Description
Artist Statement
Shows the DNA of the Artist being Aboriginal Chinese and White. This image is of Lloyd’s Aboriginal heritage. Lloyd’s family came from Wallaga Lake. The occupation of Bega Land District by Aboriginal people long preceded the white settlement of Australia. Possibly as early as 1850 areas of land were fenced for pastoral purposes and Aboriginal people were denied access to their tribal hunting lands. This was later followed by establishment of mines. The death of an Aboriginal elder Merriman in the 1850’s saw the decline of Aboriginal culture in the area. Many Aboriginal people mixed with the white population, some inter-married, and many worked on local farms and the developing whaling and timber industries but not in mines, as mining on Aboriginal lands was contrary to their beliefs. Prior to the establishment of the Wallaga Lake Reserve, the NSW Government had assisted the community by providing fishing boats including one in 1878 and another in 1881. A portion of Land of approximately 330 acres described as No. 13,939 County of Dampier, parish of Narooma was reserved for the use of Aboriginal people on 13 June 1891. Lloyd’s family have a rich history in this area. His grandmother left Wallaga Lakes in the early 1900’s to move to Stanthorpe with her husband and family of 9 children. She changed her identity to Mori to avoid the stolen generation policy of the day. Her name was Ellen Ahoy. She took this secret to her grave. It was not until 2005 when her grandson, Lloyd Gawura Hornsby put up his hand and said “No we are not Mori, we are proud Yuin Aboriginals from Wallaga Lakes. “
Size 62cm x 31cm
