Gavin Namarnyilk Kunwinjku, b. 1987
29 7/8 x 20 1/8 in
Gavin has painted Lambalk, the Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) They live in hollow trees like a possum and come out at night to feed, flying from tree to tree. They are fond of the nectar of the manbune tree (Bloodwood, Corymbia polycarpa) and the sap of manbarlarra, (Emu Apple, Owenia vernicosa). In the cold season which Kunwinjku people call yekke, around May-June, the bloodwood flowers and the lambalk feed on the pink blossoms. The Old People used to light fires under trees to flush out possums to eat, but it’s not usual to eat sugar gliders.
Nawu Lambalk nakka yiman djebuyh kabenekukrohrok kore kundulk kabeneyo manbu mandulkrurrk. Djebuyh minj karrolkan kare larrk dja nawu lambalk nakka wanjh karrolkan kare kore mandulkbuyika. Nawu djebuyh korroko kohbakohbanj nawu dabborrabbolk birrirey birrini manbu kundulk kahbidbokyo bu bidbuni dulklirrhmi kunbidngalanj nuye. Wanjh kaddum birriworhnani birrinani manbu kundulk kore kahrurrk. Wanjh birriwurlhkeyi kunak wanjh nawu djebuyh birlikengemi manbu kunak kumkolungi birribuni birrikani birrikinjeyi birringuni. Dja nawu lambalk nuk ngawakwan kunubewu namak bu ngarringun. Lambalk kangun mannguy manwern manbu kundulk bu kanguybun.