Bill-ku

This painting recalls a sad but strange incident from the 1960’s, near present day Wingellina Community. In this version a European prospector called Bill had a mine shaft in which he wanted to set up an explosive charge. His only means of getting up and down was with a windlass at the top of the shaft, for which Bill had the help of an elderly Aboriginal man to help him by winding the windlass up and down. On this day Bill gave instructions as to what was to happen; he should be lowered into the mine to set and light the fuses for the shot, and then he would call to be lifted out with the windlass. Satisfied that these instructions were understood Bill went below, set the shot, lit the fuse, and called to be lifted out. But the elderly Aboriginal man had, for some reason, quietly walked away. Perhaps he misunderstood his instructions or even believed that Bill lived down in his mine and was just going home. The explosive charge went off, the mine fell in and Bill became part of the space. The aftermath can be seen as the colourful area in the centre of the lower part of the painting, with the figure of Bill appropriately painted in blues.