Dick Roughsey

Dick Roughsey (c. 1920 – 1985) was an Australian Aboriginal artist from the Lardil language group on Mornington Island in the south-eastern Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. His tribal name was Goobalathaldin, meaning “the ocean, dancing”, describing a “rough sea”. He was an active and prominent figure involved in reviving and preserving the cultural life of the Lardil people. His best known works are a series of children's picture books that retell traditional Aboriginal stories including “The Rainbow Serpent”.

Early life Dick was born about 1920 on Langu-narnji Island, joined to Mornington Island by a sandbank at low tide, and part of the North Wellesley Islands group in the Gulf of Carpentaria. He was given the tribal name Goobalathaldin. His mother, Kuthakin, gave birth to him under a clump of Pandanus palms. His father's name was Kiwarbija. Dick's early memories were of his mother carrying him while she hunted for food. His young life was carefree as he played naked with his brothers. He spent the earliest part of his childhood in the bush living a traditional Indigenous lifestyle learning the ceremonies and dreaming stories of his ancestors. He learnt the rich oral history of the Lardil tribe from his father. His ancestral relatives were three people, Marnbil the leader, his wife Gin-Gin, and her uncle Dewallewul. The activities the ancestors engaged in produced the topography, flora and fauna that exist today.

Relationship with Percy Trezise Roughsey met Percy Trezise in 1962 at Karumba Lodge at the mouth of the Norman River. Trezise was a pilot for Ansett Airlines who painted casually and quickly became Roughsey's mentor. Trezise encouraged Roughsey to paint the stories that were part of his country and not to mimic the styles and narratives of the then famous Albert Namatjira. Trezise encouraged Roughsey to develop his personal painting style on bark paintings initially, then move to oil on canvas. Throughout their relationship Trezise regularly supplied Roughsey with art materials often cutting bark himself from around his home in Cairns.

Trezise was an active supporter and promoter of Roughsey's work, staging many exhibitions and showcases of Mornington Island Art throughout Australia. Trezise became an active participant in preserving Lardil customs and stories and he was given the name 'Warrenby' by Roughsey in 1963. Trezise and Roughsey travelled together for many years throughout Australia exploring cave paintings and documenting them for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

Trezise and Roughsey collaborated on a series of picture books which retold traditional Aboriginal stories, some of which were among the first books to introduce Aboriginal culture to Australian children.

Achievements, recognition, and awards Roughsey's passion for the preservation of Indigenous culture and traditions presented him with the opportunity to be appointed to the Aboriginal Advisory Committee for the Australia Council in 1970.

In 1971, he wrote the first autobiography by an Aboriginal author.

In 1973, Roughsey became the Chair of the Aboriginal Arts Board, continuing this role until 1975. He was also a member of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies.

In 1978, he was made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for Service to Aboriginal Art and Culture.

His cultural contributions inspired the establishment of the Gooalathaldin Memorial Community Centre, which opened in his honour on Mornington Island in 2003.

He won several literary awards, including: Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1974: commended for The Giant Devil-Dingo FAW Patricia Weickhardt Award to an Aboriginal Writer, 1976 for The Rainbow Serpent Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1976: winner for The Rainbow Serpent Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1979: winner for The Quinkins IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) Honour Diploma, Illustration, 1980 for The Quinkins Children's Book Council Book of the Year Award, Picture Book of the Year, 1983: commended for Turramulli the Giant Quinkin

Published works

Autobiographical 1971 – Moon and Rainbow: The Autobiography of an Aboriginal. Reed: Sydney. 1989 – ‘School Days’, in North of Capricorn: An Anthology of Prose. (Eds: Des Petersen & Stephen Torre). Foundation for Australian Literary Studies, JCU: Townsville. 1990 – ‘Gidegal the Moon-Man’, in The Macmillan Anthology of Australian Literature. (Ed: Ken Goodwin). Palgrave Macmillan.

Poetry and prose 1980 – ‘In The Old Days’, in Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History. (Ed. and comp. Jennifer Isaacs). Lansdowne Press: Sydney. 1980 – ‘Gidegal the Moon-Man’, in Australian Dreaming: 40,000 Years of Aboriginal History. (Ed. and comp. Jennifer Isaacs). Lansdowne Press: Sydney.

Children’s illustrated books 1973 – The Giant Devil Dingo. Collins: London. 1975 – The Rainbow Serpent. Collins: Sydney. 1978 – The Quinkins. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. 1978 – The Turkey and the Emu. Harcourt Brace: Sydney. 1980 – Banana Bird and the Snake Men. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. 1982 – Turramulli the Giant Quinkin. (With Percy Trezise). Angus & Robertson: Sydney. 1983 – The Magic Firesticks. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. 1984 – Gidja the Moon. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney. 1985 – The Flying Fox Warriors. (With Percy Trezise). Collins: Sydney.