Our Life

Jay is a Peek Wurrungman of the Gunditjmara Peoples. Born in Warrnambool, he grew up at  Framlingham in Western Victoria. Though having spent most of his life in institutions, he  began his interest in art at the age of eleven or twelve, watching ‘family members as a child  doing arts, making weapons etc.’ ‘I really enjoy painting a lot of different things,’ he says.  ‘And really haven’t pinned myself down with “that’s my style”’ .Painting keeps Jay  connected to his mob, no matter how far aways he is. ‘It helped me get through some of the  hardest times in my life being incarcerated,’ he states. ‘It was what kept me grounded, made  me think that I still have hope and that I’m strong; as all of our people are. ’Jay’s plan is to  ‘concentrate on trying to get somewhere in life’, his art playing a pivotal role in his future. ‘I 

hope that people enjoy my art when they see it...I think that seeing my finished workand  having people say “that’s good” helps me continue to get better’.

This is how we use the river and tracks so that we can track and hunt animals for everyday life. They keep us going, as they provide us with food and keep us warm.