It's been a beautiful wet month or so here and the plateau is shrouded in parkland green now. It is stunning, especially with the magnificent views we live with, both distant and small, hidden spaces. However, we all know tomorrow will likely bring a swIng back to bone aching drought. Water is the prize commodity in this dry, dry land of ours, particularly in areas such as the Northern Territory where 90% of the water supply comes from underground. In earlier days, despite a lack of permanent water supply, aboriginal people knew where to find drinking water. Water was available underneath the soil near rocks and trees and wild bird movements. Aboriginal people used digging sticks and coolamons to dig and store the water to drink.

Today's fabric is Underground Water, designed by the skilled artist Janet Nakamarra Long. Janet was born and grew up on her traditional homelands of Warntapari, near Willowra Community in Central Australia as part of a talented and well-known artistic family. In these designs, she uses traditional iconography to represent the underground flow of water, porous rocks and soakages. Her paintings are detailed with intricate dotting which flows across the canvas. She uses a topographical view of the land to connect the water soakages and the travelling that her ancestors had to make to ensure their survival and access to water. Janet is also a teacher and a respected linguist for her people., working with the elders in the community in producing books in Warlpiri language.