Perentie Story

just another day at the painting place

Around 2003, Walala Tjapaltjarri, Pansy Napangati and Molly Napaltjarri Jugadai were painting in the Tingari Arts large painting place on the western side of Alice Springs.

Pansy Napangati painting up close at Tingari Arts Alice Springs

Pansy and Molly were telling me how they would catch, cook and eat perenties, Australia’s largest lizard, and what great bushtucker it is.

I wasn’t convinced.

Molly Napaltjarri Jugadai painting at Tingari Arts, Alice Springs

Then, on one particular day, we all saw a large Perentie sauntering through the wide front door of the painting place. Pansy and Molly looked as though they flew, straight up onto the table, calling out for me to kill it.

I had no intention of trying to kill it, nor would I have been capable of doing so, but Walala said he would, excited that he might now have tucker for his family.

I said no, and that he could take some tucker from work instead.

Walala Tjapaltjarri, painting where he wanted to be

Walala and I finally coaxed the perentie to leave through the side doorway, which opened onto a wide expanse, and we watched as it began to go under the fence towards the surrounding rocky outcrops.

Pansy and Molly descended from the table, we all had a cup of tea, and continued with our day.

Then the perentie sauntered in again, and Pansy and Molly flew straight back up onto the table, yelling at me to get it, while Walala looked excited, thinking he had another chance. No luck.

Again we coaxed it out, and this time we watched until it was fully through the fence and heading towards the rocky outcrop.

Once more, Pansy and Molly climbed down from the table. We all had another cup of tea and laughed and laughed, especially about Walala. I am not sure we ever fully believed Pansy and Molly’s story about how they catch and cook perenties.

Over the years, whenever we were together, one of us would say, “Remember the perentie,” and we would all laugh again.