Growing up around Bairnsdale, Alfred moved around a lot as a child, always in East Gippsland, his Country. His persevering childhood memory is of his mother, who never had much, but always found more to give. She took on foster kids, so Alfred and his two brothers were raised with around ten other children. For Alfred, they were his brothers and sisters too.
School and Alfred were never friends. He struggled to read, write or spell. But he could always draw. He left school at age 14 and spent years picking beans around the Bega Flats and Lindenow.
As a twenty-something, Alfred completed his high school certificate, and then went on to complete further education in visual arts and teaching. His driving passion is to teach his generation – and especially teachers – how to talk about Australian history. He is a mentor for Koorie youth, to get them heading in the right direction and set them up for success.
Alfred learned art from his mother. In fact, Alfred doesn’t even think of what he does as art. He is merely recording the stories of his ancestors, the dance passed down through generations, the dreamtime legends. It’s more a diary, a documentary, an encyclopedia... and every bit as true as a history book.