Dick Roughsey
Encyclopedia
Dick Roughsey was an Australian Aboriginal
artist from the Lardil language
group on Mornington Island
in the south-eastern Gulf of Carpentaria
, Queensland
. His tribal name was ‘Goobalathaldin’ meaning ‘water standing on end or rough seas’(Telgen and Andres 132). He was an active and prominent figure involved in reviving and preserving the cultural life of the Lardil people. His best known works are a series of children’s picture books that retell traditional Aboriginal stories including ‘The Rainbow Serpent’.
group in the Gulf of Carpentaria
. His mother, Gathagin, gave birth to him under a clump of Pandanus palms
. (Roughsey, Moon 16) His father's name was Goobalathaldin. Dick’s early memories were of his mother carrying him while she hunted for food. His young life was carefree as he played naked with his brothers. He spent the earliest part of his childhood in the bush living a traditional Indigenous lifestyle learning the ceremonies and dreaming
stories of his ancestors. He learnt the rich oral history of the Lardil tribe from his father. His ancestral relatives were three people, Marnbil the leader, his wife Gin-Gin, and her uncle Dewallewul. The activities the ancestors engaged in produced the topography
, flora and fauna that exist today. (Roughsey, Moon 23)
The white missionaries convinced Dick’s parents to bring him to the Presbyterian mission school on Mornington Island
when he was 7 or 8 years old. He was initially scared of his new surroundings but he soon settled in and had a happy but tough Christian education. He was given the name “Dick” at the mission. His father died while he was at the mission school.
Dick enjoyed going back to his family home on holidays. On one of these holidays he caught the eye disease trachoma
, which affected his vision and caused problems for him in later life. On these holidays he did his fair share of hunting and fishing. He saw his first small aeroplane - of the Flying Doctor service
- while living at the mission school. He left school at about 13 years of age and continued his education with the tribal elders, learning Lardil laws and the ways of hunting. He learnt when to feast and when to dance. He did not undergo ceremonial initiation — normally undertaken around this age — because the missionaries had asked the elders to stop the ceremonies. Dick spoke Lardil language
but not Damin language, as he is not initiated
.(Roughsey, Moon 63)
The Roughsey children attended school on Thursday Island as Dick believed that an education there would lead to greater employment opportunities on mainland Australia. His brother, Lindsay, also lived on Mornington Island with his family; he too was an artist, regularly sending pieces to Percy Tresize for him to sell. Dick and Lindsay apparently had a troubled relationship.
, began to develop a personal style that was saleable to a new art market. Roughsey began to work with oil paints and established a body of work that exists today as a record of an emerging contemporary Aboriginal art movement.
Roughsey established himself as a well-respected artist and supporter of cultural heritage projects that protect Indigenous culture. His work with Trezise to record the position of ancient Aboriginal sites and important rock painting
s was one of the first of its kind and focused on knowledge within the wider community about respect and preservation. In 1968, with Percy Trezise, he rediscovered the important archaeological site of Hann River, in the central Cape York Peninsula
.
Roughsey was involved with the international exhibition program of the Aboriginal Arts Board [AAB]. The AAB was responsible for numerous travelling exhibitions to approximately 40 countries along with publications and gifts of Aboriginal works to overseas museums. This stimulated an interest in Aboriginal art. In 1973, Roughsey was appointed inaugural chair of the AAB by then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
and continued in this position until 1975, however, his involvement with the AAB is documented before and after this peiord. (Berrell 13)
in 1962 at Karumba Lodge at the mouth of the Norman River
. Trezise was a pilot for Ansett Airlines who painted casually and quickly became Roughsey’s mentor. Trezise encouraged Roughsey to paint the stories that were part of his country and not to mimic the styles and narratives of the then famous Albert Namatjira
. Trezise encouraged Roughsey to develop his personal painting style on bark paintings initially, then move to oil on canvas. Throughout their relationship Trezise regularly supplied Roughsey with art materials often cutting bark himself from around his home in Cairns. (Roughsey 67)
Trezise was an active supporter and promoter of Roughsey’s work, staging many exhibitions and showcases of Mornington Island Art throughout Australia. Trezise became an active participant in preserving Lardil customs and stories and he was given the name ‘Warrenby’ by Roughsey in 1963. Trezise and Roughsey travelled together for many years throughout Australia exploring cave paintings and documenting them for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (Roughsey, Papers).
