Illari Spring, Tempe Downs

$1,200.00

Every time we go out for the day, the women go for walk to look for goanna while the rest of the families wait back at the camp making fire ready to cook it. The crows hang around waiting for the scraps from the goanna.

There is a creek that flows from Areyonga to Illari Spring. When it has water horses come to drink – there are bullocks and camels – too many – all drinking from the creek. This is my country – Tempe Downs. 

Betty Conway was born ‘in the homestead creek’ at Tempe Downs Station. Her mother had walked in an extended group from Mutitjulu region (not then a community) to Lyndavale Station and then on to Tempe Downs in the 10 years prior to Betty’s birth, due to drought. Betty relocated to Utju [Areyonga] Community in her early school years, living with other extended family but always returning home when possible. Later, when all the Aboriginal people were turned away from Tempe Downs, Betty moved to Jay Creek Outstation, where she met her partner. Betty’s father was a member of the Conway family of Kings Creek aka Watarrka, and she has a deep knowledge and affection for this country, which she visits as often as she can. Betty personally holds the Kuniya [Carpet Snake] Tjukurrpa of Urrampinyi [Tempe Downs Station Homestead], but knows all the Tjukurrpa that reside in, or travel through, her country. Since moving to Alice Springs in 1980, Betty has been a strong contributor to various programs at Tangentyere Council including the Night and Youth Patrols where she worked each night before coming in to paint all day. She has sat on the Council Executive and is an active member of her Town Camp Housing Association. In 2014 Betty was elected to the Executive of Desart Inc.

Taught by fellow Tangentyere artist and family member, the late K Collins, Betty’s artworks reveal the important role of senior women in teaching, educating, and sharing culture through story telling – many of her paintings can be read as though they are the illustrations of her ‘talking stories’ to her audience.