Ringo has family and land connections across Victoria. Ringo’s maternal grandfather, the well-known Banjo Clarke, was from the Framlingham Mission in the Western Districts, his paternal grandparents were from the Cummeragunja Mission near Echuca. Ringo’s mother grew up in East Gippsland (Orbost and Lake Tyers). Ringo was born in Robinvale but grew up in Bairnsdale where he currently resides.
Like many Aboriginal families in East Gippsland, Ringo’s family earned a living from seasonal picking. At age fifteen, Ringo joined his father in the paddocks. It was during this period that the young Ringo observed his father Keith Morgan carving emu eggs. An interest sparked in Ringo and over the following two decades Ringo refined his skill.
Ringo’s designs, like his father’s, typically incorporate lizards, kangaroos and emus. Ringo enjoys working with eggs from different areas finding the colour variation in the eggs interesting as his intricate carving reveals variations in shade and tone.
Now in his third decade of creating his much sought after designs, Ringo is able to create one off designs for commissions and for friends. He continues to improve and expand his style and his business skills and his eggs are now in collections all over the world.
Writer: East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation
Date written: 2008
Last updated: 2009
Adrian Morgan was born in Robinvale and grew up in Bairnsdale, Victoria. His grandfather was the well respected Victorian elder, Banjo Clarke. He learnt the skill of emu egg carving from his father, Keith Morgan. His designs incorporate images of native animals including lizards, kangaroos and turtles.
Writer: Allas, Tess
Date written: 2008
Last updated: 2011
- Writers:
- East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation
Allas, Tess
- Date written:
- 2008
- Last updated:
- 2009
