July 29, 2025 • 24 mins
Hey you mob! In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented and inspiring Aunty Elverina Johnson—a proud Gungganji and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji woman from Yarrabah, in Far North Queensland.
Aunt Elverina is a true force: a singer, artist, fashion designer, businesswoman, and cultural leader. We yarn about everything from her creative roots growing up in a tin shack by the beach, to turning her artwork into wearable storytelling through her powerful collaboration with Taking Shape—a partnership that’s taken her all the way to Vogue and Sydney Fashion Week!
We talk about the importance of backing yourself, building generational wealth, and creating your own path—whether that’s through art, business, or community. Aunt Elverina shares how she’s been able to grow her cultural tourism business, Paperbark Arts, on her own property in Yarrabah, bringing together art, events, workshops, and more with the support of her family.
This is a powerful episode about creativity, culture, resilience, and self-determination. I’m so proud to share this yarn with you—it's one I know will fill your cup like it did mine.
Resources & Links
Paperbark Arts & Cultural Tours (Elverina’s business):
https://paperbarkarts.com.au
Taking Shape x Elverina Johnson collaboration (fashion label):
https://takingshape.com/AU/style-stories/elverina-johnson-third.html
First Nations Fashion + Design (FNAFAD):
https://firstnationsfashiondesign.com
Yarrabah Arts & Cultural Precinct:
https://www.yarrabah-arts-centre.com.au/
Website: www.blackmagicwoman.com.au
Follow us on Instagram - @blackmagicwomanpodcast
The Black Magic Woman Podcast is hosted by Mundanara Bayles and is an uplifting conversational style program featuring mainly Aboriginal guests and explores issues of importance to Aboriginal people and communities. Mundanara is guided by Aboriginal Terms of Reference and focusses more on who people are rather than on what they do.
If you enjoyed this episode, please ‘Subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on your Spotify app and tell your friends and family about us! If you’d like to contact us, please email, info@blackmagicwoman.com.au
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Black cast, Unite our voices. Black Magic Women Podcast acknowledges
the traditional owners of the land we have recorded this
episode on. We also acknowledge traditional owners of the land
where you, the listener or viewer, are tuning in from.
We would like to pay our respects to our elders
past and present and acknowledge that this always was Aboriginal
(00:25):
land and always will be Aboriginal land.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Welcome to the Black Magic Woman Podcast with Mandinara Bails.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Hey you mob, Welcome to another episode of Black Magic
Woman here on the beautiful lands of the Yager People's.
I cannot wait for you to listen to this yarn.
Everyone listening or watching this yarn is long overdue. But
I have been following Aunt and her journey for quite
some time, and I'm not going to give anymore away
(01:00):
right now. So do you mind just sharing with my
listeners and also our viewers on YouTube, your name, your mob,
and a little bit about your mob or your community.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We wandera Manda Naah, thank you for this opportunity to
come onto your podcast. I'm Alvarina Johnson, but my main
name is Murger from Yarrabai original community, which is about
sixty kilometers southeast of Cannas. I am a Konganji woman
on my grandfather's side and Wallabari Dingy on my grandmother's side.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So and I've heard you speak a few times. I
actually I think it was in Melbourne out a women's
leadership summit I heard you speak for the very first time.
Otherwise I'm watching you from afar. You spoke about your journey,
your mum and children and you're living in Brisbane at
once upon a time. You're just talking about your journey
(01:56):
and some of the really good things that have happened
to you and some of the things that have also
created some of the trauma in your life. But I
want to focus on the beautiful things that you've been
able to do in recent times. You've been doing art
for quite some time, and I know over Yarraba there's
(02:17):
an art center and weaving and pottery, so I've got
to come over there properly and sit down with you
over there and meet some of the deadly women over there.
But how did you get into practicing art or doing
art creating art?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, I come from a pretty creative family most but
most of them are all musicians and singers, So so
my first passion was singing and songwriting. So I've done
that for quite some time because my mom's saying, my
uncles and you know, my aunties. My grandmother was a
(02:54):
soprano singer in the church choir, so I guess following
you know, their footsteps, but also dabbing into the the
creative aspects of expression, I guess, and storytelling. So I'd
always sort of been, you know, at a young age,
scribbling and doling and all of that kind of stuff.
(03:18):
And it wasn't until probably maybe you know, in my
early twenties, I started thinking that, you know, I could
I could do this other form of art as well.
I could do singing, I could do all those other things.
