Aunty Eadie was born at Wallaga Lake Mission in New South Wales and now lives in Bairnsdale where her daughters Margaret and Elaine were born and also reside. Aunty Eadie has Gunai/Kurnai and Bidawal land ties. Her parents were Amelia Hayes and Norman O’Rourke.
Aunty Eadie spent her childhood living in camps on the riverbank at Orbost and although times were tough, she recalls enjoyable times shared with her brother Norman (Jack) and sister Patricia. Aunty Eadie’s family was conscious of white policies that saw children removed and subsequently moved to New South Wales for a period. Aunty Eadie says that she is glad it’s not like that now, “There is more respect for Blacks now. Things have changed a lot. There are more opportunities now and less discrimination”.
At the age of eight, Aunty Eadie had the unusual opportunity to travel around the world as a tumbling contortionist with the Tivoli Theatre. Her father did not think this was appropriate and the young Eadie had to let the opportunity pass.
Eventually, Aunty Eadie found notoriety as a respected basket weaver. Following a family tradition handed down through generations from her mother and grandmother, Aunty Eadie taught her daughter Elaine basketry skills and takes pride in knowing the skills have been passed down through another two generations to her grandchildren.
Aunty Eadie’s intricately woven baskets and eel traps, indicative of traditional ways and living culture, are on display at the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place, the Koorie Heritage Trust, Bunjilaka at the Melbourne Museum, Nowa Nowa and various other places.
Aunty Eadie has won a Senior Aboriginal Elders Gathering Award in 2007 for her popular reconciliatory Welcome to Country messages. The award was presented by Kilmany Uniting Care and Indigenous Diversity and was sponsored by thirteen local and statewide bodies.
- Writers:
- East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation
- Date written:
- 2008
- Last updated:
- 2009
