A Hop Through Australia's History |
|
|
|
|
1948 - Albert Namatjira Becomes Known
There was a man of double life,
Worked with paints to keep his wife.
His name was Albert, hers was Rube,
He painted pictures from a tube.
Yellow boulders, purple hills,
He sure hoped they'd pay the bills.
You could find no art sincerer,
And he signed them Namatjira.
When the art began to sell
Albert found a place to dwell.
When the pictures rose in price
The tax man came to get his slice.
Albert earned dough far and wide
But he shared it with his tribe,
For when they saw that he was flash
Hundreds relieved him of his cash.
Once the white world thought him grand
Albert wanted a piece of land.
They honoured him with laurel and palm
But wouldn't let him own a farm.
Albert bought his tribe drink on a large scale,
White folks objected and stuck him in gaol.
When he could no longer practise his art,
A deep sense of sadness broke his big heart.
|
![[RT pic]](/robert.jpg)