Trezise and Roughsey collaborated on a series of picture books which retold traditional Aboriginal stories, some of which were among the first books to introduce Aboriginal culture to Australian children.
These notable awards for his publications were significant in contributing to cross-cultural communication between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
His cultural contributions inspired the establishment of the Gooalathaldin Memorial Community Centre, which opened in his honor on Mornington Island
in 2003.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
artist from the Lardil language
Lardil language
Lardil is a moribund language spoken on Mornington Island , in the Wellesley Islands of Queensland in northern Australia. Lardil is unusual among Australian languages in that it features a ceremonial register, called Damin...
group on Mornington Island
Mornington Island
Mornington Island is the northern most of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria at and is part of the Gulf Country region in the Australian state of Queensland. The Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area lies about 40 km to...
in the south-eastern Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. His tribal name was ‘Goobalathaldin’ meaning ‘water standing on end or rough seas’(Telgen and Andres 132). He was an active and prominent figure involved in reviving and preserving the cultural life of the Lardil people. His best known works are a series of children’s picture books that retell traditional Aboriginal stories including ‘The Rainbow Serpent’.
Early Life
Dick was born about 1920 on Langu-narnji Island, joined to Mornington Island by a sandbank at low tide, and part of the North Wellesley IslandsWellesley Islands
The Wellesley Islands are a group of islands off the coast of north Queensland, Australia, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. They were named by Matthew Flinders in honour of Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley. The largest island in the group is Mornington Island...
group in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Gulf of Carpentaria
The Gulf of Carpentaria is a large, shallow sea enclosed on three sides by northern Australia and bounded on the north by the Arafura Sea...
. His mother, Gathagin, gave birth to him under a clump of Pandanus palms
Pandanus spiralis
Pandanus spiralis is shrub or small tree up to 10 metres in height native to northern Australia. It is found growing in the wild in northern West Bengal and Sikkim regions of India...
. (Roughsey, Moon 16) His father's name was Goobalathaldin. Dick’s early memories were of his mother carrying him while she hunted for food. His young life was carefree as he played naked with his brothers. He spent the earliest part of his childhood in the bush living a traditional Indigenous lifestyle learning the ceremonies and dreaming
Dreaming (spirituality)
The Dreaming is a common term within the animist creation narrative of indigenous Australians for a personal, or group, creation and for what may be understood as the "timeless time" of formative creation and perpetual creating....
stories of his ancestors. He learnt the rich oral history of the Lardil tribe from his father. His ancestral relatives were three people, Marnbil the leader, his wife Gin-Gin, and her uncle Dewallewul. The activities the ancestors engaged in produced the topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
, flora and fauna that exist today. (Roughsey, Moon 23)
The white missionaries convinced Dick’s parents to bring him to the Presbyterian mission school on Mornington Island
Mornington Island
Mornington Island is the northern most of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria at and is part of the Gulf Country region in the Australian state of Queensland. The Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area lies about 40 km to...
when he was 7 or 8 years old. He was initially scared of his new surroundings but he soon settled in and had a happy but tough Christian education. He was given the name “Dick” at the mission. His father died while he was at the mission school.
Dick enjoyed going back to his family home on holidays. On one of these holidays he caught the eye disease trachoma
Trachoma
Trachoma is an infectious disease causing a characteristic roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Also called granular conjunctivitis and Egyptian ophthalmia, it is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world...
, which affected his vision and caused problems for him in later life. On these holidays he did his fair share of hunting and fishing. He saw his first small aeroplane - of the Flying Doctor service
Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is an emergency and primary health care service for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia...
