Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1956-[1994] (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
3 boxes, 1 parcel.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dick Roughsey was born near Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1924. His name is translated from his tribal name Goobalathaldin, meaning 'water standing on end'. Brought up within the tribe, he was educated at a Presbyterian mission, subsequently returning to his people. Roughsey was assisted in his painting career through the encouragement of an Ansett pilot, Percy Trezise, and has successfully exhibited bark paintings and oils. Roughsey and Trezise collaborated for many years producing picture books which retold traditional stories. These were among the first to introduce Aboriginal culture to children. The stories include The Rainbow Serpent (1975), Banana Bird and the Snake Man (1980), about how the birds outwitted the snakes, The Magic Firesticks (1983) a legend from the Yalanji people and The Flying Fox Warriors (1985). Roughsey's richly illustrated autobiography Moon and Rainbow: the Autobiography of an Aboriginal was published in 1971. He was the first chairman of the Aboriginal Arts Board in 1973.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Pilot, painter, explorer, and writer. Born 28 January 1923 in Tallangatta, Victoria, he spent most of his life in Far North Queensland and was active in identifying Aboriginal rock art. He died in Cairns, Queensland on 11 May 2005.
Repository
Archival history
Includes items previously catalogued at F663, F688, F689, F690, F695, F696, F713, F1440, F1783 and F3074.
Collection previously titled as: Papers of Dick Roughsey and Percy Trezise, 1956-[1994]
Collection alternatively titled as: Dick Roughsey and Percy Trezise Collection.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection is comprised of correspondence by Dick, Elsie and Lindsay Roughsey; the manuscripts of Dick Roughsey; the manuscripts of Percy Trezise; and 20 original artworks by Goobalathaldin (Dick Roughsey) and Percy Trezise, many of which were proposed illustrations for The rainbow serpent (1979). It includes some explanatory notes by Fedora Fisher.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright applies.
For artwork: Contact the Copyright Agency for licencing.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Parcel 1 is labelled as Box 4 on solander box.
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma MMS ID
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Roughsey, Dick (Subject)
- Trezise, P. J. (Percy J.) (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Revised
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Revised, Linda Justo, 28-Aug-2023. Revised, Linda Justo, 6-Dec-2022. Revised, SJB, 18-Nov-2022. Migrated from LMS: April 2019, P.A.