• Sleeveless, a-line dress
• Finishes on or below the knee
  
• Optional waist tie
• Side seam pockets
• Wide, high neck opening
• Blue, pink and emerald print on lime-green lightweight 100% cotton poplin (95 gsm 100% shirting cotton, satin finish)
  
• Designed by Madge Bowen, HopeVale, Far North QLD
• Hand screen printed in Australia
• Dress made ethically in Sydney
• note on fabric: this fabric is 100% cotton. However, the high coverage of the print makes the the hand feel of this fabric feel stiffer than normal. The fabric will soften with wash and wear

Art story: Bulgan Warra (sacred lake)

“This design depicts my mother's country of Bulgan Warra. Bulgan Warra stretches from south of Cook Town (Gundarr) up to Leggets Creek (a branch of the Endeavour River). 

This is the place of my ancestors. My mother and her brothers were taken from this country as part of the stolen generation. The white police came in and took them; the boys to cape Bedford, my mum to Yarrabah. My mother's brother who is also from this country tells me a lot of Dreaming stories about this place.

In this design there's a big mountain with a lake: this is the northern boundary of Bulgan Warrra. There's lots of wildlife in this area - kangaroos, echidnas, goannas - all sorts. In the lake there's long neck turtles, and lily pads growing. In the trees there's lots of different kinds of brids. This tree - the curtain fig tree - has become famous now! Every time I'm asked to draw something, I have to draw this tree; this scene.”

Artist: Madge Bowen

Madge Bowen was born in Yarrabah in 1946. Her parents were both stolen from their families as children and taken to Yarrabah mission. 

Madge's mum Myrtle's language is Western Kuku Yalanji, and her country is Bulgan Warra (Kings Plain, south of Cook Town). Her dad Nolan's country is up around Maytown, north of Laura.

Madge's mum died when she was 6, so she was sent to HopeVale to live with her mum's brothers (who were also stolen from their family as kids and sent to Cape Bedford Mission, which became HopeVale).

"After I left school I did some domestic work in mission staff homes. I stayed in the dorm until I was 21, when I got married. That was freedom for me - to get out of the girls' dormitory. Then I worked at the school for 21 years. 

I ended up with six children - the oldest one turned 50 a few years ago! After my husband died I couldn't stay at home. All my kids were at school, or had moved out. What can you do at home? Just the housework, then you've got nothing else to do! So I decided to go to the art centre and join in with the other ladies - and we're still here!"

www.hopevaleart.org.au

Size + fit

Kat is wearing size 18.

She normally wears a Magpie Goose Size 18. She is 181cm tall and her measurements are:

Bust: 120cm Waist: 100cm Hip: 123cm

Garment Measurements:

See here for our sizing guide.