But I wanted to do some visual stuff.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So I just.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Mainly did a lot of drawings and sketching and stuff
like that, but I never really made a big deal
of it.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Okay, what was you drawings?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So I was drawing things like fish and things to
do with the beach and the ocean because I grew
up on the beach in a little tin shack with
my parents and my siblings, and so inspiration was all
around me. So there's you know, seashells or it's this fishing,
(04:04):
all of that kind of stuff that was part of
my everyday living, and so it wasn't it wasn't hard
to be inspired by those things and bring that storytelling
into my artwork about growing up.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
I just sort of continued.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
On doing that and got involved in some smaller exhibitions
and stuff, and started getting opportunities to be involved in
other spaces, and in particular fashion with Grace Lilly and Lee,
who invited me to be part of her one of
her first, very first actually hubs in terms of nurturing
(04:41):
up and coming fashion designers. So I got, yeah, I thought,
you know, I'll do this. I'n't done it before, but
I don't mind the challenge and pushing boundaries a bit.
So I got involved in that and then it was
a really good experience, and that was a collaboration with
(05:01):
University of Technology. Then at that time it was really
good to be able to be part of that process.
And then yeah, it just started getting in, you know,
a bit more confident in how I wanted to bring
my own style and my own storytelling. So I use
a lot of things around nets and shells and things
(05:22):
like that into my my fashion designers Boset, but at
that time it was more like wearable art, so it
was more just storytelling and one offs.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
And then I sort of.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Got the opportunity to do collaboration with Taking Shape clothing stores.
So this year we released our third collaboration, which is
really good.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So Taking Shape ts true story. I was heavily pregnant.
I was about one hundred and twenty Ki Lows. I
only wore Taking Shape. I had the swimwear, I had
all of it. Yeah, and then when I saw your collaboration,
I was like, it's not just for big girls anymore.
But I've still got the trauma in my head of
(06:09):
when I was a big girl. That's the clothing I wore.
And then I had my weight loss surgery and I've
lost it on my weight I haven't bought a piece yet,
but then I saw your collaboration. I'm like, one day
I'm going to go buy a piece on these beautiful
mannequins now in my ears.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah yeah, and you're right there. So's they've gone down
to size ten I think size ten to size twenty.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Two something like that.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
They never had small size back in the day's ah,
so ize fourteen onwards. Yep.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, And I think that was because when the collaboration started,
there was a lot of women who wanted, you know,
the smaller sizes and like their clothing but taking shape. Yeah.
I mean it's one of those places where because I
used to shop there all the time. And how it
all started was I walked in there one day and
(07:03):
wanted to something to attend friend's fiftieth birthday, and I
didn't sort of find anything, so all I saw was
this denim jacket, and so I said, I'll just get
this jacket. I painted myself. This was sort of thinking myself,
and so I went up to the counter and I
(07:23):
told the lady what I was doing, and she said, oh,
just send me a photo of what you paint on
your jacket. And I actually said that, I mean, for me,
I'm always speaking diversity, and you know, we're always sort
of activists in very subtle ways about stuff. So I said,
you know, this is it's really good to have a
bit of diversity in your store in terms of design work.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
So so I sent.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
The photo back and probably within two weeks of that,
the head office got in touch with me and said,
would you be interested in doing a collaboration with US,
and I like jumped out us. I did a bit
of research first and about the company and what it
stood for, and I like what they stood for though.
They were all about making women feel good and you know,
(08:14):
all shapes and sizes being acceptable and basically empowering women
through clothing, and so I thought, yeah, I can do that. Yeah,
there was an alignment of values. Yeah, yeah, So it
was because I didn't sort of jump at it because oh,
it's a big opportunity. I wanted to make sure that
(08:35):
I agreed with their values and it was you know,
true to who I was and what I stood for
as well, and that's in terms of valuing women. So yeah,
when that opportunity came, I thought, yeah, this is my
opportunity to make a difference.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
And what is it done for you? What is this
collaboration done for you? Have you been able to I
don't know, travel the world, go to different run shows
or fashion shows, like what what are the what opportunities
have now presented?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Well through that first collection, we were able to be
part of Sydney Fashion Week with Grazally Lee First Nations
Fashion and Design. So the jacket one of the jackets
with my artwork on.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
It was featured in Vogue as well, and you're.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Talking about Vogue Magazine, Vogue Magazine, Fashion in Vogue magazine.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Vogue and also Vogue the USA Online. So I was like,
when they sent me the email, I literally threw my
phone up in the air and I thought, oh my goodness,
it's just like, you know, something you don't expect because
you're just doing You're just doing what you love doing.
