Allery Sandy

Senior Yindjibarndi woman Allery Sandy is an accomplished painter, educator, performer and community leader. She worked in early childhood education for over 25 years, first running playgroups for needy children, then as the Aboriginal Education worker at Roebourne Pre-School and later teaching Yindjibarndi through a LOTE program.

In 1996 she the WA Department of Education awarded her the Barry Halward Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Allery commenced painting in 2006, and her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is represented in private and public collections including the Art Gallery of Western Australia. In 2014 she was a finalist in the 29th Telstra Art Award. She is the Chairperson of the Yinjaa-Barni Art Centre, where she paints in Roebourne.

Along with two of her grandchildren, Allery performed in the premiere season of Big hART’s Hipbone Sticking Out in Canberra in July 2013, and also worked with Big hART as a voice-over actor in the NEOMAD interactive comic.

Allery has been a leader of the Pilbara Aboriginal Church ministry for several decades and is also on the board of directors of the Wirlu-Murra Yinjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation as an advocate and media spokesperson.

Allery was born in Roebourne and has two daughters, a son and several grandchildren, whom she provides support to when they come into contact with the juvenile justice system.