the people who were here today you know,
836
00:41:48.473 --> 00:41:53.473
what a marvellous time, just to have people like this
837
00:41:53.620 --> 00:41:58.320
sitting around or having a yarning with as well.
838
00:41:58.320 --> 00:42:02.470
But, through it you know, if they was alive,
839
00:42:02.470 --> 00:42:05.810
I'd like to have it with my great, great grandfather,
840
00:42:05.810 --> 00:42:06.713
Black Harry.
841
00:42:08.370 --> 00:42:09.891
I knew you were gonna say him.
842
00:42:09.891 --> 00:42:12.360
(giggling)
843
00:42:12.360 --> 00:42:13.193
Yeah.
844
00:42:15.870 --> 00:42:16.948
That's it.
845
00:42:16.948 --> 00:42:18.534
Thank you so much.
846
00:42:18.534 --> 00:42:20.784
(clapping)
847
00:42:23.323 --> 00:42:25.510 line:15%
I just wanted to say thank you to everybody online
848
00:42:25.510 --> 00:42:27.740 line:15%
who came along to see the programme today.
849
00:42:27.740 --> 00:42:29.240 line:15%
We're going to be bringing you many more
850
00:42:29.240 --> 00:42:31.520 line:15%
of these programmes in the coming months.
851
00:42:31.520 --> 00:42:33.930 line:15%
So, if you'd like to keep up to date with what's coming up,
852
00:42:33.930 --> 00:42:38.270 line:15%
please follow us on social media with the handle @portraitau
853
00:42:38.270 --> 00:42:40.640
or jump on our website portrait.gov.au
854
00:42:40.640 --> 00:42:42.177
and sign up for our email newsletters.
855
00:42:42.177 --> 00:42:43.985
You can't there's so much to talk about.
856
00:42:43.985 --> 00:42:45.340
And also, while you are there check out all
857
00:42:45.340 --> 00:42:46.660
the resources that we have on
858
00:42:46.660 --> 00:42:49.120 line:15%
the fantastic National Photographic Portrait prize
859
00:42:49.120 --> 00:42:50.680 line:15%
which is currently on display.
860
00:42:50.680 --> 00:42:52.130 line:15%
And, all the other resources we have
861
00:42:52.130 --> 00:42:54.480 line:15%
for you to experience portraiture from home.
862
00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:56.770 line:15%
Thank you so much and until the next programme
863
00:42:56.770 --> 00:42:58.757 line:15%
take care, bye-bye.
Thank you.