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Road train

“I was born on Old Ivanhoe Station. However in the 1960s, when I was 9 or 10 years old, they moved us to New Ivanhoe Station, the bank side of the river. It was our loving home that I’ll never forget.This was before Kununurra was built, there were only Mainroad camps in those days. They used to dance corroborees and sit on the banks on Button Crossing  and watch the roadtrains go past with bullocks on the truck going to Wyndham meatworks. Sometimes, they came past with empty trailers to get bullock from Ivanhoe Station. I always cried for them, it made me sad. “



Dimensions: 76 x 76 cm / Natural ochre and pigment on canvas

Name: AGNES Yamboong ARMSTRONG


Language: Miriwoong



Biography:

Agnes Armstrong's paintings embrace the stories of her childhood years in delightful often naïve interpretations. She shares her memories of growing up on stations, bushlife and the stories taught by her grandparents. Her images connect story, place and childhood memory. "Born beside a billabong on Ivanhoe Station I grew up with old people. They taught me lots about hunting - all the bush foods. I used to work at Ivanhoe station doing housework and gardening. I came to Kununurra and started schooling during the '60s. Before that I had been at the Research Station School. During the '70s I was at the Beagle Bay Mission School. I came back to Kununurra then and got a job cooking for the pensioners in our Mirima Community. I would do the shopping, counting the money for the pensioners and paid their bills. We had a little shop then. I then moved to Dingo Springs where I watched the old people carving boab nuts and I started doing boabs. After that I came back here to Waringarri Arts to do painting. As well I am doing Ministry and bible studies. I have one daughter and three adopted sons and I live in Mirima, stopping in my country for good."


© the artist / art centre