Mylene Holroyd

I am a Kugu & Thaayorre woman. My ancestors connect me to this place. I speak four Indigenous languages and English. My father is Wik liyanh (fresh water people) from the upper Holroyd River. My mother is Kugu Munhin (salt water people) from north Holroyd River.

Both of my parents were born in the bush. My dad worked in the stockyard before he met my mum. He worked as a drover for no wages, just food. Mum worked in the old hospital cooking for the white staff. My dad lived with his mother (my grandmother). He met my mum after ‘nan’ had passed away.

I have four sisters and two brothers. When we were young, our parents would take us all on long walk about journeys. We would travel for weeks. They would take us to our traditional country. It was important for us to know it. I remember swimming across rivers holding on to floating logs. The rivers were home to many big crocodiles and it was very dangerous. We were lucky and always managed to get across the river safely.  My generation is the last to go walk about in this way. Now the young people jump in a truck or boat and get there in a few hours instead of a few weeks.

I love art and have worked at the Art Centre since 2005. I make art because it is in my heart. I love bright colours because they look good and seem to change when you look at them. Making art reminds me of going bush. Every time I work on my art it is an experiment. It is always changing and surprises me when it is finished.