Original artworks for children's book 'Malu Kangaroo', 2007 / by Bronwyn Bancroft

PXD 1464

fonds

2007

Graphic Materials, Paintings

1008931

16 paintings - 51.0 x 64.0 cm - acrylic on archival paper

Bronwyn Bancroft’s book Malu Kangaroo, published in 2007, was dedicated to Malu Mark Bellear, son of the donor Kaye Bellear and Bob Bellear, Australia’s first Indigenous judge. Malu, who was a carpenter and keen surfer, died in 1996 at the age of 23 years.

The illustrations for the book tell the story of Malu-Kangaroo teaching the first children to surf. Bancroft’s illustrations of the Australian coastline and oceans were inspired by the north coast of New South Wales. The images reflect Indigenous storytelling and a close affinity with the natural habitat and landscape.

Reference:
Library correspondence file
Design & Art Australia Online. https://www.daao.org.au/ (accessed 19 June 2017).

Kaye Bellear purchased the illustrations from Bronwyn Bancroft in 2007

A collection of 16 original artworks by Indigenous artist Bronwyn Bancroft for children's book 'Malu Kangaroo'. The illustrations reflect the story of Malu who taught Aboriginal children to surf, showing scenes of the beach, ocean, birds, fish and the figures on their surfboards riding the waves.

1. Malu Kangaroo lived on the wide lands beyond the tall tree country - pp. 2-3
2. But he had a great longing for the sea so he ran and ran and ran until he came to the sea country - pp. 4-5
3. Waiting on the beach were the first children..."what will you give us?" said the first children - pp. 6-7
4. I will show you how to play with the ocean said Malu Kangaroo - pp. 8-9
5. He took some wood and he worked it and shaped it and rubbed it and smoothed it and he floated it upon the water for the first children - pp. 10-11
6. The children took the gift of Malu-Kangaroo and swam out into the sea - pp. 12-13
7. To balance and to guide it - pp. 14-15
8. They learnt to swim across the water like fying fish - pp. 16-17
9. To leap the waves like shining dolphins and to ride the high crests - pp. 18-19
10. Or sweep and fly before the crashing breakers like birds in the sun / Or swoop and fly before the crashing breakers like bright birds in the sun - pp. 20-21
11. Then Malu went away to his place but the first children stayed in the sun / Then Malu Kangaroo went away to his own place but the first children stayed in the sun and they played with his gift and with the sea - pp. 22-23
12. And they played with his gift and with the sea - pp. 24-25
13. If you got to the beaches in our time up and down the coast you will see people surfing - pp. 26-27
14. And you will find that they skim across the water and ride the high crests and fly from the crashing breaks - pp. 28-29
15. On surfboards very much like the one that was first made - pp. 30-31
16. For the first children by Malu Kangaroo - p. 32

Copyright status:: In copyright - Life of creator plus 70 years
Copyright holder:: Bronwyn Bancroft
Approval for reproduction required:
Rights and Restrictions Information:: All commercial use of works by Bronwyn Bancroft should be referred to her nominated copyright collecting agency - Copyright Agency
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy Bronwyn Bancroft

Malu kangaroo : how the first children learnt to surf by Judith Morecroft & Bronwyn Bancroft. Surry Hills, N.S.W. : Little Hare Books, 2007.

Titles from artist's captions on drawings.

Signed and dated lower right in black brushpoint 'Browyn Bancroft 2006'