Yunpalara

Yunpalara (Lake Blair) is a large lake bed west of Patjarr. It is more often dry than not, relying on rainfall to fill it. After rain the lake is home to many water birds. The surface cracks as it dries. Ngirntaka (the perentie goanna) travelling from Well 33 on the Canning Stock Route came through this area and made Yunpalara on his way with a large sweep of his tail.

 

Nola Campbell Yurnangurnu was born in the bush close to the site of Tatjarr in the late 1940s. She grew up living a traditional lifestyle, travelling the country with her family between Kiwirrkurra and Kunawarritji. She is related to Charlie Wallabi Tjungurrayi and Nangkatji Josephine Nangala, whom she called mother and father. She is also related to the renowned artist, Kumpaya Girgaba, who is her aunt. Nola lost her parents when she was young and was brought up by Mankatji Carnegie and Mr Carnegie. She was taken to Warburton as a young woman and there she married her first husband, Mr Butler. She moved to Wiluna and later Patjarr, where she then married the artist Coiley Campbell. Mr Campbell gave Nola permission to paint his story and she continues this tjukurrpa today, depicting sites at Yunpalara, a remote soak in the Pila Reserve. Nola has been the subject of an Indigenous Community Stories produced film, titled ‘Nola’s Story’. The film aired during the 2016 Fremantle Art Centre Revealed Program in conjunction with the Maritime Museum and Indigenous Community Stories.