Namarali at Rest, by Donny Woolagoodja

Artwork

Namarali, the great wandjina

Namarali is one of the greatest and most powerful Wandjinas of the Worrorra people, characterised by a halo of several lines and a shell pendant on his chest. The feared Wandjina, who enforces the law and culture of the Worrorra people, once caused a big flood that drowned all but two people, because they had broken the Law. He has left his image in various caves along the northern Kimberley coast, for which Donny Woolagoodja and his father Sam, are responsible. Donny also paints this Wandjina and was awarded the overall Kimberley Art Prize in 2004.

Available at:

Shire of Derby / West Kimberley Library - local studies collection

Muddy Waters

Named after the Earl of Derby, the town has a rich colonial history as the first regional and administrative centre, supporting the sheep and cattle stations of the west Kimberley. Keeper of this...

Address:

Clarendon Street
Derby WA 6728
Australia

Tel:

(08) 9191 0900

Email:

libmanager@sdwk.wa.gov.au

Open Hours

Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 9.30am - 12pm; Thurs 1 - 5pm; Sat 10am – 12pm

Return to collection to read more

Shire of Derby, West Kimberley Library Overview

Nyikina language materials

Nyikina—a language of the river country

Nyikina is one of the main languages of the West Kimberley region, particularly around the lower end of the mighty Fitzroy River. It is spoken by more people than Warrwa, which is the language group...

Sheep loose in the main street of Derby

Sheep on the run

Few may remember that it was sheep, not cattle, that were brought to the rich pastures along the Fitzroy River in the 1880s. Since that time Derby has been the regional centre and port for the west...