Gloria Whalan

 

Profile (Author/Illustrator)

Gloria writes about herself: “My age is 65 and I am part of the Stolen Generation. I was reared by my grandmother who was white. I did not know I was Koorie until I was 49. My people are Wiradjuri from NSW. I started drawing with charcoal from the fire at an early age. I knew I was different from the other children as my heart was in the bush, the land and the animals.

I was deserted at the age of 27 with six children between the ages of 1 and 9.  I painted pictures to get money for food and eventually started my own business teaching drawing and folk art.  I have been a foster parent for 30 years and have been teaching them to use art to relax.  My first love is art and I paint about many things.  My large family encourage and support me in what I do."

Gloria was Latrobe City's Senior Citizen of the Year in 2009, recognised for her contribution to the community of Central Gippsland, especially as a foster carer.

She is studying Indigenous Art at Gippsland TAFE and has exhibited in two Morwell Galleries.

 

Mermando the Spider; Guulaangga the Green Tree Frog; Girrawaa the Goanna; Gurawang the Bandicoot