Kimberley Ringer

By Mark Norval

 

The sculpture is a tribute to the early indigenous Kimberley stockmen who were often forcibly removed from their traditional tribal way of life and were paid in meagre rations of flour, sugar, tea, tobacco and clothing. It would have been a tough way of life but many of the old ringers talk of these times with great fondness and pride. Without the indigenous ringers the Kimberley pastoral industry would have faced an unwinnable uphill battle against natural forces. The indigenous ringers’ intimate knowledge of the rugged landscape, their survival skills and their superb horsemanship formed the backbone of the early attempts to populate this vast shoulder of Australia with sheep and cattle. This sculpture is influenced by the outback figures painted by famous Australian artist Russell Drysdale.

This sculpture was completed in 2021