- while living at the mission school. He left school at about 13 years of age and continued his education with the tribal elders, learning Lardil laws and the ways of hunting. He learnt when to feast and when to dance. He did not undergo ceremonial initiation — normally undertaken around this age — because the missionaries had asked the elders to stop the ceremonies. Dick spoke Lardil language
Lardil language
Lardil is a moribund language spoken on Mornington Island , in the Wellesley Islands of Queensland in northern Australia. Lardil is unusual among Australian languages in that it features a ceremonial register, called Damin...
but not Damin language, as he is not initiated
Initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
.(Roughsey, Moon 63)
Family life
Roughsey and his wife, Elsie, had six children together over a period of almost twenty years. His children Mervyn, Raymond, Kevin, Eleanor, Basil and Duncan were raised primarily by their mother on Mornington Island as their father frequently travelled for work. While he was away Elsie sent him lists of things she wished him to purchase and send back to her on Mornington Island. In his absence, Raymond assumed the father figure role and helped his mother to raise the younger children.The Roughsey children attended school on Thursday Island as Dick believed that an education there would lead to greater employment opportunities on mainland Australia. His brother, Lindsay, also lived on Mornington Island with his family; he too was an artist, regularly sending pieces to Percy Tresize for him to sell. Dick and Lindsay apparently had a troubled relationship.
Career
In about 1940 Roughsey moved to mainland Australia to start paid employment. He worked for a few years in manual jobs such as stockman, deckhand, fisherman, sailor and yardman before serving in the Second World War. When returning from service, Roughsey returned to Mornington Island where he began family life with wife, Elsie. Roughsey began to show interest in painting and, after meeting Percy TrezisePercy Trezise
Percy Trezise AM was an Australian pilot, painter, explorer and writer as well as, notably, a discoverer, documenter and historian of Aboriginal rock art. He was born in Tallangatta, Victoria but is associated especially with Far North Queensland and the rock art galleries of the Cape York Peninsula...
, began to develop a personal style that was saleable to a new art market. Roughsey began to work with oil paints and established a body of work that exists today as a record of an emerging contemporary Aboriginal art movement.
Roughsey established himself as a well-respected artist and supporter of cultural heritage projects that protect Indigenous culture. His work with Trezise to record the position of ancient Aboriginal sites and important rock painting
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
s was one of the first of its kind and focused on knowledge within the wider community about respect and preservation. In 1968, with Percy Trezise, he rediscovered the important archaeological site of Hann River, in the central Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
.
Roughsey was involved with the international exhibition program of the Aboriginal Arts Board [AAB]. The AAB was responsible for numerous travelling exhibitions to approximately 40 countries along with publications and gifts of Aboriginal works to overseas museums. This stimulated an interest in Aboriginal art. In 1973, Roughsey was appointed inaugural chair of the AAB by then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
and continued in this position until 1975, however, his involvement with the AAB is documented before and after this peiord. (Berrell 13)
Relationship with Percy Trezise
Roughsey met Percy TrezisePercy Trezise
Percy Trezise AM was an Australian pilot, painter, explorer and writer as well as, notably, a discoverer, documenter and historian of Aboriginal rock art. He was born in Tallangatta, Victoria but is associated especially with Far North Queensland and the rock art galleries of the Cape York Peninsula...
in 1962 at Karumba Lodge at the mouth of the Norman River
Norman River
The Norman River is a river in Queensland, Australia. The river originates in the Gregory Range 200 km southeast of Croydon, Queensland and flows 420 km northwest to the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is joined by three major tributaries, the Carron, Clara and Yappar Rivers...
. Trezise was a pilot for Ansett Airlines who painted casually and quickly became Roughsey’s mentor. Trezise encouraged Roughsey to paint the stories that were part of his country and not to mimic the styles and narratives of the then famous Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira
Albert Namatjira , born Elea Namatjira, was an Australian artist. He was a Western Arrernte man, an Indigenous Australian of the Western MacDonnell Ranges area...
. Trezise encouraged Roughsey to develop his personal painting style on bark paintings initially, then move to oil on canvas. Throughout their relationship Trezise regularly supplied Roughsey with art materials often cutting bark himself from around his home in Cairns. (Roughsey 67)
Trezise was an active supporter and promoter of Roughsey’s work, staging many exhibitions and showcases of Mornington Island Art throughout Australia. Trezise became an active participant in preserving Lardil customs and stories and he was given the name ‘Warrenby’ by Roughsey in 1963. Trezise and Roughsey travelled together for many years throughout Australia exploring cave paintings and documenting them for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (Roughsey, Papers).
