Thelma Dixon Garrawa, b. 1/7/1937

Thelma Dixon is from around the Robinson River area of south Arnhem Land. She first started painting in 2001. She used to spend time sitting down with Clara Roberts at her place that’s when she started thinking about doing her own painting. Thelma then started her art work by doing small paintings about Robinson River and the surrounding areas where she used to go hunting and about her station life where she used to look after the goats for the Station Manager. Thelma also makes necklaces using bush seeds and shells and does weaving with pandanus leaves. Thelma can also make traditional items with wood by making coolamons and clap sticks and has worked in contemporary mediums including screen printing and ceramics.Today some of her paintings have been sold along with t-shirts that have her artwork on it. Waralungku is the place name for the Burketown crossing on the McArthur River on the main road from Borroloola to Burketown. It is also associated with the Hill kangaroo dreaming, where imprints of the kangaroo’s feet, tail and hindquarters are located at this site. Waralungku Arts represents over 40 artists from Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Gudanji and Marra language groups.