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Ian Abdulla Ian Abdulla i(A48552 works by) (a.k.a. Ian W. Abdulla; Ian Wayne Abdulla; Ian Abdullah)
Born: Established: 1947 Swan Reach, Mid Murray area, Murray - Mallee area, South Australia, ; Died: Ceased: 29 Jan 2011 Berri, Barmera - Berri area, Riverlands, Murray - Mallee area, South Australia,
Gender: Male
Heritage: Aboriginal ; Afghan ; Aboriginal Ngarrindjeri
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Works By

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1 4 y separately published work icon Tucker Ian Abdulla , Ian Abdulla (illustrator), South Australia : Omnibus Books , 1994 Z849399 1994 single work single work single work picture book autobiography children's (taught in 1 units)

The Murray River of the 1950s was full of fish, and its surrounding landscape covered with vineyards and orchards. As a young boy Ian ranged along its banks and backwaters, catching yabbies, hunting swans and camping along the creeks at night while fishing for pondi, or cod.

But if tucker was plentiful, money was not, for there were few employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.

Ian's narrative paintings recall the stories of his youth.

1 6 y separately published work icon As I Grew Older : The Life and Times of a Nunga Growing Up Along the River Murray Ian Abdulla , Ian Abdulla (illustrator), Norwood : Omnibus Books , 1993 Z849282 1993 single work picture book children's

'Ian Abdulla's paintings and text offer a snapshot of an Aboriginal family living on a small stretch of the Murray River in South Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. This was a time of immense and profound environmental and social change when the assimilation policy still existed and there were few employment opportunities for Aborigines.

'Ian's personal story of survival affirms the culture of rural Aborigines who despite being dispossessed have been determined to stay on the land.' (Publication summary)

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