About Us
About Sharman
Aboriginal heritage
Sharman was raised in the area where she still lives near Warwick in Queensland and has had contact with many of the local Githabul and other people over her life.
Both her parents were Aboriginal people. Her mother was Priscilla Briggs of the Kwiambul people from around Guyra in NSW and her father was Kenny Kunoth of the Anmatyerre people from Utopia in NT. She met him in an exciting trip to Utopia in 1997 where he greeted her with open arms and shared with her as much as he could of the traditions of the Anmatyerre people.
Learning experiences
Education
She has a Bachelor of Indigenous Languages, from Charles Darwin University, and an Associate Diploma in Dance from the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) in Sydney.
Learning tours to traditional communities as part of above education:
Turkey Creek, NT;
Central Desert, NT;
Torres Strait Islands; and
Utopia traditional lands, Northern Territory, to meet with her birth father and extended family.
She has a Bachelor of Indigenous Languages, from Charles Darwin University, and an Associate Diploma in Dance from the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) in Sydney.
Learning tours to traditional communities as part of above education:
Turkey Creek, NT;
Central Desert, NT;
Torres Strait Islands; and
Utopia traditional lands, Northern Territory, to meet with her birth father and extended family.
Professional history
Public Performances & Choreography
Performer, choreographer and author of “Cicada Dreaming”, the arts performance of the 2007 Warwick Peace Festival in association with Matthew Doyle on digeridoo and , Stuart Ranson on shakahuchi.
Performer, choreographer and author of “Cicada Lights”, the arts performance of the 2009 Warwick Peace Festival in association with Matthew Doyle on digeridoo.
Performer at nationally televised AFL Grand Final, Melbourne, 2001.
Performer at nationally televised Christmas in the Domain Concert, Sydney 2002
Performer in open air concert in Fortitude Valley Brisbane for the Brisbane Festival 2001.
Performing Artist at “Thancoupie” Art Exhibition opening night, Brisbane City Council, 2001
Choreographer and performer for production of “Oedipus the King”. Directed by Assoc. Prof. Greg.McCart. USQ. Toowoomba 1996.
Woodford Folk Festival, 2002. Public performances.
Uluru Resort, Northern Territory. Nightly performances for guests most of 1995 year.
International Tours
Bali 1996. Ten day cultural exchange visit to Bali to perform Australian Indigenous dance.
New Caledonia 1999. Tour of Australian Indigenous music and dance, with Adrian Ross.
Educator and Artsworker
Goodwill Games, Queensland Indigenous Pavilion, Southbank-Brisbane 2001.
Indigenous Performing Artist, Pine Rivers State High School July 2001.
Aboriginal and Islander Community School, West End, Brisbane, 2002.
Numerous visits to regional schools conducting workshop performances on cultural awareness, Indigenous expression, dance training etc.
Employed as Aboriginal staff at a private school
Performer, choreographer and author of “Cicada Dreaming”, the arts performance of the 2007 Warwick Peace Festival in association with Matthew Doyle on digeridoo and , Stuart Ranson on shakahuchi.
Performer, choreographer and author of “Cicada Lights”, the arts performance of the 2009 Warwick Peace Festival in association with Matthew Doyle on digeridoo.
Performer at nationally televised AFL Grand Final, Melbourne, 2001.
Performer at nationally televised Christmas in the Domain Concert, Sydney 2002
Performer in open air concert in Fortitude Valley Brisbane for the Brisbane Festival 2001.
Performing Artist at “Thancoupie” Art Exhibition opening night, Brisbane City Council, 2001
Choreographer and performer for production of “Oedipus the King”. Directed by Assoc. Prof. Greg.McCart. USQ. Toowoomba 1996.
Woodford Folk Festival, 2002. Public performances.
Uluru Resort, Northern Territory. Nightly performances for guests most of 1995 year.
International Tours
Bali 1996. Ten day cultural exchange visit to Bali to perform Australian Indigenous dance.
New Caledonia 1999. Tour of Australian Indigenous music and dance, with Adrian Ross.
Educator and Artsworker
Goodwill Games, Queensland Indigenous Pavilion, Southbank-Brisbane 2001.
Indigenous Performing Artist, Pine Rivers State High School July 2001.
Aboriginal and Islander Community School, West End, Brisbane, 2002.
Numerous visits to regional schools conducting workshop performances on cultural awareness, Indigenous expression, dance training etc.
Employed as Aboriginal staff at a private school
About Brenda
Brenda has been on a lifelong journey to discover the reason that in her otherwise white-skinned Scottish family, her grandmother, father and herself were dark-skinned. She has recently traced her great grandmother back to the Berry Estate near Nowra in coastal NSW where her convict Scottish ancestors worked side by side with the local Dharawal people. She has worked as the Community Education Counsellor (Indigenous) at Warwick High School and has been involved in Aboriginal issues for over forty years.
About David
David's ancestors came mainly from England and he has convict couples as ancestors on his father's side. One was Henry Kable who was the convict who carried Captain Arthur Phillip ashore so he wouldn't get wet wen he landed at Sydney Cove in 1788 as leader of the British force which invaded Australia. Both sides of the family lived around the Armidale area of NSW from the mid 1800s where some were relatively prosperous sheep graziers and so must have been part of the displacement of Aboriginal people. David grew up disappointed to realise that the Aboriginal people of Australia were largely ignored and disregarded by his fellow Australians of European ancestry. He has been involved in Aboriginal rights issues for over 40 years.
The photograph of Sharman dancing which is on our Cunningham Highway sign was taken by the late Ron Hildred. We thank his family for permission to use it.
Contact Brenda & David Parsons Tel: 0459 655 648; Email: brendadavidp@gmail.com
