Simon Hogan was born in the heart of Spinifex country between Paltju and Lingka. Simon was already an initiated man when the Australian Government sent out patrol officers to collect Spinifex people from the area of possible contamination by atomic testing at nearby Emu Fields and later Maralinga. Simon moved to Mount Margret Mission near Laverton but famously, walked the 1000km plus back to his traditional country. Simon was a pioneer for the return to country and succeed in gaining native title in the year 2000. He started painting in 1997 with the Spinifex artists.
