Margery Accoom

“Grew up at old mission site, when the government came in in the 50’s people had to be separated from the old site (and brought to the current location of Lockhart River). Mum went up to Bamaga with my brother and I went up with Evelyn my older sister. I went to Charters Towers for school and completed grade 10. I spent more time at Bamaga working at the Department of Aboriginal and Island Affairs Office (DAIA). Then I went back down to Brisbane to business college and got a job with DAIA.
I also lived in Sydney for a while. I came home when mum was sick. She was fine my family just wanted me back. I worked at the local community bar in Umagico near Bamaga. In 1977 I came back to Lockhart. I worked at the School and the Health Centre. I now stay here and recently started painting at the Art Centre. Evelyn was my teacher. She taught me how to weave ‘puunya’ (grass dilly bags) and baskets. I like to paint too. I mainly paint pictures of puunyas.”