Born Yarturlu-yarturlu in 1945 of the Warlpiri tribe and language, he lives at Lajamanu and his country Yarturlu-yarturlu – the Granites gold mine. His father Pirlarla Jakamarra, whom Victor described as 'boss of his countrymen’, organised Aboriginal people to work at Granites goldmine in the ’30s. A few years after Victor was born, his father was killed when the army greatcoat he always wore became stuck in the wheels of the crusher. Victor was thirteen years old when he came to Lajamanu, where he is now a leading figure. He was one of the Lajamanu representatives for ATSIC. He paints Pirlarla, Ngurlu (bush seeds for grinding into damper), Laju ('Witchetty in Gumtree’) Dreamings. Simon works with his wives Kitty, Pampirriya and Agnes Napanangka, and started painting in 1986. Won a prize at the Tennant Creek Art Award in 1988.
- Writers:
- Johnson, Vivien
- Date written:
- 1994
- Last updated:
- 2011
