Shire day, Titjikala

Art Centre documentation for this work states:
‘Pension day is a big day for community in Titjikala on Tuesday. Shire day is Thursday and it’s even bigger.

I raised my family in Titjikala so it has a special place in my heart. I left in 2002, moving to Amoonguna to be near my grandchildren. Since them I’m a dialysis patient. I don’t get back to Titjikala. I have to live in a hostel in Alice Springs. But I remember how it was so well. I know from family and friends, it’s the same.

Everyone from around town and the outstations drive down to the main street in town on Pension Day, and even more in Shire Day. Shire day is when all the people working for the shire get paid, like working at the garage, fencing, rubbish collecting on tractor or truck, road work, all those sorts of jobs.

Everyone gets out do the same as Pension Day, visit Centrelink, do banking at Community Store, do all their shopping, visit Health Centre, the nurse or Doctor if he’s visiting. They all visit each other, and they visit the art centre, where I used to paint. All the dogs follow everyone around town. They’re looking for treats. Everyone is happy to be there.

Some people sitting at their table on veranda. They eat out there, drink cup of tea. One household playing with the snooker table (top left). They saying hello to everyone walking past.

Winter time, people wearing footy colours, bright clothes. Some people have picnic, stopping on the grass to eat and talk. Police there too (mid left), just checking on the people. They relaxed too. No trouble. The day sees everyone smiling, dogs too! There’s lots of cars, lots of people, lots of babies, lots of kids, and lots of dogs. Everyone is smiling. The streets are busy. It feels really good to see everyone out and about, all really colourful and happy.

And then at night time, same day, same as Pension Day, everyone goes to sing along, in language - Pitjantjatjara - at the Lutheran Church – singing Gospel. That feeling in my chest – feels really good – when everyone is singing together. The music goes right through me. Then singing finished until next time. Everyone goes home until next time. Everyone settles into sleepy time again.

As soon as mobile dialysis services are here, I’ll be going back there to visit, and I can enjoy Pension and Shire Day, and singing Gospel in language with community again.’
Doris Thomas 2023

Doris Thomas was born at Arlyetilhe and grew up at Deep Well station, south of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, and paints stories relating to the Iterrkewarre tjukurrpa relating to James Range located on the station. Thomas’ mother was a Luritja woman from Kaltukatjara/Docker River, and her father was from Papunya, long before it was canvassed as a government Aboriginal reserve. Thomas’ parents both worked at Deep Well station, and the family later moved to the Maryvale Station near Frances Well, which eventually became the Titjikala community. These are the landscapes which continue to preoccupy Thomas and which she religiously paints.