Wanmirr (eagle hawk)
Rochelle Patten
I was born in the local hospital in Mooroopna in what they called the 'veranda' for aboriginal and chinese women. My home address was, River Bank, Mooroopna which is also listed on my birth certificate.
Rochelle Patten is a mother and a grandmother, and by many in her community is regarded as an elder of the Yorta Yorta peoples who live along the Murray River which borders New South Wales and Victoria.
As an aboriginal growing up during the time Government Policies which forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their families and community and place them in institutions, missions or foster care. Rochelle spent much of her childhood hiding from authorities and 'white man' in general. "Mum would make a camp in the bush near the river. She would set it up in such a way we could see who was coming, if we saw anyone, we'd be gone...we'd be across the river real fast, hiding".
Marginialised with five children to feed, Rochelle's mother, Viney, a remarkable woman by all accounts, kept her family together, fed and clothed while imparting self reliance, bush skills and a philosophy of life which has seen Rochelle through great difficulties, injustices and hardship with compassion and wisdom.
Rochelle's schooling was continually interrupted as the family regularly moved, staying one jump ahead of the Welfare.
Even the relatively settled period her family spent living with her stepfather on a sheep station was difficult. Rochelle came home one day, exhausted from riding her bike the 10 miles from school and told her mother she would not be going there any more. "I couldn't handle them putting me up into grades when I didn't know anything....I felt like a fool. We had to sit separate from the white children in class, and at lunch Mum and bring us our tucker, maybe some cold damper, cold tea and roo meat, food that was nothing like the sandwiches the other kids ate....we were real shamed."
Instead of schooling, Rochelle, at 12, became an excellent 'station hand'. She spent her days setting traps, as many as 200 per day, mustering sheep, crutching, helping out at shearing time and boundary fences. " I love being out in the bush on my pony Timmy with my rabbit dogs and little radio listening to country music." On other occasions she would join her mother picking fruit, chopping wood or digging vegetables for local growers. "We worked for the Italian Migrants. We had a sort of understanding with them cause the Australians didn't like them either and called them 'Wogs' like they alled us 'Abos'."
The birth of her son, followed a few years later by the death of her mother, were to precipitate a new chapter in Rochelle's life. Over coming alcoholism accompanied a renewal of spirit and identity....she returned to her community in Cummeragunja, which had at one time been a mission and began a series of programs and projects which were to revitalize her people.
Securing the land, with the assistance of her cousin, Sandra, a lawyer, they began building proper housing, a community hall, a medical centre and established a permaculture garden. In order to undertake these projects the community attended the neighboring institute of Technical and Further Education, acquiring the needed skills and knowledge to develop their own vision of Cummeragunja. Have dedicated a decade or more to her community, in a 24 hour capacity, Rochelle stepped away to allow those coming behind her to take over the many roles she fulfilled.
Rochelle's drawing and art work began several years earlier, and literally by accident. While building a roof she fell very badly, and was bed ridden for 6 weeks. "I got these terrible head aches and I'd start seeing pictures, I couldn"t rest, so I got some cardboard and cut it up into cards I could draw on with Textas. Then from there it went to paintings."
Since leaving Cummeragunja, Rochelle have travelled throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia extending her persona networks within Aboriginal Communities. At present Rochelle is involved with the Aboriginal peoples of Victoria, as a Field Officer for the Native Title Unit, where she is assisting these communities to lodge land claims. Rochelle also serves on a number of committees ranging from those of community based organisations to consultative groups for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission.
Rochelle's Art and Painting has continued despite her many commitments. She has been commissioned by a number of organizations to design logos and provide them with original art work for their publications. In 1994 she was nominated for the Prestigious Ros Bower Memorial Award, a National award for community based art projects. As a consequence of an innovative Banner Project she undertook in various Aboriginal communities in New South Wales.
This year Rochelle was invited to submit a painting to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Competition held in Darwin. She has also been asked to partake in Regional exhibitions and has a number or original works in the Melbourne Museum which are owned by the Koori Trust.
Despite her many achievements and the ease with which she moves in all societies, Rochelle is at her happiest in the bush, beside the Murray River, fishing, the camp fire burning, her guitar and a gum leaf for music, sharing her stories, her mother's stories and her grandmother's stories.
