Design and Art Australia Online

Aunty Fay has both Gunai/Kurnai and Monaro-Ngarigu heritage. Born in Orbost where she resided for her first ten years, Aunty Fay recalls moving about as her father Peter Mongta Senior moved for employment to include cutting sleepers, seasonal picking and road work.

The family moved to the bush in New South Wales, where every day Aunty Fay walked five miles to catch the bus to school, before moving to Sydney, back to Bega, then to Cann River and eventually to Lakes Entrance.

Aunty Fay learnt about her culture and art from her family. As a young girl, she recalls watching her mother’s sisters make baskets and feather flowers. Aunty Fay’s father carved, her mother Doris Mongta (known as Aunty Love) worked with shells. Painting, says Aunty Fay runs in the family.

A member of the Lakes Entrance arts group, Aunty Fay enjoys working with her partner, daughter, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Aunty Fay says it is important to: 'T each my grandchildren the culture, keeping it alive in order to be proud of who we are. ' Aunty Fay enjoys a variety of art and craft mediums to include shell work, basket weaving, artifact making, drawing and painting. Being creative gives Aunty Fay a sense of satisfaction and an outlet from stress and the mundane.

Aunty Fay’s artwork shows a deep respect for, and connection to, the land. The vibrancy of colour in her work relates to the natural palette of South Eastern Australia, to the East Gippsland region and particularly to the lakes area. Aunty Fay explains: ' when in the bush, you see all the colours '.

Writers:

East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation, VIC

Date written:

2008

Last updated:

2009