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18/05/2021
Article by school headmaster John Stokes, The West Australian , 24th February 1951. Noel & Lily White Collection.
Author: David Clark on 18/05/2021
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Achievements of Carrolup Artists

Here is part of a chapter from my book Connection: Aboriginal Child Artists Captivate Europe which focuses on a newspaper article written by John Stokes after Carrolup Native Settlement school had been closed. “In Perth, John Stokes, the teacher and headmaster who has done so much to promote the […]
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10/05/2021
Imagined corroboree by Reynold Hart, watercolour and ink on paper, 25 x 30cm, c.1948. Stan, Melvie and Gael Phillips Collection, 1947 - 65, Berndt Museum of Anthropology. [WU7255]
Author: David Clark on 10/05/2021
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Development of the Carrolup Children’s Art

In a previous blog, I described how the children’s art was initially just one aspect of a school curriculum that used drawing as the necessary means of communication in almost every subject. Early in 1947, Noel introduced a scheme where he and his wife spent time with the children five […]
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03/05/2021
Author: David Clark on 03/05/2021
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‘What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing’

This weekend I read one of the best books I have ever read, certainly in one of the areas in which I work. The book, What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, is written by Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D. and Oprah Winfrey. The book is […]
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28/04/2021
Author: David Clark on 28/04/2021
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‘Drawing as the Necessary Means of Communication’

In a previous blog, I have described part of the role played by School Inspector Charles ‘Sammy’ Crabbe in the development of the Carrolup children’s drawings and their schoolwork. I have also summarised the pivotal role that teacher Noel White played in connecting with the traumatised Aboriginal children, […]
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22/04/2021
Author: The Carrolup Story on 22/04/2021
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‘Aboriginal Children Show Amazing Skill in Art’: Max Praed

In an earlier blog, Early Public Acclaim, I described briefly how the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup gained public attention in Western Australia. A major factor in this development was the acceptance by editor John Stokes of three articles by Carrolup children (Reynold Hart, Dulcie Penny and Vera Wallam) […]
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14/04/2021
Hunters by Revel Cooper, pastel on paper, 29 x 38cm, c.1948. Stan, Melvie and Gael Phillips Collection, 1947 – 65, Berndt Museum of Anthropology. [WU7304]
Author: David Clark on 14/04/2021
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Carrolup Art at the Katanning Show, 1948

In an early blog, I described how the children of Carrolup first attended the Katanning Show in November, 1946. They also attended the Show the following year and again in 1948. Here is what I wrote in my book Connection: Aboriginal Child Artists Captivate Europe about this latter […]
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07/04/2021
Exhibition of Carrolup art at Boans department store, The West Australian , 23rd October 1947. The boys from left to right are Claude Kelly, Barry Loo, Reynold Hart and Parnell Dempster. Noel & Lily White Collection.
Author: David Clark on 07/04/2021
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Boans Exhibition of Carrolup Drawings, Part 2

In a previous blog, I described how the Carrolup children’s art was exhibited in the ‘Crystal Section’ of Boans, the largest department store in Perth, from October 21 to October 24, 1947, thanks to the initiative of teacher John Stokes. The exhibition of over 400 Carrolup drawings was opened by Western […]
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31/03/2021
Author: David Clark on 31/03/2021
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Out To Prove

In a previous blog, I highlighted the pivotal role that teacher Noel White played in the development of the art of the Aboriginal children of Carrolup Native Settlement. We know from a letter written by School Inspector Sammy Crabbe to Dr Kenneth Stewart Cunningham, Director of the Australian […]
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25/03/2021
Author: David Clark on 25/03/2021
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Our Journey: Cliff Ryder’s Family, Part 3

Here is the last part of a series of blog posts that is based on a chapter about the Ryder family from my book Connection: Aboriginal Child Artists Captivate Europe. You can find the first part here and the second part here. ‘I must tell you about the trip that […]
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24/03/2021
The boys of Carrolup marching for Mrs Rutter and Mrs Hack. Photograph taken by Vera Hack, January 1950.
Author: David Clark on 24/03/2021
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Our Journey: Cliff Ryder’s Family, Part 2