Rochelle Patten is a mother and a grandmother, and by many in her community is regarded as an elder of the Yorta Yorta peoples who live along the Murray River which borders New South Wales and Victoria.
As an aboriginal growing up during the time Government Policies which forcibly removed Aboriginal children from their families and community and place them in institutions, missions or foster care. Rochelle spent much of her childhood hiding from authorities and 'white man' in general. "Mum would make a camp in the bush near the river. She would set it up in such a way we could see who was coming, if we saw anyone, we'd be gone...we'd be across the river real fast, hiding".
Marginialised with five children to feed, Rochelle's mother, Viney, a remarkable woman by all accounts, kept her family together, fed and clothed while imparting self reliance, bush skills and a philosophy of life which has seen Rochelle through great difficulties, injustices and hardship with compassion and wisdom.
Rochelle's schooling was continually interrupted as the family regularly moved, staying one jump ahead of the Welfare.
Even the relatively settled period her family spent living with her stepfather on a sheep station was difficult. Rochelle came home one day, exhausted from riding her bike the 10 miles from school and told her mother she would not be going there any more. "I couldn't handle them putting me up into grades when I didn't know anything....I felt like a fool. We had to sit separate from the white children in class, and at lunch Mum and bring us our tucker, maybe some cold damper, cold tea and roo meat, food that was nothing like the sandwiches the other kids ate....we were real shamed."
Instead of schooling, Rochelle, at 12, became an excellent 'station hand'. She spent her days setting traps, as many as 200 per day, mustering sheep, crutching, helping out at shearing time and boundary fences. " I love being out in the bush on my pony Timmy with my rabbit dogs and little radio listening to country music." On other occasions she would join her mother picking fruit, chopping wood or digging vegetables for local growers. "We worked for the Italian Migrants. We had a sort of understanding with them cause the Australians didn't like them either and called them 'Wogs' like they alled us 'Abos'."
The birth of her son, followed a few years later by the death of her mother, were to precipitate a new chapter in Rochelle's life. Over coming alcoholism accompanied a renewal of spirit and identity....she returned to her community in Cummeragunja, which had at one time been a mission and began a series of programs and projects which were to revitalize her people.
Securing the land, with the assistance of her cousin, Sandra, a lawyer, they began building proper housing, a community hall, a medical centre and established a permaculture garden. In order to undertake these projects the community attended the neighboring institute of Technical and Further Education, acquiring the needed skills and knowledge to develop their own vision of Cummeragunja. Have dedicated a decade or more to her community, in a 24 hour capacity, Rochelle stepped away to allow those coming behind her to take over the many roles she fulfilled.
Rochelle's drawing and art work began several years earlier, and literally by accident. While building a roof she fell very badly, and was bed ridden for 6 weeks. "I got these terrible head aches and I'd start seeing pictures, I couldn"t rest, so I got some cardboard and cut it up into cards I could draw on with Textas. Then from there it went to paintings."
Since leaving Cummeragunja, Rochelle have travelled throughout Queensland, the Northern Territory and South Australia extending her persona networks within Aboriginal Communities. At present Rochelle is involved with the Aboriginal peoples of Victoria, as a Field Officer for the Native Title Unit, where she is assisting these communities to lodge land claims. Rochelle also serves on a number of committees ranging from those of community based organisations to consultative groups for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission.
Rochelle's Art and Painting has continued despite her many commitments. She has been commissioned by a number of organizations to design logos and provide them with original art work for their publications. In 1994 she was nominated for the Prestigious Ros Bower Memorial Award, a National award for community based art projects. As a consequence of an innovative Banner Project she undertook in various Aboriginal communities in New South Wales.
This year Rochelle was invited to submit a painting to the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Competition held in Darwin. She has also been asked to partake in Regional exhibitions and has a number or original works in the Melbourne Museum which are owned by the Koori Trust.
Despite her many achievements and the ease with which she moves in all societies, Rochelle is at her happiest in the bush, beside the Murray River, fishing, the camp fire burning, her guitar and a gum leaf for music, sharing her stories, her mother's stories and her grandmother's stories.
