Eastern Arrernte Elder Doctor K Wallace remembered for her lifetime contribution to Red Centre

Three friends have shared their memories of the amazing life of an Eastern Arrernte elder, who passed away this year. Disclaimer: This story contains photos and images of deceased persons.

Sand picture by KW, describing the story of the evil sister. KW used traditional sand drawings to dispel breast cancer myths in remote communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of a person who has passed away.

Three friends who each crossed paths with an Eastern Arrernte elder and artist have come together to share the memories of her remarkable life after her passing and the lasting impact her.

Dr K Wallace died surrounded by friends and family on February 28, and will be remembered for the remarkable impact she left on the Red Centre and beyond.

Born in 1948, KW was a celebrated artist, author, linguist, educator, Territory Woman of the Year, NAIDOC award winner, mother, grandmother, and to those that knew her – a friend.

She spent her formative years on country, before being taken by her parents to the Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) mission due to drought and a shortage of food.

Judy Lovell, who worked professionally with KW at Keringke Arts, said her unique style of painting captured traditional stories of place, spirit ancestors, creation stories, and of kinship.

Ms Lovell said in 1988 KW helped establish Keringke Arts, and was quick to embrace the new tools and technologies that became available.

KW and Judy Lovell at the Territory Read NT Book of the Year Awards.

“To this end, KW is also remembered as one of the greatest and most generous collaborators it is possible to have had,” Ms Lovell said.

“Her intellectual prowess, huge curiosity, wicked sense of humour and when necessary, thunderous voice belied this woman of small and seemingly angelic stature.”

But KW also had a deep connection to country, culture, and language.

When she got breast cancer in 2006, instead of letting it hold her back, he channelled her strength and used her experience to create and multilingual educational DVD titled ‘Listen you women, your breasts are precious’ in 2011.

Lesley Reilly – who knew KW when she was a young teacher – said the Arrernte woman wanted to use her knowledge of language to dispel common myths within remote communities around breast cancer in collaboration with Bosom Buddies.

KW in Alice Springs. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

“(The DVD) is a culturally appropriate resource to inform traditional women, using sand drawing and elements found in nature to help them understand their bodies relative to breast cancer,” Mrs Reilly said.

“It has been used and acclaimed as a resource by women for women, and by breast care nurses, women’s and Aboriginal health services, SA and NT cancer councils and tertiary institutions.

“This contribution by KW and her four fellow Aboriginal breast cancer survivors was recognised by a Community Service NAIDOC Award in 2012.”

In her later years she did not let age slow her down, according to Carol Muir, who became friends with KW through teaching.

KW and musician Paul Kelly at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa) to celebrate 20 years of Keringke Arts.

Mrs Muir said KW was active in the Alice Springs L’Arche Group – an international movement that enables friendship with people who live with an intellectual disability – and also worked on various film and TV projects.

“She inspired songs produced as heavy metal music through her nephew’s band South East Desert Metal, and undertook storytelling at Blacken Music Festival, to inform concert attendees that they were on traditional lands,” Mrs Muir said.

In 2019, KW was commissioned to create a painting which was turned into a stained-glass window at the Alice Springs OLSH Catholic Church.

“The title of the painting, Urtakwerte Atywerrenge Anthurre; in English, Very Sacred Heart was her unique way of showing and describing in story the integration of her Christian and Indigenous beliefs,” Mrs Muir said.

“Each part of the painting represents different aspects of her Christian faith and her culture that she lived with devotion and gratitude.”

KW was also a senior adviser to Indigemoji – who lovingly referred to her as “their encyclopaedia” – and the author of the book ‘Listen deeply, let these stories in.’

At the start of the year, on February 1, KW’s life of storytelling was celebrated at the opening of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies on Todd Mall.

Although she had no children of her own, she is fondly remembered by the more than 30 foster children she and her husband nurtured, who in turn have had children and grandchildren – all of whom KW loved and cared for.