Gertie Deeral

Gertie left school at age 16 and worked as an indentured labourer at the pastor’s house “doing laundry, cooking, scrubbing the floors, ironing, making beds. That was the time of rations – flour, milk, sugar, tea leaf. Then there was freedom after the mission days. I got a job at the aged care where I worked for many years.

Gertie has raised six sons, has 15 grandchildren, and now lives on a farm about 10 minutes out of HopeVale. She loves to tell her grandchildren dreaming stories in the garden out the front of her house, and sit and listen to the birds.

“When I see people wearing my designs I feel happy. I’m really glad. They went a long way, and I’m very proud. This didn’t used to happen (during the mission days)- old people coming together, doing art, sharing culture. Now the little kids are getting interested and learning about culture again. It’s good.”