But the outcome of that, it was it went a
(09:52):
lot deeper than that, and which was something I think
I really value was that having my artwork on there,
and the labels and my name and all that, but
more most importantly, what those stories were about. And it
was for me, it was using clothing as an education tool,
so telling people about stories and the values that came
(10:16):
with those stories. I had a lot of people, especially
non indigenous people, email me, send me photos and say, look,
I didn't know never heard these stories before, but the
values behind the stories really spoke to them, and that
they'd never been to an Indigenous community or had any
(10:37):
contact with an Indigenous person in terms of building a
relationship or whatever, but they learned something through wearing the
clothes and so when you hear stuff like that, you realize, oh,
you know, there are ways of building relationships with people and.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Sharing our stories. Yeah through fashion.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
And I love the fact that there's young Murray from
Yarraba and for listeners that they have no idea where
Yarrabar is far north Queensland, and it's it's not remote
because Cairns is right there and it is like probably
the number one tourist destination in Queensland. It's right near
(11:26):
the Great Barrier Reef. So you get a lot of
people international visitors coming to Gimois to cans Wallabara, Yidingy
Country and you're about what forty minutes drive.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
We're about sixty kilometers southeast of Kans. We're the closest
indigenous community to Cairns, but we're also the largest in
Australia by mass and by population, so we're pretty close
to Cairns and some.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Deadly talent and there's a lot of talent and Yarraba
a lot of gifted people.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
We do have an art center there, but I work
as an independent artist, so I also run a cultural
tourism business.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Business.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So Paperback Arts and Cultural Tools is based on my
private property in Yarraba. So it's being built and profiled
as a creative space. So you know, we do the
cultural tools, but we also use it as a space
to run events, do workshops and all different things that
(12:30):
were so we're still building that and so it's it's
one of those multi purpose spaces that that's the aim anyway,
to have that space for.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
So who supports you? Who's your little team? Yes?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So my team is family members. Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
So I don't, you know, get government funding to run
my business. It's all been from scratch and I always
say my currency was my culture. So using that currency
to you know, build the business, and I think that's
the most sort of valuable thing you could have to
(13:09):
use it in a positive way.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
What's some of the lessons that you've learned in business
in being an entrepreneur? What do you call yourself? Fashion design?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Just al, I'm just me.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But lessons that I've learned is never to give up
and keep going and don't always depend on people. You
just keep doing and using your own strengths to get
through and the people who want to help you will come.
So that's been a bit of a and been a
bit of a challenge. I guess bringing my son on board,
(13:48):
because he had a very different way of thinking. So
there were you know, which was about learning experience for me,
And I think if you don't have those learning experiences
and everything is all, you know, all fuzzy and warm inside,
then you don't see the realities of trying to run
(14:08):
a business. But you've got to have those classes, you've
got to have those challenges, challenges, those moments where you
just you know, feel like, oh, what's the point in
me doing this? But yeah, so that was a big
challenge because my son had as he's a creator himself,
so him getting into that space, he was a lot
(14:30):
more better at all the technology stuff than I am.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
So I was grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
But and he's been able to incorporate a lot of
stuff that I know didn't get to do. So he's
engaging a lot more people and feeling filling those gaps.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Filling those gaps for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I mean there were times when I said, oh, you're sacked,
but next minute.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Or else, I don't want to work for you anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
But that's saving my business with my sister, Yark, with
her daughters, with my husband, and now I got my
daughter and she's twenty and she's at Black Card. She's
nearly one month. Yeah, she's done a traineeship at Combank.
