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Home Books Under a Bilari Tree I Born

Under a Bilari Tree I Born

$24.99

By Alice Bilari Smith

Alice Bilari Smith lived in the Pilbara, on stations and in the bush, on government reserves and in towns. Narrowly avoiding removal from her family by ‘the Welfare’, life on the stations taught her to cook and launder, sew and clean, shoe horses, chop wood and milk cows. As a young married woman she added mustering, dingo scalping, shearers’ assistant and sheep-yard building to her skills. Alice also grew up in the ways of her country, hunting, cooking and building in the traditional manner. As well as a large family of her own, Alice played an active role in caring for other Aboriginal children and initiated the establishment of a Homemakers Centre in Roebourne. This is Alice’s insightful and inspiring story – the story of a life that is remarkable and yet typical of Australia’s strong country women.

ISBN: 9781925162103
Dimensions: 19.8x12.8cm
Pages: 236
Publication year: 2015
Publisher: Fremantle Press

 

About the author:

Alice Bilari Smith was born at Rocklea Station in the Pilbara in the 1920s. Her mother was a Banyjima woman and her father a white teamster. She was raised by her Aboriginal family and narrowly escaped being removed to Moore River. After her marriage, Alice spent most of her adult years living in the bush and raising a large family. They retained their language and many of their customs, and it was not until 1969 that Alice settled in Roebourne so that her children could attend school. Living in Roebourne, she was a foster mother to fifteen children and a valued member of the community. Alice died on 1 February 2012 at Roebourne District Hospital.