Ngamayu Ngamaru Bidu
born about 1950
Manyjilyjarra language group, Karimarra skin group
Parnngurr community
Martumili Artists
Ngamayu grew up around Pitu. As a child, she encountered the surveyor Len Beadell, who was grading roads near Well 22. He gave Ngamayu and her siblings fruit. Not realising that it was meant to be eaten raw, they cooked the fruit until it was completely dried up. After meeting Beadell, Ngamayu’s family was picked up at Parnngurr rock hole and taken to Jigalong.
Martilirri, Kalypa and Kartarru
2008 by Ngamaru Bidu
acrylic on canvas, 147.5 x 99.6 cm
Martumili Artists
National Museum of Australia
This is a well called Martilirri [Well 22]. And around there is also Kalypa [Well 23] and Kartarru [Well 24], in the middle. And in summertime we could stop in those places because they have permanent water. After the rain we could move back to our homeland because the rock holes and soaks would all be filled again.
And the footprints are a Dreamtime story of a man looking for a water. Wanti [woman] and a man travelling together and flying. When they checked it, there was no water around that rock hole, and when there was no water they flew. They went forever. That was in the Dreamtime when they were walking around.
