Kirsty Tilmouth - Women hunting for bush berries

Catalogue Number: 25/258

This painting tells a story about the bush berries that grow across Central Australia after a big rain. When the rain comes, the desert changes quickly. The dry ground softens, small plants wake up, and tiny flowers begin to appear. Soon the berries start to form, bringing colour and new life to the Country.

This is the time when local Aboriginal families go out walking to look for these fruits. Their footprints can be seen moving through the bush, showing the path they take across their land. These tracks remind us that families have walked these same paths for thousands of years, following the seasons and collecting food when it is ready.

The berries are an important bush food. Families know exactly which plants to look for, what the leaves should look like, and what colour the berries need to be before picking them. This knowledge is passed down from mothers, aunties, and grandmothers to the younger ones. As they walk, the older women teach the children how to find the fruit, how to gather it properly, and how to care for Country.

This painting celebrates the knowledge of bush foods, the importance of rain, and the strong connection between families and their land. It shows how the desert provides for the people, and how families work together to keep their culture alive.