An Aboriginal heritage comes back to life in art

Jessica Benton
Ocean Grove’s Helen Brotherington will tell the stories of her Aboriginal heritage with an exhibition this month.
Ms Brotherington’s exhibition will feature an array of contemporary dot paintings depicting traditional Aboriginal designs.
She said the collection embellished her rich Aboriginal history.
“It’s important to tell these stories because you become proud of who you are and get to know your personal heritage,” she said.
“I’m now a proud elder.”
Ms Brotherington grew up on a mission at Lake Tyres with her family but knew little about her cultural heritage until later in life.
“I never really learnt about our culture because we lived on the mission and within that time I never really thought any different about myself,” she said.
“It wasn’t until after I started working at Wathaurong in Geelong that I wanted to learn about my culture.”
Ms Brotherington’s Jharmbi Artshow will also feature some of the works of her sisters, Eileen Harrison and Margaret Worn, as well as displays from local artists Kristy Peters and Markeeta Cruise.
The exhibition will run from 2pm to 5pm on March 21 at Ocean Grove Uniting Church.