Emma Pritchard

Proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung woman and renowned local artist Deborah Taylor was honoured to be guest speaker during a celebratory International Women’s Day event, hosted by the Grafton Country Women’s Association (CWA) branch on March 8.

Introduced to the room of more than 30 attendees by Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black, who referred to her as one of the most prolific First Nations artists in the region, Ms Taylor spoke warmly of her childhood growing up in the Clarence Valley, her association with the Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung peoples, and how she intertwines her life experiences and connection to culture into her art.

Born on the veranda at the former Runnymede Hospital in Grafton during a time when pregnant Aboriginal women were not allowed to give birth within the premises, Ms Taylor said she felt inspired to share her story last week when she researched the 2023 theme for International Women’s Day.

“I saw that it was about identity, and I thought that’s important because your identity reflects all aspects of your life,” she said.

“Especially with me in terms of my art.

“It represents me and where I come from.”

Ms Taylor grew up in South Grafton, and from an early age had a close connection to her country and culture, her knowledge and compassion shaped by the loving influence of her parents who were of Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung descent, respectively.

After dabbling in ceramics and painting designs, Ms Taylor started to build a relationship with the Grafton Regional Gallery, and subsequently, began producing more artwork of a larger scale.

“The more you do it, the better you get at it,” she said with a smile.

“Thinking about my family and my identity, what I paint is about me.

“I paint the landscape, the river, and the mountains, and the connection I have to them, and what they mean to the Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung peoples.

“It’s those stories I paint which are important to share and to tell.”

Ms Taylor said International Women’s Day is an important time for women to be proud of their identity, and she hopes her words offered inspiration to those around her.  

President of the CWA Grafton Branch Janice Wilkinson told the Clarence Valley Independent it was a pleasure to invite Ms Taylor to the International Women’s Day event last week and said everyone in the room listened intently to her story with keen interest.