Trezise and Roughsey collaborated on a series of picture books which retold traditional Aboriginal stories, some of which were among the first books to introduce Aboriginal culture to Australian children.
Achievements and awards
Roughsey’s passion for the preservation of Indigenous culture and traditions presented him with the opportunity to be appointed to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for the Australia Council in 1970. In 1971 he wrote the first autobiography by an Aboriginal author. In 1973 Roughsey became the Chair of the Aboriginal Arts Board, continuing this role until 1975. He was also a member of the Institute of Aboriginal studies.- Children's Book Council of AustraliaChildren's Book Council of AustraliaThe Children's Book Council of Australia is a not for profit organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards for books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.-Awards:The first...
Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1974: commended for The Giant Devil - Fellowship of Australian WritersFellowship of Australian WritersThe Fellowship of Australian Writers, also known as FAW, was established in Sydney in 1928. Its aim is to bring writers together and promote their interests...
Patricia Weickhardt Award to an Aboriginal Writer, 1976 for The Rainbow Serpent - Fellowship of Australian Writers Patricia Weickhardt Award to an Aboriginal Writer, 1976.
- Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1976: winner for The Rainbow Serpent
- Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1979: winner for The Quinkins
- IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) Honour Diploma, Illustration, 1980 for The Quinkins
- Children's Book CouncilChildren's Book CouncilAccording to their website, the Children's Book Council is a United States "nonprofit trade association of publishers and packagers of trade books and related materials for children and young adults."...
Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1983: commended for Turramulli the Giant Quinkin
- The Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for Service to Aboriginal Art and Culture, 1978
These notable awards for his publications were significant in contributing to cross-cultural communication between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
His cultural contributions inspired the establishment of the Gooalathaldin Memorial Community Centre, which opened in his honor on Mornington Island
Mornington Island
Mornington Island is the northern most of 22 islands that form the Wellesley Islands group. The island is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria at and is part of the Gulf Country region in the Australian state of Queensland. The Manowar and Rocky Islands Important Bird Area lies about 40 km to...
in 2003.
Autobiographical
- 1971 – Moon and Rainbow: The Autobiography of an Aboriginal. Reed: Sydney. ISBN 0589006657
- 1989 – ‘School Days’, in North of Capricorn: An Anthology of Prose. (Eds: Des Petersen & Stephen Torre). Foundation for Australian Literary Studies, JCU: Townsville. ISBN 0864432984
- 1990 – ‘Faces of White Pipe-Clay’, in The Macmillan Anthology of Australian Literature. (Ed: Ken Goodwin). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0333501586
- 1990 – ‘Gidegal the Moon-Man’, in The Macmillan Anthology of Australian Literature. (Ed: Ken Goodwin). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0333501586
Poetry and prose
- 1980 – ‘In The Old Days’, in Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History. (Ed. and comp. Jennifer Isaacs). Lansdowne Press: Sydney. ISBN 070181330X
- 1980 – ‘Gidegal the Moon-Man’, in Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History. (Ed. and comp. Jennifer Isaacs). Lansdowne Press: Sydney. ISBN 070181330X
Children’s illustrated books
- 1973 – The Giant Devil Dingo. Collins: London. ISBN 0001850024
- 1975 – The Rainbow Serpent. Collins: Sydney. ISBN 0207174334
- 1978 – The Quinkins. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. ISBN 0001843702
- 1978 – The Turkey and the Emu. Harcourt Brace: Sydney.
- 1980 – Banana Bird and the Snake Men. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. ISBN 0001843346
- 1982 – Turramulli the Giant Quinkin. (With Percy Trezise). Angus & Robertson: Sydney. ISBN 0006619428
- 1983 – The Magic Firesticks. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. ISBN 0006620388
- 1984 – Gidja the Moon. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. ISBN 020716729X
- 1985 – The Flying Fox Warriors. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. ISBN 0001843532