Finish your twelve Combank for twelve months. And so I
don't just want to hire my family. I want to
(15:21):
hire my family that have the skills, yes, and the
capability and the drive to be able to work in
a high pressured environment. And you know there's businesses looking
after Combank in Google. So it'd be good to give
every black follow in my family an opportunity. But not
everybody has the drive that's right, exactly your passion, the motivation,
(15:44):
the dedication. So what would you say if you could
share some words of wisdom, especially to the younger mob
coming through the ranks when it comes to even starting
a business.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Oh, look, definitely there's opportunities. I think starting off wanting
with the big idea can be quite romantic at the time,
where you you know, you've got this big idea, big
dreams about whatever. But the hard work along the way,
that's where that's what matters the most, is sticking to
(16:17):
it and not being afraid to ask for help and
you know, and bring in people who can do some
things a little bit better. Than you, and sometimes we
don't want to admit that, but you know, we do
have opportunities where say with my son, he's a lot
more better at all the social media stuff than I am.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Over yeah, so I said, well, yeah, you can do that,
and I've seen what he can do.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
So I guess just being persistent as well and not
giving up because I've witnessed a lot of people who
have great ideas and want to start a business, but
then doing the hard work is when they decide it's
too hard for me. So I think, just keep on
(17:03):
going in pursuing your dreams and because you never know
where it's going to lead you. And it's all about
empowering ourselves and our community, our families. And I too
want to employ my family and I know I'm not
at that stage yet. So and it's a good thing
that you know, with our families, black families, you know,
(17:25):
you'll tell them are you're sacked, but they still come
back and.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Say no, right, you know, more is another day.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah, yeah, so's it's good. And I think having expertise
around to help with other things as well. So I'm
a little bit fortunate when my son is a law
sons is a lawyer, so he you know, sort of
gives me. I just happened to him when I need
a little bit of legal advice or whatever. But and
(17:52):
most recently, you know, one of my sons passed away
over almost two years ago, and he was part of
that dream too to have something of his own as
part of the bus business, so which we often took
because he loved to cook. And unfortunately, you know, he
passed away, but I'm trying to continue on his dream
(18:13):
and legacy. So I bought a coffee van which I
will name after him. So we're hoping to have that
as part of the another feature of the business on
the property. So it will be called that O's Cafe,
So we'll be you know, doing tea and coffee and
all things that comes with it, sitting under the tree
(18:33):
and out on country and you know, so something with
a bit of difference. But there's yar Rochinaina, that's you know,
Ross and his wife.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
But a good little business happening there.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
So there's no shortage of opportunities from mob. And I
was just gonna say, in terms of my final little
question here is what are your hopes for the future.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
My hopes for the future is that I'll you know,
create opportunities for my family, my children, my grandchildren who
you know, carry on that legacy. And the good thing
about is it's all happening on my own property, so
there's room for that to grow and not not just
business wise, but for my family to continue on with
(19:22):
that and you know, trying to create that generation wealth
and stop taking the crumbs and build my own bakery.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
So I love that, stop taking the crumbs and build
our own bakery. Yeah?
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:39):
And it's all about And I always say to people, well,
you keep asking why can't I do this?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
And I always so, well, why not? Why not?
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Back yourself?
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Fuck yourself? And what's stopping you? No one going to
do it for you?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And it's been an absolute privilege to listen to your
yarn and your story, your journey, and just to hear
about mob that are growing up in community on our
own country that have been able to create into generational wealth, opportunities,
multiple businesses. It's just amazing and not enough people, especially
(20:19):
when it comes to mainstream media that do nothing but
demonize our people. Like this podcast to me means a
lot because I get to showcase the best, the worst,
the hard times, the good times. Our lives are. You know,
it's not all like you said, smooth sailing. There's hurdles,
there's challenges, but at the end of the day, our
(20:42):
people are pretty deadly. Despite all of the odds that
are against us, we still manage to get through and
make something out of, you know, some of the situations
that we're in, just to turn our lives around and
to make something out of ourselves. And you've been you know,
that example in your community and in your family, but
(21:04):
a really good example for not just Indigenous people to
look at about what you can do and opportunities that
you can create if you're passionate and if you're determined.
So thank you. You've inspired me. I love fashion and
I can't wait. I've always said, you know, when I
(21:26):
go into my ears and I'm looking at this and
my husband says to me, no, no, no, no more clothes.
One day I'm going to get a piece and I'll
send a photo and post it online when I do.
But I just want to say thank you for making
time while you're here in Mangangin to jump on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Thank you for this opportunity, and I appreciate giving me
space to share my story.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And yeah, just do.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
The mob out there, like you know, don't give up,
just keep going. If you can't do it for community,
just do it for yourself.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Just inspirational on so many levels. I love actually being
part of a family of all women. I've had eight sisters.
Just seeing women thrive and literally take our rightful place
in our families and community and in this country now
known as Australia. It's deadly. It fills my cup and
(22:23):
I can't wait for a lot of my listeners to
be able to hear this yard. So thank you again
for making the time. It's been an absolute pleasure. And
I bet you next time I see you, it'll be
on your country for sure. You're welcome to come do
your podcast anytime. I'll be there, don't you worry. With
my swag and my tribe.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
We'll get to make do a cooking some bush food
deadly or give mob.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
You know, there's so many things that I want to
share in terms of like you know, recapping the yarn.
