Uncle Charlie Chambers was born in Cherbourg in 1936. His parents were “Stolen. Generation from Far North Queensland. He helped R M Williams make his mark at Rocky Bar cattle station. His art is what he sees, not what others expect. It is his own, yet has a familiar simplicity and unique quality, with wondrous ways to depict the beauty of the land.
Champion footballer and boxer, all-round hard worker, softly-spoken and compassionate man, these days he lives to tell his remarkable stories and display his life's work in art, a life which until 15 "..were the best ...", he says, but where to then, no work in Cherbourg?
Uncle Charlie wanted to earn his own way through life, regardless of the limitations imposed upon him and others under the Aboriginal Protection Act, " ...I wanted to be a drover... so I escaped Cherbourg".
He finished up head stockman and manager on R M Williams "Rocky Bar Station" Eidsvold. He was inducted into the Stockman's Hall of Fame and was introduced to the Queen on that occasion. He features in a TV documentary about his life “Man Of Many Talents and renowned for his art.
Uncle Charlie was born on the Cherbourg mission, just 2 hours North-West of Noosa. On the 4th December 2017 he visited Noosa Heads, on the coastal border of the country on which he spent his early life and spent several hours at Noosa FM, telling his stories and displaying some of his art. In the early days, children from Cherbourg traveled to Halse Lodge for holidays and many would like to visit today to revive memories of what were the few good times, and a welcome break, from dormitory life on the mission.
It was an enjoyable day for Uncle Charlie, who has recently commenced dialysis treatment, but he hopes to return soon with a full exhibition of his art work.
All information contain has been published with the permission of B. J. Chambers. For further information on this and other details, please contact Uncle Charlie's son, Billy Joe Chambers on 0498 686 792.
Champion footballer and boxer, all-round hard worker, softly-spoken and compassionate man, these days he lives to tell his remarkable stories and display his life's work in art, a life which until 15 "..were the best ...", he says, but where to then, no work in Cherbourg?
Uncle Charlie wanted to earn his own way through life, regardless of the limitations imposed upon him and others under the Aboriginal Protection Act, " ...I wanted to be a drover... so I escaped Cherbourg".
He finished up head stockman and manager on R M Williams "Rocky Bar Station" Eidsvold. He was inducted into the Stockman's Hall of Fame and was introduced to the Queen on that occasion. He features in a TV documentary about his life “Man Of Many Talents and renowned for his art.
Uncle Charlie was born on the Cherbourg mission, just 2 hours North-West of Noosa. On the 4th December 2017 he visited Noosa Heads, on the coastal border of the country on which he spent his early life and spent several hours at Noosa FM, telling his stories and displaying some of his art. In the early days, children from Cherbourg traveled to Halse Lodge for holidays and many would like to visit today to revive memories of what were the few good times, and a welcome break, from dormitory life on the mission.
It was an enjoyable day for Uncle Charlie, who has recently commenced dialysis treatment, but he hopes to return soon with a full exhibition of his art work.
All information contain has been published with the permission of B. J. Chambers. For further information on this and other details, please contact Uncle Charlie's son, Billy Joe Chambers on 0498 686 792.
Selected photographs from the filming of the TV documentary about Uncle Charlie Chamber's life “Man Of Many Talents".
