Brett Clarke Bio – Kirrae Whurrung Tribe – Born 1977
A fundamental belief of the RBSF committee is that while we are contributing to our local Australian culture that has imported/colonial feature it is most important that we respect and engage with the culture of the first people of Australia.
Dr Menzies said “we’re very pleased to announce that Brett Clarke, a member of the Kirrae Whurrung Tribe, will be working with the local School Children to teach them a local language song to perform at our Festival Finale Concert to celebrate our shared history and NAIDOC week”.
Brett’s Bio: From early childhood, I spent much of my time with my late Grandfather, who taught me much of our cultural history of the Kirrae Whurrung Tribe. Pop was an expert at wood carving and showed me and my brother Crispian how to use the tomahawk and rough rasp to make spears, boondi’s, carved snakes, and boomerangs’ Pop not only showed us how to carve – he told us stories and the cultural significance of the wood carvings – precious memories that continue to inspire my carving, paintings, and songs.
I used to spend many hours with Pop on the horse and cart going through the Framlingham Forest. Pop told me his stories about our culture, ancestors and relatives, bush medicine plants and native birds while we cut firewood to bring back to his house. My mother Patricia has been another great source of inspiration. She is an expert artist as well singer/songwriter and Author of the book Rainbow Serpent of The Hopkins River.
My ambitions are to continue Pop’s and my mothers work to increase cultural awareness of both local indigenous and mainstream communities. I intend to do this through my artwork producing cultural woodcarving artefacts and through my songwriting as my contribution to Reconciliation.
Available for Local Aboriginal Cultural Talks/Walks & or Music Performance
Check out Brett’s latest releases here.
Check out Brett’s music and debut album ‘Keep the Dream Alive‘.
Check out Brett’s album ‘Face Your Fears’