Blog

27/05/2026

Something Remarkable

“The boys’ drawings improve over time, and individual styles and preoccupations emerge. The better pupils, about six of the older boys, are now using large sheets of brown, grey or white paper, Noel having observed that a large sheet encourages expression. The boys are depicting sunset and moonlight […]
25/05/2026

Noel White: 80 Years On

This month marks precisely 80 years since Noel White and his family arrived at Carrolup, after a long trek south from his sole-charge school near Geraldton. During his four and a half short years at the Government Settlement (until it was suddenly closed at the end of 1950, […]
21/05/2026

Noel White’s Early Days at Carrolup School

In my last blog post, celebrating 80 years since Noel White’s first day at Carrolup Native Settlement school, I described his initial experiences and showed the words of Revel Cooper, one of the Aboriginal children who would later become one of the famous Carrolup child artists. Noel had […]
18/05/2026

80 Year Anniversary: Noel White’s First Day at Carrolup School

‘On May 20th the school was duly opened by me (Noel White). There was a full attendance. It is obvious that a practical form of Hygiene is most necessary to train the pupils in the daily duty of cleanliness. The children have sores on the hands and with […]
11/11/2024

The Carrolup Story Website: Our 6th Birthday

On Saturday, my colleagues John Stanton, Ash Whitney and I celebrated the 6th Anniversary of the launch of this website, which highlights the amazing story of the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup. We launched the website on 9 November 2018, the birthday of Noelene White, the daughter of […]
11/09/2024

My Carrolup Talk, Four Years Ago Today

Four years ago today, I gave the following talk about the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup at the Royal Western Australian Historical Society. Here is what I posted on 15th September that year. ….. ‘On Friday, 11th September 2020, I gave a talk entitled Connection: Aboriginal Child Artists Captivate […]
03/09/2024

Historic Book Returned to The Kodja Place, Kojonup

On 30 August 2024, I had the privilege of repatriating a copy of the book Child Artists of the Australian Bush, written by Mary Durack Miller and Florence Rutter and published in 1952, about the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup. My friend and colleague at the South Australian Museum, […]
08/01/2024

French Arte Documentary on Carrolup Has Been Broadcast

On 22nd February last year, I reported on my experience in a blog ‘Filming The Carrolup Story for a European Audience’. I had been working with a French TV production team on a project, for Arte, the French/German broadcasting network, and with its Directrice, Emma Piesse. Emma had, in fact, […]
30/12/2023

Most Viewed Website Posts, 2023

My colleague John Stanton and I would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all the very best for 2024. We hope you have had a restful and enjoyable Christmas break. We would also like to thank you for visiting The Carrolup Story website. Here are the […]
10/07/2023

Noelene Melville White, 10 November 1933 – 25 June 2023

With great sadness, on 6 July, we laid to rest Noelene White, eldest daughter of Noel and Lily White and sister of the late Janette and Ross White, whose careful custodianship of the Carrolup School papers assembled by her parents contributed so much to our knowledge of the […]
09/07/2023

Talks and Amazing Artworks at Casuarina Prison

John Stanton and I visited Casuarina Prison for our fourth annual visit for NAIDOC week. We have always enjoyed our visits and this year was no exception. In fact, for me personally, this was the most  enjoyable and moving visit so far. On Wednesday, both John and I […]
07/07/2023

Launch of Tony Davis’s book ‘White Sails & Charcoal’

I am delighted to report that the long-awaited book by Tony Davis, White Sails & Charcoal: Stories of Coincidence, Bella Kelly and Carrolup has been published by Hesperian Press. I was thrilled to attend the book launch last Saturday in Tony’s home town of Albany. It was an […]
01/07/2023

Miaritch: Collections of Noongar Art

I really enjoyed attending the Miaritch: Collections of Noongar Art exhibition opening in Albany last night. It was clear to me that the opening was very well received by the many who attended. The exhibition continues until 22 July 2023. Here is what is written in the exhibition […]
30/06/2023

My Good Friend, Noelene White RIP

It is with deep regret and great sadness that I have to announce that Noelene Melville White, beloved daughter of Carrolup teachers Noel and Lily White, passed away Sunday night in Perth. She was 89 years old. I received the news Tuesday morning from Noelene’s close friend Stephanie […]
27/03/2023

Dilip Parekh Playing His Carrolup Song

Many of you will have seen the slideshow of a collection of Carrolup-related photos I put together with the beautiful song about the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup written by Dilip Parekh and performed by Dilip ‘n the Davs. On Friday night, John, my partner Linda and I went […]
27/02/2023

Filming The Carrolup Story for a European audience

In late November, we were approached via our website by Emma Piesse, a Producer at the Franco-German television channel, Arte, which has a focus on arts and cultures of the world. (I was already familiar with Arte, as I watch it regularly when I am with family in […]
02/02/2023

Mrs Florence Rutter Makes a Promise

In yesterday’s blog post, I described the first two days of the visit of Florence Rutter and Vera Hack to Carrolup Native Settlement. Mrs Rutter’s words show clearly how highly she thought of the boys of Carrolup! ‘During the three days we spent at Carrolup we were able […]
01/02/2023

73rd Year Anniversary of a Special Visit

Seventy-three years ago yesterday, 71-year old Englishwoman Mrs Florence Rutter and her friend Vera Hack arrived for a two and a half day visit of Carrolup Native Settlement. This visit was not only special in its own right, but it triggered a series of important events that still resonate […]
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