A Brush with Fame

Last night I was in the kitchen cooking dinner for Stephanie and her partner, Greg, who were coming over later, when I heard someone calling out “Hello” from the verandah. I walked out thinking our guests had arrived early but instead there was Lorna! “Wow” I said, “I know you! You’re Lorna from Njapitji Njapitji.” She nodded, but was looking a bit puzzled, obviously expecting to see our neighbors and not me, but I couldn’t let her go without letiing her know I still knew how to sing “Heads and Shoulders” in Pijantatjara”.  So there I was, standing on our verandah stupidly touching my head and shoulders singing “Kata, Allipiri etc” . She told me she has now left Njapitji Njapitji after 3 years and is now working at the Institue for Aboriginal Development with our neighbour, Mallie, who also only started there last week. It is all really exciting becasue there haven’t been language teachers at IAD and now there is Lorna and my neighbour. How good is that! I’m going to see if I can learn some Arrerente this year.

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