Jay Creek. In the old days, there was lots of houses, mission store, Lutheran church, commission house and Pastor’s house. There was lots of people and children. On Christmas Day, Father Christmas came on camel with lots of presents, and the kids saw the Father Christmas coming, they ran towards him, happy, even the old people, old man, old woman, they was all happy to see Father Christmas on that day. There was lots of birds flying, and camels, dog, bullock. All the workers was there working, putting all the fires, firewood for cooking and to sit down, for all the pensioners to get it, they was happy to. The children was swimming, and there was little humpies too.
This is when I was a little girl, growing up in Jay Creek. Now, nothing at Jay Creek, no people, just the old houses still standing. Only the voice and memories of people. Now they sometimes have service at the old church, after service have a bbq there. It’s really sad, it used to be really good there. All the people gone, only old places standing.
As a senior Western Arrernte woman, Marjorie Nunga Williams is strong in her commitment to Western Arrernte Women’s Law. She is also committed to the Lutheran faith of the former Mission of Hermannsburg Community in Ntaria, now the Finke River Mission, based in Alice Springs. Marjorie sings regularly in the Central Australian Women’s Choir, and has travelled internationally to perform, Marjorie has undertaken translation work, being fluent and literate in both Western Arrernte and English. Marjorie has painted for herself in the past after starting in Hermannsburg before moving to Mparntwe. She has also painted with Ngurratjuta Many Hands Art Centre before they dedicated themselves to watercolourists. Marjorie paints in a range of styles, figurative and abstract, with the imagery she paints strongly relating to her Country, the Country of her mother, Ntaria. Many of Marjorie’s artworks have strong graphical elements, and she paints about water, and women’s activities such as collecting water, and dancing, bush tucker species, particularly echidna. She also paints memories from her early life spent between Iwupataka [Jay Creek Reserve] and Ntaria.
Desert Mob is presented annually in Mparntwe | Alice Springs on Arrernte Country.
On behalf of Desart’s staff and art centre members, the Executive Committee humbly and respectfully acknowledge the Arrernte Apmereke Artweye (Traditional Owners) and Kwertengerle (Traditional Managers) of Mparntwe.
Desart respectfully advises Aboriginal readers that this website may contain names, images and artworks of people who have passed away.
