Muntararr Rosie Williams

Rosie (Muntararr) was born at Kurupu, near Kurtararra, around 1943. Rosie's mother was Mangala and her father was a Manyjilyjarra man. When she was young, she and her family walked their traditional country between the Percival Lakes and Kunawarritji. A severe drought in the 1950s made it difficult to live in the desert and the family moved southwest to Karlamilyi. Rosie's father passed away at Karlamilyi, leaving the women and children without any men. The women met up with some Martu who told them that their families were in Jigalong, and they decided to move to Jigalong mission.

The women arrived at the mission in 1957. They lived there for some time, but left to work on stations with their husbands. When the train still ran to Meekatharra, Rosie and Dulcie's husbands worked together on Yalgoo Station. The sisters also lived on various stations around Cue, Meekatharra, Mullewa and Mt Magnet. Rosie and her elder sister left the stations to yandy (mine with hand tools) for tin at Marble Bar and Bamboo Springs. At various times, they also lived at Jigalong, Strelley and Camp 61 (a community which has since disbanded).

All the sisters moved back to their homelands in 1982, and Rosie continues to be based at Punmu community.Rosie is an artist and has  been working on the Mankarr program since its creation in 2009. She also works as part of the Punmu Women's Ranger team. 

Photograph courtesy and copyright Tobias Titz.

Photo of Muntararr Rosie Williams

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