My last blog was the first of a series that is based on a chapter about the Ryder family from my book Connection: Aboriginal Child Artists Captivate Europe. These are the words of Charon Ryder, oldest of the Ryder siblings: ‘I want to talk to you about how I got […]
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23/03/2021
Author: David Clark on 23/03/2021
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Our Journey: Cliff Ryder’s Family, Part 1

Some of you will know that John and I have developed a strong relationship with the children of the Carrolup child artist Cliff Ryder. In September 2019, we spent a lovely day with the family at the Moore River Settlement and Goomalling, finishing with an emotional gathering at […]
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16/03/2021
Parnell Dempster working on his first oil painting under the tuition of Mrs Rutter. Photographer: Vera Hack, January 1950. Noel & Lily White Collection.
Author: David Clark on 16/03/2021
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Talk: The Aboriginal Child Artists of Carrolup

After my talk at The Royal Western Australian Historical Society talk in September 2020, I was asked if I would give a talk to the King Edward Memorial Hospital Alumni early in 2021. I gave the talk on 21st January and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. There was an […]
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10/03/2021
Author: David Clark on 10/03/2021
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Noel and Lily White

In previous blogs, I described how Mrs Olive Elliot became the teacher at Carrolup Native Settlement at the end of January 1945, after a long period when the Aboriginal children received no education. She eventually decided that the children needed the firm hand of a male teacher, so […]
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03/03/2021
The children of Carrolup in their schoolroom with the White family and visitors from Katanning. Photographer: Noelene White, late 1948 or early 1949. Noel & Lily White Collection.
Author: David Clark on 03/03/2021
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A Pivotal Role: Noel White

Teacher Noel White [left side, just behind children in the above photograph] played a pivotal role in the development of the Carrolup children’s art, as described by John Stanton in the film clip below. Noel first connected with the children and helped them overcome their fear. He provided […]
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22/02/2021
Author: David Clark on 22/02/2021
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Meeting Dilip Parekh of the Carrolup Song

My partner Linda and I, along with John Stanton, spent a lovely Sunday afternoon/early evening aboard P.S. Decoy, a Western Australian sea-going paddle steamer that works the Swan River. We were there to listen to local band ‘Dilip ‘n the Davs’, who performed a heart-warming Twilight Tribute to American […]
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15/02/2021
Bounding for Home by Barry Loo, watercolour and black ink on paper, 30.2 x 50.5cm, 1950. The Herbert Mayer Collection of Carrolup Artwork, John Curtin Gallery, Curtin University.
Author: David Clark on 15/02/2021
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Appeldoorn Exhibition of Carrolup Art, Part 2

In my last blog, I revealed that the first exhibition  of the Carrolup children’s art organised in Europe by Mrs Florence Rutter took place in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands in June 1950.  I described how Florence kept a book of letters and comments from people who attended her Carrolup […]
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11/02/2021
Letter from Margaret Edenburg (née Rutter) to Mr and Mrs White, 25th June 1950.
Author: David Clark on 11/02/2021
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Appeldoorn Exhibition of Carrolup Art

I was really pleased to find a message on one of my Facebook posts from Ange Edenburg, a great-granddaughter of Mrs Florence Rutter. Ange, who lives in Bridgetown, and I have been communicating since then. Ange’s grandmother Margaret Edenburg was one of Florence’s daughters. Margaret and her family […]
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03/02/2021
Mrs Rutter with two of the trackers at Carrolup during her second visit. Photographer: Vera Hack, January 1950. Noel & Lily White Collection.
Author: David Clark on 03/02/2021
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Mrs Florence Rutter’s Visits to Carrolup

Last year on the 2nd February, I published the last of a series of six blog posts on Mrs Florence Rutter’s two visits to Carrolup and her trip around Australia and New Zealand where she promoted the Carrolup children’s drawings. If you have not already read those blog […]
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