Lockhart River Art

Language : Umpila

DOB: 6/04/1939

Elizabeth Giblet, known as "Queenie" by all at Lockhart, is one of the respected "Old Girls”. Queenie is also a gifted artist and her work has been exhibited both in Australia and overseas. Along with the other Old Girls, her work is highly collectable.

Queenie's intricately designed painting - featuring one of her favourite subjects - Pa'anamu (Headbands) for Laura Festival, is currently on display in the National Gallery of Australia's new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art gallery.

Artist statement: “Got that name Queen from when we came to Lockhart ... when we moved from oldsite ... it after that Queen Elizabeth. Old mission they call me Elizabeth.  Born at old site ... when that war was on. Can remember those planes come... sit quiet inside humpy .... camped out .... can’t make noise or fire ... can remember  they  real low ...  see they fight morning ... fly to airport ....  Iron Range.  One sister, one brother... Victor his name worked for church ... Father Bob Tongarlie, Mother Mariam Tongerlie... they grew up before time...  same Clarmont village.  Have one son Charlie Giblett... I call him nalngka ... two grandchildren too.  My husband became Deacon in the 80’s .... passed away 1987 ... can’t say his name ... custom to us.  Shell necklaces for them we pick ‘em up wimpa means sand beach ... collect’em low tide bring ‘em home boil ... take minya (meat) out ... put that hole in that shell make necklace. Giddy Giddy beads ... collect from bush ... boil them salt water ... giddy float when soft ... ready.  Those punya (grass dillybag) in the old days we used to carry yam ... pipe ... gear to make spear with ... really strong. Ulku ... from that palm tree we used to carry baby inside before time ... olden days ... before ... rope to carry ulku  ... carry over the shoulder. When baby cry scratch that side of the ulku to stop them cry. My mother she used this to carry us when we baby ... different today.”

Collections: National Gallery of Australia; Parliament House (Canberra)

Queenie's work is available from: Emerge Art Space (Perth), KickArts Contemporary Gallery (Cairns), Booker-Lowe Gallery (Houston, Texas)

The following works by Queenie Giblet (clockwise) are:

“Rainin On The Sand”, acrylic on canvas; “Humpies By The Beach”, acrylic on linen; “Cloudy, Start For Rainin", acrylic on linen; "Sun Go Down Over My Place", acrylic on linen.