Lindsay Roughsey is one of the last remaining elders who was born on his family's country and raised on his country learning to hunt and gather and the laws and kinship relationships that guide the Lardil in their day today life.

As a child he experienced the coming of the missionaries and their attempt to smother their language and customs. Throughout his life he has been an elder statesman for his people, a brilliant artist, dancer and songman.

Always immaculately groomed with his ever-present red rag headband he is an imposing figure with a devilish smile. I had the pleasure of him giving me a language name " Wurruku" in 1984 when I became friends with his younger brother Dick and his wife Elsie.

Recently he has started coming to the art centre for painting. On his first visit I almost cried to see this once proud man confined to a wheelchair unable to communicate and unable to hold a brush or make mark on canvas.

Slowly over the next few weeks he grew stronger, more alert and started painting, at first aided, then unaided. He now walks in the front door of the art centre, some things are worth living for and he likes regularly holding conversations with fellow artists and female visitors to the art centre.

Brett Evans, for Lindsay Roughsey