You know, don't take the crumbs on the table, just
go build your own bakery, Like why not if that's
what you want to do. But I know that there's
a lot that's going to be in the show notes.
We can reach out to Annie Alvarena in terms of
(23:06):
the cultural tools Paperbark or also getting your hands on
a piece of fashion with her collaboration with Taking Shape.
I hope you've enjoyed this amazing, inspirational yarn with the
one and only Annie Elverina Johnson. Thank you. Have a
Deadly day all night. It depends where you are in
the world. Until next time, By for now. If you'd
(23:28):
like any more on today's guest, please visit our show
notes in the episode description. A big shout out to
all you Deadly Mob and allies who continue to listen, watch,
and support our podcast. Your feedback means the world. You
can rate and review the podcast on Apple and Spotify,
or even head to our socials and YouTube channel and
(23:50):
drop us a line.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
The Black Magic Woman podcast is produced by Clint Curtis,
wh
Black cast, Unite our voices. Black Magic Women Podcast acknowledges
the traditional owners of the land we have recorded this
episode on. We also acknowledge traditional owners of the land
where you, the listener or viewer, are tuning in from.
We would like to pay our respects to our elders
past and present and acknowledge that this always was Aboriginal
(00:25):
land and always will be Aboriginal land.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Welcome to the Black Magic Woman Podcast with Mandinara Bails.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
Hey you mob, Welcome to another episode of Black Magic
Woman here on the beautiful lands of the Yager People's.
I cannot wait for you to listen to this yarn.
Everyone listening or watching this yarn is long overdue. But
I have been following Aunt and her journey for quite
some time, and I'm not going to give anymore away
(01:00):
right now. So do you mind just sharing with my
listeners and also our viewers on YouTube, your name, your mob,
and a little bit about your mob or your community.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
We wandera Manda Naah, thank you for this opportunity to
come onto your podcast. I'm Alvarina Johnson, but my main
name is Murger from Yarrabai original community, which is about
sixty kilometers southeast of Cannas. I am a Konganji woman
on my grandfather's side and Wallabari Dingy on my grandmother's side.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
So and I've heard you speak a few times. I
actually I think it was in Melbourne out a women's
leadership summit I heard you speak for the very first time.
Otherwise I'm watching you from afar. You spoke about your journey,
your mum and children and you're living in Brisbane at
once upon a time. You're just talking about your journey
(01:56):
and some of the really good things that have happened
to you and some of the things that have also
created some of the trauma in your life. But I
want to focus on the beautiful things that you've been
able to do in recent times. You've been doing art
for quite some time, and I know over Yarraba there's
(02:17):
an art center and weaving and pottery, so I've got
to come over there properly and sit down with you
over there and meet some of the deadly women over there.
But how did you get into practicing art or doing
art creating art?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, I come from a pretty creative family most but
most of them are all musicians and singers, So so
my first passion was singing and songwriting. So I've done
that for quite some time because my mom's saying, my
uncles and you know, my aunties. My grandmother was a
(02:54):
soprano singer in the church choir, so I guess following
you know, their footsteps, but also dabbing into the the
creative aspects of expression, I guess, and storytelling. So I'd
always sort of been, you know, at a young age,
scribbling and doling and all of that kind of stuff.
(03:18):
And it wasn't until probably maybe you know, in my
early twenties, I started thinking that, you know, I could
I could do this other form of art as well.
I could do singing, I could do all those other things.
But I wanted to do some visual stuff.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So I just.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Mainly did a lot of drawings and sketching and stuff
like that, but I never really made a big deal
of it.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Okay, what was you drawings?
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So I was drawing things like fish and things to
do with the beach and the ocean because I grew
up on the beach in a little tin shack with
my parents and my siblings, and so inspiration was all
around me. So there's you know, seashells or it's this fishing,
(04:04):
all of that kind of stuff that was part of
my everyday living, and so it wasn't it wasn't hard
to be inspired by those things and bring that storytelling
into my artwork about growing up.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
I just sort of continued.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
On doing that and got involved in some smaller exhibitions
and stuff, and started getting opportunities to be involved in
other spaces, and in particular fashion with Grace Lilly and Lee,
who invited me to be part of her one of
her first, very first actually hubs in terms of nurturing
(04:41):
up and coming fashion designers. So I got, yeah, I thought,
you know, I'll do this. I'n't done it before, but
I don't mind the challenge and pushing boundaries a bit.
