Summary

This item is one of our 50 Treasures: Celebrating 50 years of James Cook University.

Bruce Johnson McLean answers the question 'Why is this significant?'

Goobalathaldin Dick Roughsey was a trailblazing artist whose work took his Lardil culture to the world.

This bark painting is part of Roughsey's narrative series, The coming of the Balamando People, which chronicles the lives of the ancestors who settled Lardil Country. It follows the story of the warrior Marnbil, his wife Gin Gin and her uncle Dewalewul. These three immortals travelled throughout the islands, their marks forming eternal monuments. They conceived and named animals, built the first rock-walled fish traps and dug freshwater wells. On the last day of their journey the three split up, Marnbil travelling to Bountiful Island to dig a well, while his wife stayed close to camp, digging for tubers and roots. Dewalewul, who had travelled to Turtle Island, returned to camp early to find Gin Gin alone, preparing the food by the fire. Dewalewul seduced Gin Gin, however Marnbil soon returned and caught sight of them. Disgusted, he snuck up behind them and speared Dewalewul, who spun around, creating a circle of raised dirt – the first Bora or ceremonial ground. Dewalewul then rose into the sky and chose to die, cursing Marnbil, Gin Gin and their descendants to mortality. Today, remains of the three can be found in a nearby reef which has a group of sharp rocky spikes – the mineralised legs of the ancestors – jutting out from atop the reef. This monument is a reminder of Lardil laws and protocols surrounding marriage and social relationships as well as the creation of the physical and cultural landscape of the islands¹.

Roughsey was well known for his almost comic book-like narrative storyboards: reading top to bottom, left to right. However, this work switches the sequence of images – the final episode of the narrative, captured in the striking image of the reef, is positioned centrally to create a more aesthetically dynamic composition. This speaks to Roughsey's desire to not only tell his cultural narratives authentically, but also create compelling images.

In his time, Goobalathaldin's works found a level of acclaim which saw him become the inaugural Chair of the Aboriginal Arts Board of the Australia Council and be awarded an OBE. Although Roughsey's books have retained an iconic place in Australian culture, his art almost disappeared from public view. Recently, however, Goobalathaldin's work is becoming reappreciated, re-loved and treasured again.