Bertha and Angela Firebrace at Griffith Central Markets. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A Griffith mum-and-daughter duo is pioneering a new art venture called Emuly: The Gathering Emu, taking their innovative designs to market stalls across the Riverina.
Bertha Firebrace began her entrepreneurial career at the age of 60, when her daughter Angela Firebrace Pisciotta convinced her to take the leap.
“One day, I threw mum a bowl and said, ‘See if you can make a business out of this’,” Angela said.
Bertha began painting intricate dot-form patterns and stories on bowls made from gum trees and started selling them to friends and families.
“My mum has been a carer for a long time,” Angela said. ”She’s an elder who looks after elders. She was reluctant to get into business. But she paints so well, there’s love in every dot. We source the wooden objects and Mum paints them. She knows how to bring colours to life. She keeps saying she’s going to retire, but I think she enjoys it.”
The duo did a roaring trade at the Griffith Central Markets on Saturday, 20 August. A popular sale item was Bertha’s “Koolis” bowls, made from gum trees, painted in dot formation and used for serving snacks. The Firebraces now plan to market their products at other stalls and exhibitions across the Riverina.
Mum and daughter make a good team. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The stall also sold colourful jewellery, produced by their cousin Debbie Milgate-Murray and made from quandong, a small native desert tree with rough dark bark and pale-green leaves. The quandong fruit is also called a native peach, a popular bush tucker that can be used to make fruit juice or pies.
Debbie also makes necklaces and bracelets from wires and beads.
“Careful. It’s pronounced quandong, not condom,” she joked.
Angela, who runs the show, has returned to Griffith after living in Canberra for more than two decades.
“I learned how to weave baskets from my aunties in Ngunnawal country [the Canberra region]. Then I started to give basket-weaving classes myself.
“It’s a great thing to do. You can take your time and enjoy the process of weaving. If you’re quick, you can make a basket in one day, though you’ll probably end up with blisters.”
The Emuly business now sells the baskets, as well as soft sculptures designed as animals.
Artwork on offer. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Bertha also loves music and painted a guitar that was on display at the stall.
“Mum’s dream is to go to the country music festival in Tamworth.”
For more information on Emuly’s art, you can email [email protected].
The Griffith Central Markets are held on the third Saturday of every month at the Griffith Central shopping mall.
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