So I got involved in that and then it was
a really good experience, and that was a collaboration with
(05:01):
University of Technology. Then at that time it was really
good to be able to be part of that process.
And then yeah, it just started getting in, you know,
a bit more confident in how I wanted to bring
my own style and my own storytelling. So I use
a lot of things around nets and shells and things
(05:22):
like that into my my fashion designers Boset, but at
that time it was more like wearable art, so it
was more just storytelling and one offs.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
And then I sort of.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Got the opportunity to do collaboration with Taking Shape clothing stores.
So this year we released our third collaboration, which is
really good.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
So Taking Shape ts true story. I was heavily pregnant.
I was about one hundred and twenty Ki Lows. I
only wore Taking Shape. I had the swimwear, I had
all of it. Yeah, and then when I saw your collaboration,
I was like, it's not just for big girls anymore.
But I've still got the trauma in my head of
(06:09):
when I was a big girl. That's the clothing I wore.
And then I had my weight loss surgery and I've
lost it on my weight I haven't bought a piece yet,
but then I saw your collaboration. I'm like, one day
I'm going to go buy a piece on these beautiful
mannequins now in my ears.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah yeah, and you're right there. So's they've gone down
to size ten I think size ten to size twenty.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Two something like that.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
They never had small size back in the day's ah,
so ize fourteen onwards. Yep.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, And I think that was because when the collaboration started,
there was a lot of women who wanted, you know,
the smaller sizes and like their clothing but taking shape. Yeah.
I mean it's one of those places where because I
used to shop there all the time. And how it
all started was I walked in there one day and
(07:03):
wanted to something to attend friend's fiftieth birthday, and I
didn't sort of find anything, so all I saw was
this denim jacket, and so I said, I'll just get
this jacket. I painted myself. This was sort of thinking myself,
and so I went up to the counter and I
(07:23):
told the lady what I was doing, and she said, oh,
just send me a photo of what you paint on
your jacket. And I actually said that, I mean, for me,
I'm always speaking diversity, and you know, we're always sort
of activists in very subtle ways about stuff. So I said,
you know, this is it's really good to have a
bit of diversity in your store in terms of design work.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
So so I sent.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
The photo back and probably within two weeks of that,
the head office got in touch with me and said,
would you be interested in doing a collaboration with US,
and I like jumped out us. I did a bit
of research first and about the company and what it
stood for, and I like what they stood for though.
They were all about making women feel good and you know,
(08:14):
all shapes and sizes being acceptable and basically empowering women
through clothing, and so I thought, yeah, I can do that. Yeah,
there was an alignment of values. Yeah, yeah, So it
was because I didn't sort of jump at it because oh,
it's a big opportunity. I wanted to make sure that
(08:35):
I agreed with their values and it was you know,
true to who I was and what I stood for
as well, and that's in terms of valuing women. So yeah,
when that opportunity came, I thought, yeah, this is my
opportunity to make a difference.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
And what is it done for you? What is this
collaboration done for you? Have you been able to I
don't know, travel the world, go to different run shows
or fashion shows, like what what are the what opportunities
have now presented?
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Well through that first collection, we were able to be
part of Sydney Fashion Week with Grazally Lee First Nations
Fashion and Design. So the jacket one of the jackets
with my artwork on.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
It was featured in Vogue as well, and you're.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Talking about Vogue Magazine, Vogue Magazine, Fashion in Vogue magazine.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Vogue and also Vogue the USA Online. So I was like,
when they sent me the email, I literally threw my
phone up in the air and I thought, oh my goodness,
it's just like, you know, something you don't expect because
you're just doing You're just doing what you love doing.
But the outcome of that, it was it went a
(09:52):
lot deeper than that, and which was something I think
I really value was that having my artwork on there,
and the labels and my name and all that, but
more most importantly, what those stories were about. And it
was for me, it was using clothing as an education tool,
so telling people about stories and the values that came
(10:16):
with those stories. I had a lot of people, especially
non indigenous people, email me, send me photos and say, look,
I didn't know never heard these stories before, but the
values behind the stories really spoke to them, and that
they'd never been to an Indigenous community or had any
(10:37):
contact with an Indigenous person in terms of building a
relationship or whatever, but they learned something through wearing the
clothes and so when you hear stuff like that, you realize, oh,
you know, there are ways of building relationships with people and.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
Sharing our stories. Yeah through fashion.
