Barb Egan – artist

'My name's Barbara Egan. I'm a Mati Mati woman from Balranald. My father was born in Framingham Mission.'

Barbara Egan runs an Aboriginal design workshop out of three sheds in Robinvale. She started the business about 12 years ago and, other than instruction from TAFE teachers from Mildura, is largely self-taught. When she was successful in securing a loan from ATSIC, Barb went out on her own, naming the business Miss Emily Aboriginal Art after her late sister.

After a few challenging years, things are looking up, with new interest in her silk bags and ceramics, three workers on Job Network traineeships and a new shed that will be converted into 'Miss Emily's Three Shed Gallery'.

It's a family affair, with several of Barb's six children employed as artists. With plans to distribute products via a website, Barb sees potential to employ other local Aboriginal people. Miss Emily products are available in Melbourne at the Koori Heritage Trust, and in outlets in Port Fairy and the Grampians. The silk and ceramic pieces are colourful and distinctive and feature outback sunsets.

The oldest of 10 children, Barb was born at Murraydown Station. Her father, a coal burner, moved around to work, between Swan Hill, Balranald, and Robinvale. She has been an artist since she was a girl, choosing to sketch and draw instead of attending to her lessons at school, and draws designs on paper, to be transferred onto ceramics. 

The family lived near the Murray River. Barb remembers Murray Perch on the table for Christmas dinner, and moving to higher ground during the 1956 floods.

Barb is an ardent football fan, and loves to attend games to see her grandson John Egan play for the Mildura Demons. She doesn’t follow one team, just picks a team for the night.
 
Barb is proud of her family of three sons and three daughters, 20 grandkids, and 12 great grandchildren.
'They all know of Aboriginal art, they all know how to dance.'