My story

After reading François Giner’s book, « En terre Aborigène », I contacted François Giner to ask him if I could come and take photos at his camp and of his life with the Aboriginal people as an article for the European media.
He accepted straight away.

Having spent 3 weeks with François and his Aboriginal friends and following many discussions and interviews with him, I realised that my media article would neither be of use to him or his friends.
François is in need of genuine financial assistance in order to continue the work he has been doing for the last 7 years and to put in place projects for 2010-2011 through his association, Nkgalabon Murrango.
We thus decided to create a photographic exhibition to make the greatest number of people aware of his work and to raise funds for the association.

For me, this exhibition is not only a photographic exhibition.
This exhibition is not only the story of a meeting with the book « En terre Aborigiène » by François Giner and the inhabitants of the Weemol and Bulman communities.

This exhibition is also a way to contribute to the « Close the gap » actions being taken by the Australian government and Prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Each of us has in their own way the power to help things move forward, each one of us has the power the help and support actions.

I would like to be one of those people who have helped to remove the wall that separates two cultures.

Not so that they disappear and become one culture, but so that they can both mutually move forward toward a common future.

Being French, I would like to be worthy tonight of one of the many Australians who work daily to create a more integrated Australia and who work to remedy the errors of the past.

Where I come from or my nationality is of little importance. The most important thing is the worth, commitment and love that I place in this work.
This should be true for all those who believe that we can always do more to improve the social coherence and dynamic of a country.

These portraits are the faces of Aborigines livings in the Northern Territory, but they are also faces of Australians.

These moments of life are moments of life of the Aboriginal people, but they are also those moments of life enjoyed by all Australians.

The Nkgalabon Murrango association is like any association, it is there to help, support, to learn, to meet and to understand.

It is like all Australian associations.

Difference will always exist for those people who are not willing to take steps towards reconciliation.
Hate will always exist for those people who are not willing to forgive.
Fear will always exist for those people who do not want to meet.
Jealousy will always exist for those people who are not willing to understand.

I therefore dedicate this exhibition, these photos, this story, to all the actors who help in promoting a better understanding of the rich diversity that is Australia.

Questioning and interrogation are the foundations for research and knowledge.

Let us not forget that encounters are born of a desire to know and to share.

Matthieu Rabusseau, the photographer.