WELCOME
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I would firstly like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people, the Traditional Custodians of the land in which i live and work. I recognise their deep connection and understanding of our land, its waterways, seas and sky.
I pay my respects to Elders past and present as they hold the wisdom that inspires future generations. I extend my respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia.​​​​​​
The Heart Behind Koorie Tales
I’m a 26 year old Artist living and creating on Wurundjeri Country (Naarm). I started my business in 2020 as a way to share my love for art, culture and storytelling. What began as a simple outlet has naturally grown and evolved. Just as we do.
My work is ever changing, shaped by my experiences, identity and the world around me. Becoming a mum in 2024 added a new layer to that journey, deepening the meaning behind my creations and the stories I choose to tell.
Koorie Tales is more than just a space to showcase my art. It’s a platform to honour my family’s history and help amplify Aboriginal voices and stories.
I’ve always been drawn to the idea that "art is expression and expression is art." I hope my work connects with people in a way that feels personal and that it can be a vessel for others to express their own truths, emotions and experiences.
Thank you for being here. I’m so glad to share this space with you.
Early Days & Inspiration
I spent a lot of time as a child at my grandparents house. My uncle (Adam McLennan) their son and my dads brother was an incredible Artist. He spent lots of time away when i was young and would mail his paintings to my Nan where she would manage him.
I remember bringing in the ladder from out the back, inside into the lounge. I would help roll out the canvases when they would arrive and a brilliance of colour would unfold. Pa would climb the ladder and would photograph them on Nans camera. Nan was famous for her camera back then, there wasn't a single place she wouldn't take it.
I was lucky to tag along with her to galleries where she would consult and see if it was the right fit. I would be left to walk around and admire the walls for as long as i could remember. To be surrounded by creativity and passion like that is still something i don't forget. I still remember many of those walls like it was yesterday.
Generations Before Me - The Stories That Shaped Me
My story comes from Yorta Yorta Country, with most of my history coming from the Maloga and then Cummeragunja Mission. Though I grew up in the eastern suburbs of Naarm I have always kept a close connection with my Yorta Yorta country. My great great grandparents were Thomas Shadrach James and Ada Bethel Cooper, two prominent pillars within the community.
Grandpa James was from Mauritius, he wore many hats, one being the school teacher at both Maloga and Cummeragunja. He married my great great grandma Ada Cooper, a Yorta Yorta woman.
They had my great grandfather Thomas Carey James who married my great grandmother Mary Rebecca James.
Mary was also born at Cummeragunja and you can now find a mural of her in Shepparton which is quite spectacular. My nan, their daughter tells us how they would swim across the river to meet up with each other when they were young. Nan is one of 14 children so it was a great love as you can imagine.
Cummeragunja and my family have stories of sadness, mistreatment, stolen children and much more but it also finds itself home to resilience, determination, creativity and strength like no other. This community was strong. In 1939 approximately 200 residents walked off the reserve in strike of the poor living conditions and treatment from the government. Grandpa James and Grandma Ada were instrumental in the walk off organisation. I’m proud to come from a family with strength such as theirs.