All the bullocks coming to drink and the horse in the yard at the Station Manager’s house, this side of Angas Downs. All the cowboys just getting ready for the day in the morning, talking to the manager, sitting by the fire, cuppa tea. The manager telling them about their jobs for the day, maybe rounding up the bullocks because next day will be a big day for them to truck them out, big trucks.
In the sixties when I was living there with my parents, they ended up sending the kids away for school. My whole family group moved at Areyonga. One brother was living and working at Angas Downs already and another one was born at Areyonga when we were already living there as a family.
And now there’s no bullocks anymore at Angas Downs at all! Nothing! It’s an Indigenous Protected Area. Some family there now moved from Mimili. That’s my Country, but my father’s father’s country is Docker River. He came down from Kintore married a Pitjanjatjara women.
Nyinta Donald was born on Angas Downs Station in the summer of 1946. Her father Barney Donald, whose Pitjantjatjara name was Poyajilbi, was a Tjungarrayi man from Punritjanta (Bloods Range) the northern side of the Petermann Ranges, Northern Territory. Her mother Awiterri, was from Kaanpi, south of the Mann Ranges, South Australia. Her parents met at Kaltukatjara (Docker River) and then moved to Angas Downs Station, where Poyajilbi worked bringing harvested salt to Mparntwe on camel caravans. Her mother raised up three sons, as well as Nyinta, but during severe drought, like many other families from this region, the family moved to Areyonga Government Reserve administered by the Lutheran Mission. Nyinta lived at Areyonga for many years, marrying a fellow resident Freddie Peipei (now deceased). They had three sons, who are all grown. Nyinta worked at the Areyonga primary school as a bilingual educator for a long time. Nyinta has also painted for a long time, including for the former Ngurratjuta Art Centre. A member of the Alice Springs Lutheran Church and its Mission Block Choir, Her work is often informed by her spiritual beliefs and involvement with the church community.
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.
