Stewart Karmburmar Hoosan b. 1951

Stewart Hoosan was born at Doomagee Station in Queensland in 1951, the son of Thelma

Dixon and Alec Hoosan. He is a Garrwa man on his mothers side and Gangalida from his

fathers side. His name is Wurrlbiyanguna and his skin is Burralangi. Stewarts grandfather, Joe

Hoosan is described by Thelma as a ‘proper middle eastern man’, an Afghan cameleer

originally from the central desert. He married Topsy a Gangalida women from Bourketown.

Their son Alec Hoosan had three children, Stewart, his sister and Reggie. It was Stewart's

grandfather Yarri Yarri who grew Stewart up at Calvert Hill Station. His grandfather told him

stories about country and took him through the country. Stewart recalls watching him paint

on the cave walls. It was this old man that caused Stewart to begin to think about his

country and his connection to the land and to paint strong country paintings.

Stewart grew to a young man at Calvert Hill Station and Robinson River Station where his

mother worked. From the age of 9, Stewart was taken away to work for a white man called

Walter Camp. They put me on a donkey first to learn how to ride and later I started bullock

and horse droving. Stewart would spend a month way at time horse tailoring and or as a

night watchman for the cattle in the stock camps. Walter Camp owned the stations Calvert

and Robinson River then but not today. "We got Robinson river back … land that came back".

Stewart spent time droving through Queensland and through his grandmother country

China Wall with Walter till he was 21. At times he said he wanted to be in the Territory "I'd

try and sneak back but they would track me up" ... Walter had bought Floriville station and

they had to shift the cattle there. Stewart drove those cattle for about five or six trips …

horse and cattle up and down.

When Stewart turned 21 he went to look for his mother. She had left Robinson River with

Don Dixon and was now in Derby, Western Australia. Stewart travelled to Derby and spent a

year there again working as a stockman for Jack Camp, Walters brother. Stewart and his

mother returned to Robertson River country to Wadawadla (black fellow crossing) and

Wandangula (police lagoon) at Sandridge and lived with his wife Nancy McDinny, Nancy's

mother and father the late Dinny Mc Dinny. "I have a small station with cattle and horses

still here now… and a lemon tree".

Stewart grew up in a place described by historians as isolated and interesting ... the last wild

frontier. All through these times, Nancy claims the old people didn't know what to do they

were just moved around.

The oral histories, the songs recorded, the newspaper articles, books published and research

have supported the testament of artists like Stewart, who tell of the resistance to settlers

and the strong continuing traditions of law and culture..

Stewart Hoosan is Jungkayi for the Robinson Wollogorang country. The country of his

mother, grandmother and grandfather. He paints the big country belonging to the

Kunindirrri- Garrwa people. Warkurra Yarji Kurrwanyi Baki Kunundirrinya.

Respect for this country, memories of his experiences and the love for country are the

primary source and foundation for Stewart’s art. The depiction of place, the vitality of colour

and the abundance of life in his landscapes represent the law and culture. They sing this

land. Dulkurrina Likajarrayinda Wangkulali Mijawaru Jilalyi Mambalyi Wadaliya and Mindibirrna are part of his country and dreamings.