Dorcas Bennett Tinamayi | Mothers Story

Dorcas Bennett Tinamayi

Mrs Bennett's Daughter | "Mothers Story"

29 November - 20 December 2025

Art Afternoon | Saturday 13 December | between 2pm - 5pm

“I was Born in the bush at Wurturu rockhole near Kaltukatjarra (Docker River)”. After her birth her mother and father walked with her to Warburton Mission where she was given her English name by the missionary Mr. Will Wade.

Her parents returned, walking with Dorcas to the Warakurna - Tjukurla area. Although soon after they had to leave due to the radiation exposure from the atomic testing in Maralinga “the funny smell made a lot of people sick”. Her family met Mr. Bob McAuley and travelled with him in the renowned yellow Native Patrol Officer’s truck to the Amata settlement. They then travelled by camel to Areyonga where Dorcas began to attend school.

Dorcas and her family returned to the Warakurna homeland when it was established in the mid 1970s. “In 2005 we started painting in paper then in canvas, the old shop turned into an art centre, thats where we all started doing painting” Dorcas is the current Chairperson for Warakurna Artists.