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
And I love the fact that there's young Murray from
Yarraba and for listeners that they have no idea where
Yarrabar is far north Queensland, and it's it's not remote
because Cairns is right there and it is like probably
the number one tourist destination in Queensland. It's right near
(11:26):
the Great Barrier Reef. So you get a lot of
people international visitors coming to Gimois to cans Wallabara, Yidingy
Country and you're about what forty minutes drive.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
We're about sixty kilometers southeast of Kans. We're the closest
indigenous community to Cairns, but we're also the largest in
Australia by mass and by population, so we're pretty close
to Cairns and some.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
Deadly talent and there's a lot of talent and Yarraba
a lot of gifted people.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
We do have an art center there, but I work
as an independent artist, so I also run a cultural
tourism business.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Business.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
So Paperback Arts and Cultural Tools is based on my
private property in Yarraba. So it's being built and profiled
as a creative space. So you know, we do the
cultural tools, but we also use it as a space
to run events, do workshops and all different things that
(12:30):
were so we're still building that and so it's it's
one of those multi purpose spaces that that's the aim anyway,
to have that space for.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
So who supports you? Who's your little team? Yes?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So my team is family members. Yes.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
So I don't, you know, get government funding to run
my business. It's all been from scratch and I always
say my currency was my culture. So using that currency
to you know, build the business, and I think that's
the most sort of valuable thing you could have to
(13:09):
use it in a positive way.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
What's some of the lessons that you've learned in business
in being an entrepreneur? What do you call yourself? Fashion design?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Just al, I'm just me.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
But lessons that I've learned is never to give up
and keep going and don't always depend on people. You
just keep doing and using your own strengths to get
through and the people who want to help you will come.
So that's been a bit of a and been a
bit of a challenge. I guess bringing my son on board,
(13:48):
because he had a very different way of thinking. So
there were you know, which was about learning experience for me,
And I think if you don't have those learning experiences
and everything is all, you know, all fuzzy and warm inside,
then you don't see the realities of trying to run
(14:08):
a business. But you've got to have those classes, you've
got to have those challenges, challenges, those moments where you
just you know, feel like, oh, what's the point in
me doing this? But yeah, so that was a big
challenge because my son had as he's a creator himself,
so him getting into that space, he was a lot
(14:30):
more better at all the technology stuff than I am.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
So I was grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
But and he's been able to incorporate a lot of
stuff that I know didn't get to do. So he's
engaging a lot more people and feeling filling those gaps.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Filling those gaps for sure.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
I mean there were times when I said, oh, you're sacked,
but next minute.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Or else, I don't want to work for you anymore.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
But that's saving my business with my sister, Yark, with
her daughters, with my husband, and now I got my
daughter and she's twenty and she's at Black Card. She's
nearly one month. Yeah, she's done a traineeship at Combank.
Finish your twelve Combank for twelve months. And so I
don't just want to hire my family. I want to
(15:21):
hire my family that have the skills, yes, and the
capability and the drive to be able to work in
a high pressured environment. And you know there's businesses looking
after Combank in Google. So it'd be good to give
every black follow in my family an opportunity. But not
everybody has the drive that's right, exactly your passion, the motivation,
(15:44):
the dedication. So what would you say if you could
share some words of wisdom, especially to the younger mob
coming through the ranks when it comes to even starting
a business.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Oh, look, definitely there's opportunities. I think starting off wanting
with the big idea can be quite romantic at the time,
where you you know, you've got this big idea, big
dreams about whatever. But the hard work along the way,
that's where that's what matters the most, is sticking to
(16:17):
it and not being afraid to ask for help and
you know, and bring in people who can do some
things a little bit better. Than you, and sometimes we
don't want to admit that, but you know, we do
have opportunities where say with my son, he's a lot
more better at all the social media stuff than I am.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Over yeah, so I said, well, yeah, you can do that,
and I've seen what he can do.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
So I guess just being persistent as well and not
giving up because I've witnessed a lot of people who
have great ideas and want to start a business, but
then doing the hard work is when they decide it's
too hard for me. So I think, just keep on
(17:03):
going in pursuing your dreams and because you never know
where it's going to lead you. And it's all about
empowering ourselves and our community, our families. And I too
want to employ my family and I know I'm not
at that stage yet. So and it's a good thing
that you know, with our families, black families, you know,
(17:25):
you'll tell them are you're sacked, but they still come
back and.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Say no, right, you know, more is another day.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Yeah, yeah, so's it's good. And I think having expertise
around to help with other things as well. So I'm
a little bit fortunate when my son is a law
sons is a lawyer, so he you know, sort of
gives me. I just happened to him when I need
a little bit of legal advice or whatever. But and
(17:52):
most recently, you know, one of my sons passed away
over almost two years ago, and he was part of
that dream too to have something of his own as
part of the bus business, so which we often took
because he loved to cook. And unfortunately, you know, he
passed away, but I'm trying to continue on his dream
(18:13):
and legacy. So I bought a coffee van which I
will name after him. So we're hoping to have that
as part of the another feature of the business on
the property. So it will be called that O's Cafe,
So we'll be you know, doing tea and coffee and
all things that comes with it, sitting under the tree
(18:33):
and out on country and you know, so something with
a bit of difference. But there's yar Rochinaina, that's you know,
Ross and his wife.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
But a good little business happening there.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
So there's no shortage of opportunities from mob. And I
was just gonna say, in terms of my final little
question here is what are your hopes for the future.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
My hopes for the future is that I'll you know,
create opportunities for my family, my children, my grandchildren who
you know, carry on that legacy. And the good thing
about is it's all happening on my own property, so
there's room for that to grow and not not just
business wise, but for my family to continue on with
(19:22):
that and you know, trying to create that generation wealth
and stop taking the crumbs and build my own bakery.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
So I love that, stop taking the crumbs and build
our own bakery. Yeah?
