Rosalind Langford

This painting is the artist’s interpretations of her memories that flood when holding a Nanna’s rug. This painting has been inspired by my great grand Aunty Margaret Nelson, who was a young girl taken away from a devoted and loving family who lived on an Aboriginal mission in Victoria. Aunty Margaret was sent to the Cootamundra girl’s home in Victoria. My great grandmother sent a lovingly knitted nanna’s rug to my aunty: the rug was to not only keep her warm, but was all so to comfort her when she felt lost and alone. After a period of months my Aunty was to come home to Nanna for Easter holidays. All the family were at the station when the train pulled in to greet her home. However, after the train left my Aunty was nowhere to be seen. All that was left on the station platform was an old battered case with a small knee rug on top and Grandfather’s belt strap around the case holding it together and a note pinned to the rug. The note informed my Nanna that my Aunty had passed away some 2 – 3 weeks previously and that they were returning her belongings. I think what the anguish hurt my Great Grandmother and Father must have endured when they read the note that did not even say Sorry. As the great grandniece of one of the children who were stolen, the Government’s apology to the stolen generation in 2008 has helped me to ease the hurt and anger that I have felt for the way my Aunty was treated. The tears I now shed are tears of healing. I too have a Nannas rug that was knitted for me by my mother. Although my mother has passed away, I only have to hold her rug and it brings me comfort and joy. The painting is dedicated not only to my Aunty Margaret, but to also recognise the wonderful gift of memories the humble Nanna’s rug gives to the owners. Ros has chosen to represent the Murray River in this painting. The diamond shaped blue elements indicate the water of the river, along which she grew up. The concentric circular elements are the lily stems and roots that are gathered by the Aboriginal women from the river as a food source, the circular elements with wavy lines are the river mussels and the semicircular elements with straight lines along the 2 long edges of the painting represent women’s body paint design that would be painted on their breasts.