Text and illustrations copyright © Ian Abdulla, 1993. First published by Omnibus Books, a division of Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd, 1993. Reproduced by permission of Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd. This item may be printed or saved for personal research or study. Use for any other purpose requires written permission from Ian Abdulla, Scholastic Australia Pty Ltd and the State Library of South Australia. Further information may be found at Permission to publish.

Ian Abdulla's vibrant, distinctive paintings illustrate the Ngarrindjeri artist's childhood and youth along the River Murray in the 1950s and 1960s. Images with handwritten text detail scenes such as the 1956 flood and a rodeo at Berri, and illustrate Abdulla's early experiences at Swan Reach Mission and later along the River between Cobdogla and Winkie. The paintings also indicate loss of traditional lands and way of life, including hunting for swan eggs and water rats, and fishing for Murray Cod or Pondi.

Abdulla was awarded South Australian Aboriginal artist of the year in 1991. His paintings inspired Rodney Scott's play RiverlanD which premiered at the Adelaide Festival in 2004, performed by South Australia's Windmill Performing Arts theatre group. Abdulla's work is held at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, South Australian Museum, Art Gallery of South Australia, Flinders University Art Museum, and National Gallery of Australia. Ian Abdulla died in January 2011.

Abdulla, Ian. Tucker Norwood, S. Aust: Omnibus Books, 1994

Abdulla, Ian River, land and memory: the work of Ian Abdulla curator: Christine Nicholls; Ngarrindjeri community liaison consultant: Agnes Love. [Bedford Pk, S. Aust.]: Flinders University Art Museum, [2002]

Adelaide Biennale of Australian art (2000). Beyond the pale: contemporary indigenous art: 2000 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art Art Gallery of South Australia; curated by Brenda L. Croft. Adelaide: Art Gallery Board of South Australia, 2000

Fox, Stephenand Janet Maughan. Ian W. Abdulla: Elvis has entered the building Kent Town, S. Aust.: Wakefield Press, 2003

Greenaway Art Gallery. See: Artists: Abdulla

Flinders University: Murray Cod: the biggest fish in the river

South Australian Museum: Australian Aboriginal Culture Gallery: Speaking land: Art and life