Motorbike Paddy

'This old man was born in the bush between Arlparra country and Utopia Homestead. When old people were still walking around their country in the old days. His mother and father are Minnie and Fred. They were bush people living here in Arlparra and Ngkwarlaniam. He was living near Keep Hole. Apungalidum way. Growing up with his brother as young fellas. Bush way. A long time ago.

His family walked onto the station. Old Utopia Homestead. They were working there. The whole lot were milking the nanny goats. He was taking care of those mad goats. He was growing up mix up. Station and bush. Walking from Utopia Homestead to his mother’s country Ngkwarlaniam.

A long way to visit his uncle and people living there. Growing him up proper way.

When he was a young fella, he started with horses. Station work with horses. And with motorbikes. Mwerr-one. Old bikes like Japanese ones with three wheels. People started putting that name on him after that. Calling him Motorbike. He was riding all over the county between Utopia old station and Kurrajong bore. The back roads. The station boss gave those young fellas those bikies. His was big and shiny. Class one. Flash with big wheels. A white one. “I likem class.”

He was on motorbike mustering those cattle. Chasem nanny goats. Kangaroos too! He was working at the sta􀆟ons for long time.

Mustering them bullock. Horse mob. Different station work. Sometmes cooking. Driving trucks. Old man was looking after those camels too. That Rain Camel and Ruby Camel. Making the yard and locking them up. When those camels passed away that’s why they call it Camel Camp now.'  Utopia Art Centre (Urapuntja Aboriginal Corp) 2024

‘Ahakey. That old man’s painting it. It’s the same like arnwekety but it’s the first one.

Growing like a strong tree. That tree made all the rest. All the bush plums growing all over. The seeds came from that first one.

‘He came from down there. To the West. Travelling underground like water. Black water. When it’s cold in the Country. That’s his Country. I understood with the old people. “How does ahakey go?” They told me how he goes. Just like water he goes. In the underground. He comes out in our Country.

That’s the story. That’s the song.’

Source: Motorbike Paddy Ngal, Telsta NATSIAA 2024, curtesy of the artist and Utopia Art.