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Why not?
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (19:39):
And it's all about And I always say to people, well,
you keep asking why can't I do this?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
And I always so, well, why not? Why not?
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Back yourself?
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Fuck yourself? And what's stopping you? No one going to
do it for you?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
And it's been an absolute privilege to listen to your
yarn and your story, your journey, and just to hear
about mob that are growing up in community on our
own country that have been able to create into generational wealth, opportunities,
multiple businesses. It's just amazing and not enough people, especially
(20:19):
when it comes to mainstream media that do nothing but
demonize our people. Like this podcast to me means a
lot because I get to showcase the best, the worst,
the hard times, the good times. Our lives are. You know,
it's not all like you said, smooth sailing. There's hurdles,
there's challenges, but at the end of the day, our
(20:42):
people are pretty deadly. Despite all of the odds that
are against us, we still manage to get through and
make something out of, you know, some of the situations
that we're in, just to turn our lives around and
to make something out of ourselves. And you've been you know,
that example in your community and in your family, but
(21:04):
a really good example for not just Indigenous people to
look at about what you can do and opportunities that
you can create if you're passionate and if you're determined.
So thank you. You've inspired me. I love fashion and
I can't wait. I've always said, you know, when I
(21:26):
go into my ears and I'm looking at this and
my husband says to me, no, no, no, no more clothes.
One day I'm going to get a piece and I'll
send a photo and post it online when I do.
But I just want to say thank you for making
time while you're here in Mangangin to jump on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
Thank you for this opportunity, and I appreciate giving me
space to share my story.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
And yeah, just do.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
The mob out there, like you know, don't give up,
just keep going. If you can't do it for community,
just do it for yourself.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Just inspirational on so many levels. I love actually being
part of a family of all women. I've had eight sisters.
Just seeing women thrive and literally take our rightful place
in our families and community and in this country now
known as Australia. It's deadly. It fills my cup and
(22:23):
I can't wait for a lot of my listeners to
be able to hear this yard. So thank you again
for making the time. It's been an absolute pleasure. And
I bet you next time I see you, it'll be
on your country for sure. You're welcome to come do
your podcast anytime. I'll be there, don't you worry. With
my swag and my tribe.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
We'll get to make do a cooking some bush food
deadly or give mob.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
You know, there's so many things that I want to
share in terms of like you know, recapping the yarn.
You know, don't take the crumbs on the table, just
go build your own bakery, Like why not if that's
what you want to do. But I know that there's
a lot that's going to be in the show notes.
We can reach out to Annie Alvarena in terms of
(23:06):
the cultural tools Paperbark or also getting your hands on
a piece of fashion with her collaboration with Taking Shape.
I hope you've enjoyed this amazing, inspirational yarn with the
one and only Annie Elverina Johnson. Thank you. Have a
Deadly day all night. It depends where you are in
the world. Until next time, By for now. If you'd
(23:28):
like any more on today's guest, please visit our show
notes in the episode description. A big shout out to
all you Deadly Mob and allies who continue to listen, watch,
and support our podcast. Your feedback means the world. You
can rate and review the podcast on Apple and Spotify,
or even head to our socials and YouTube channel and
(23:50):
drop us a line.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 1 (23:53):
The Black Magic Woman podcast is produced by Clint Curtis,
wh
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