Annie Moysey

Annie "Grannie" Moysey (née Knight;[1] 1875 - February 2, 1976) was an Aboriginal matriarch. She passed down the traditions of her tribal affiliation and was a revered figure among her people and in Wilcannia.

Biography

Moysey was born north of Bourke on the banks of the Warrego River near Fords Bridge.[1] She was of Gunu descent and raised by her grandmother who taught her to speak Gunu, Margany and Wangkumara.[1] She also learned traditional lore as a child.[2] Moysey worked along the Darling River, working at various stations, but most often at Old Toorale and also raised her own children, grandchildren and others.[1] She taught her grandson and artist, William Badger Bates, how to carve in the kalti paarti style.[3] During the 1920s, Moysey was forced to take the children she cared for to the Pooncarie Aboriginal Reserve, due to a work shortage.[2] She stayed outside the reserve in a camp she set up herself and continued to work to care for the children.[2] On October 11, 1930, she married Leonard Alfred Moysey in Wilcannia.[2] The couple transferred briefly to Medindee Mission Station, but returned to Wilcannia in 1939.[2]

Moysey was the last person living in her area who could perform the corroboree in the traditional way.[1] She was known as Wilcannia's Grandmother and had a great deal of authority among her people.[4] She kept the tribal laws and people believed that she had mekigar (or Barkindji witch doctor) knowledge.[2] Moysey died on February 2, 1976, in the Wilcannia and District Hospital.[2]

References
  1. Kovacic, Leonarda; Lemon, Barbara (12 January 2009). "Moysey, Annie". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  2. Hardy, Bobbie, "Moysey, Annie (1875–1976)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2 August 2018
  3. "Carving, Kalti paarti, Menindee, Central West Riverine, New South Wales, Australia". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  4. "The Most Beautiful Lady..." (PDF). New Dawn. 1 (10): 2–3. January 1971.
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