This story is about all the jellyfish we see in our waters and that wash up on our beaches. The story comes from my mother's country - the mouth of the Holroyd River. We are not allowed to take tea tree bark from any of the trees except one big, old tree. We are also not allowed to cut wood for spears. If my father caught anyone doing this, they would be in big trouble and possibly be beaten or speared. We rip the bark off the tea trees and use it in many ways such as making bowls, sleeping mats, plates, and also in making fires. When we take bark from our 'big old tree', we place a cooked fish on a plate and put it on the ground under the tree. This is our way of saying 'thank you' to the tree. I remember seeing this big old tree when I was young and had my first child Christine. We believe that if someone takes bark from any other tree, our waters will fill with jellyfish, stinging people and making it bad for fishing. Only a non - local person, who does not know this story would do such a thing. The jelly fish will also come if we neglect to thank the big old tree for its bark with a cooked fish. Everything can be made right, if someone who belongs to our country takes the bark that was taken improperly and ties it back on the tree. The jelly fish will go away. But if if this is not done, the jellyfish will stay and our people will have to move our camp up river. We will stay in the new camp for a couple of weeks and then return to the old camp. The jelly fish will be gone. Artist: Jeannie Holroyd Limited edition etching, 49.5 by 45 Price includes postage anywhere within Australia
