Jock is a Jaru man, born and raised on Nicholson Station, which borders on desert country and situated over the Northern Territory border from Kununurra. He spent his working life based at Nicholson, and like other stockmen of his day, mustered on surrounding stations. Jock is a strong law man for the Jaru people and is the last respected elder for that region - a keeper of the law and culture. Jock's father and grandmother ‘grew him up’ (raised him). He had the opportunity to go to Beagle Bay for schooling, but his father and grandmother did not wish him to go - a fact which he has regretted all his life. With no formal education, Jock has avidly participated in important cultural and business matters in his country. He was Chairperson of the influential Wunun Regional Council and has been a leading figure in Aboriginal Affairs in the Kimberley - everyone knows Jock.
He is of Jaru tribe and married Doreen, a Gja woman from Warmun (Turkey Creek). Jock met Doreen when she was at school in Halls Creek. He worked for Len HILL at Nicholson - a ‘real top man’ - taught him how to drive cars, pull bores, fencing, operate machinery, and eventually Jock became head stockman. He worked at Nicholson until it was sold to Janet Holmes a’Court.
Before he was 20, Jock was offered a lucrative contract on the Australian Rodeo Circuit, however declined and remained a stockman for many years. He and Doreen had six boys and two girls and thirty-two grandchildren. He is a real family man and has been rewarded by his children who support their mother and father and form a tight-knit and caring family group. Jock has his own corroborees for man and for woman. His grandfather taught him these corroborees and he is the only keeper left of these corroborrees. Jock has lived in Warmun for eight years but still goes back to Nicholson (south of Halls Creek on the Territory side) regularly. He works closely with the Regional Council advising on initiatives to improve conditions for Indigenous people in the Kimberley.
Jock started to paint after watching his father make traditional carvings and markings on spears. Jock has a unique style of painting and paints Dreamtime stories as well as the country around Nicholson Station.
Jock is a Jaru man, born and raised on Nicholson Station, which borders on desert country and situated over the Northern Territory border from Kununurra. He spent his working life based at Nicholson, and like other stockmen of his day, mustered on surrounding stations. Jock is a strong law man for the Jaru people and is the last respected elder for that region - a keeper of the law and culture. Jock's father and grandmother ‘grew him up’ (raised him). He had the opportunity to go to Beagle Bay for schooling, but his father and grandmother did not wish him to go - a fact which he has regretted all his life. With no formal education, Jock has avidly participated in important cultural and business matters in his country. He was Chairperson of the influential Wunun Regional Council and has been a leading figure in Aboriginal Affairs in the Kimberley - everyone knows Jock.
He is of Jaru tribe and married Doreen, a Gja woman from Warmun (Turkey Creek). Jock met Doreen when she was at school in Halls Creek. He worked for Len HILL at Nicholson - a ‘real top man’ - taught him how to drive cars, pull bores, fencing, operate machinery, and eventually Jock became head stockman. He worked at Nicholson until it was sold to Janet Holmes a’Court.
Before he was 20, Jock was offered a lucrative contract on the Australian Rodeo Circuit, however declined and remained a stockman for many years. He and Doreen had six boys and two girls and thirty-two grandchildren. He is a real family man and has been rewarded by his children who support their mother and father and form a tight-knit and caring family group. Jock has his own corroborees for man and for woman. His grandfather taught him these corroborees and he is the only keeper left of these corroborrees. Jock has lived in Warmun for eight years but still goes back to Nicholson (south of Halls Creek on the Territory side) regularly. He works closely with the Regional Council advising on initiatives to improve conditions for Indigenous people in the Kimberley.
Jock started to paint after watching his father make traditional carvings and markings on spears. Jock has a unique style of painting and paints Dreamtime stories as well as the country around Nicholson Station.