Stan Brumby / Karin Country (BALANCE)

Stan Brumby was born Halls Creek c. 1933. He passed away peacefully in early 2013. He worked as a stockman in the East Kimberley for most of his career on such prominent stations as Legune, Newry, Rosewood, Argyle, Auvergne, Bradshaw and Victoria River Downs just over the Northern Territory Border. Stan was a highly respected Jaru Elder and known teacher of language and culture.

Through his Grandfather, he was regarded as one of the Traditional Custodians of the Wolf Creek Crater area, via Halls Creek. This area is the content of his strong, raw and realistic painting style.

Stan was instrumental in assisting Dr. Peggy Reeves-Sanday, Professor of Anthropology at University of Pennsylvania, during her visits to his country. Dr. Reeves-Sanday’s father, geologist Frank Reeves, discovered the Crater after two expeditions on land following a flight over the area, and owed his life to the local people on the last expedition. Peggy published an in-depth book on the Crater with the local people’s assistance, and collected many artworks from them which were included in an Exhibition at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology which was on display until February 2005.

Stan was very well known throughout the Kimberley area, from his stockman days when he worked with so many of his colleagues who went on to become artists, for his strong cultural beliefs and love of his land and for his tremendous sense of humour. Mention his name and everyone has a story about Stan. Churchill Cann told of the time on Texas Downs when he warned Stan not to open the gate in the yards until the horse Stan was riding quietened down – Stan ignored him and was last seen in the distance in a cloud of dust on the horizon. Freddie Timms tells of the serious impression Stan made on those who attend the Garma Festival with his endless stories of his country and his hopes for the preservation of his culture. Jock Mosquito, also a Jaru man and known to all in the Kimberley, and Billy Duncan from Inverway and Nicholson Stations, knew Stan from their days in the saddle. The late Jack Britten worked with him for many years.

Stan told the story of how he was droving in Central Queensland when he was sent a message that the boys back home on the station in Western Australia had “walked off” and he was without a job (the Wave Hill incident August 1966) – Stan said old Lingiari did that one. Stan was at Longreach, employed by Wave Hill. He stayed on at Longreach and worked there as a stockmen, then travelled to Brisbane, where he was never without work – such was the calibre of the man. He has worked with sheep in South Australia, then up to Alice Springs with cattle, Broome, Darwin and all points in between. He visited New Guinea (too many people with not enough food was his comment). He has also spent Christmas in Germany – “Silly one me – I was freezing”. Stan was adamant that he didn’t want to go overseas again – best to stay here with “all this land – all this tucker – no need for a lot of money here”.

He was a totally unforgettable character.

This part here, this proper good country all around all around. Lots of bush tucker – like bush peanuts and yam (bush potato) and passionfruit and all. Lots of water in those waterholes and creeks there. Some living water (permanent underground springs). This has always been a place where lots of my people came to sit down (stay). ‘Cos of the feed here, see. This is my country all around this place – Karin country, Lamboo and all, you know.