Geoffmanthey.com.au  My Art.

My name is Geoff "Yamba"Manthey I'm a descendant of the "Kooma"tribe in Southwest Queensland. Cunnamulla is my hometown and it is there that I grew up until my early adulthood. The traditional way of life for my people were all but over back then as most of them had been dispossessed of their land only to be replaced by cattle and sheep, therefore being introduced to the whitefella's way of life.

In the early 1980's and with the intention of only staying a couple of days I left Cunnamulla and headed to Moree in NSW to visit a friend on my arrival to Moree things didn't quite turn out as I had planned. After awhile when I got to know the people and they got to know and accept me I thought that there wasn’t much difference in our lifestyles in being that Cunnamulla had a” Fringe Dwellers history” that being the removal from their land and forced to live on the outskirts of the townships on Reserves and missions. Moree still has a Top Camp and The Mehi mission It turned out to be another Chapter in my life as the envisioned couple of days visit turned out to be a 15 year stopover I now have family and great friends there which I try to visit on regular occasions. It was in Moree that I first witnessed the creating of Traditional Weaponry and Canvas Paintings by a couple of the local Elders, I was fascinated by the fact that by looking at a piece of Wood, Bark, Canvas being transformed into a masterful recording of our History that I was captivated. After some basic lessons about the meanings of Paint Colours, Symbols, Stories and their representations I decided then that this was what I wanted to do.

Following the loss of my Mother I relocated to Charleville South West Queensland to try and support my Father and Siblings and after awhile I made the decision to stay here on a long-term basis. Currently I am still located in Charleville and work from my home which is my studio and Gallery I conduct a Tour showing and explaining to Visitors all the aspects of my Private Collection of Arts and Crafts as well as my own saleable Artwork.

  * Boomerangs
                             *Didgeridoos

                                                                                                                       *Walking Sticks