Enough is Enough
Sponsors
Aboriginal Artist and Indigenous Programs Presenter Kimi Alcott
Kimi Alcott
Okeans Between Dreams
A deep man from PNG who carries a lot of hurt, pain and anger as depicted by the red circles, meets an Indigenous woman with a calm and caring nature. As the Islander tries to protect (depicted by snake with PNG marking) his wife(depicted by echidna) he causes great conflict between them as they need to grow themselves as well as a couple. The violence and anger builds and builds (represented by colourful circles exploding). This results in the ancestors appearing to each of them stating
that this violence could not continue in this direction it would only end in TRAGEDY... They now live separately and the wife has a new direction healing others while she heals herself...
Our Serpent Protector
Man, woman, child.. our future. If we respect our history and culture there will be plenty of fresh water and rebirth. If we disrespect our heritage and culture, all the ancestors will show their fury.
Echidna Echo
Within Kimi's relationship her husband the snake surrounded Kimi keeping her from moving towards the future.
Hidden Agenda
This paining whilst her husband tried to protect Kimi (the Echidna) he smothered her stopping her from moving forward.
Tracks to the Future
The Jelly Fish, fish, goanna and turtle represent creatures of the land and sea. Tracks are camping grounds representing Aboriginal people which live in separate tribal areas but we are still all connected to Mother Earth. The rainbow serpent tells how our culture is still supporting each of us keeping us focused and united.
Family Dreaming
Man, Woman and Child are the key factors of survival. All creatures grow and exist through this positive energy.
Connections
All Australian landscapes and our people are connected by Mother Earth.
Dove Dreaming
The sun represents the future. Red, Black, Yellow are Aboriginal colours. Red blood spilt on the land; Black - the skin of Aboriginal people; Yellow - Father Sun. The dove represents peace for Aboriginal people, circles and tracks represents their clans which are connected but also independent.
Butterfly Dreaming
The beauty and colours of the butterfly represents the magic of rebirth and the positive energy of a new beginning.
Silent Anger
Kimi Alcott like so many Australian Indigenous woman found herself in violent relationships which saw her close to giving up on life itself. This is when Kimi discovered her talent for painting. Her emotions are shown through her artwork. We invite you now to take a short journey through Kimi's personal story and her paintings and discover for yourself her world of the thoughts and feelings through art, belonging to one of the most oldest cultures in the world - Aboriginal
Australia.
Born in the Central West of NSW with 6 older siblings and 1 younger, Kimi's childhood is very limited due to the trauma and violence she witnessed growing up. Alcohol played a big part in her family with her brothers and father being heavy drinkers. Her mother never drink alcohol throughout her life which shows the resilience she had to stay strong for her kids.
Kimi witnessed the most horrific assaults upon her mother, seeing her mother dragged by the hair out of bed when he returned from the normal binge at the pub. Dragged screaming out onto the frosty lawn , thrown head first to the ground, where he sat on her back and tried as hard as he could to pull her legs up and break them. That was just many memories others included ripping her ears bloody noses, busted lips broken ribs and even shots fired from a rifle at her. I still wonder whether Mum
was praying he would end it once and for all.
As a child of 8-10 years Kim's role was to help clean her mum up and then take her Dad for a walk trying to calm him down and agree with everything he said. This was so confusing I was too young to have so much responsibility on me.
Her Mum passed away on New Years Day 2001 in her sleep from a heart problem. Although the physical violence had slowed down the emotional abuse and mind games continued till the end. She is finally at peace.
In later years Kimi confronted her father but he denied everything saying it was all in my mind. My siblings discouraged me from talking about it and that I should be silent it's the past.
I was a teenage mum at 17 years and had a relationship which saw me giving birth to 3 more children. My partner began to increase his intake of Alcohol and Drugs and proceeded to harder drugs such as heroin. The violence than began along with stealing from myself and the kids. My last child was my wake up call, I knew there was a better life out there for me and my family.
I got my licence and packed the kids up and moved to the East coast. It was scary at first but I wanted it to work. Things started moving ahead when I got a job at the Aboriginal Legal Service as a field Officer firstly on a voluntary basis then a paid position. I was flying the kids were good I had a work vehicle a good wage and the best first boss anyone could wish for, Roland Day, he taught me so much and is still a good friend today.
Unfortunately I met an inmate at Cessnock Correctional Centre whilst offering a program to young Indigenous Boys. This man was serving a sentence for murder (16yrs) and was on his last 3 years. He had all this time to study people women and relationships. I fell in love with the man I thought he was, the man he wanted me to see.
After 2 years he was released on parole and moved in with myself and my youngest who was then aged 8 years. She fell for him also she idolised him and called him Dad. He was the only Dad she ever knew. It started off with him grabbing me around the throat and yelling till his eyes nearly popped. He was a womaniser sleeping with many women usually my so called friends.
He used marijuana to excess and became more violent although publicly and work wise things seemed pretty normal for both of us. Then it finally came to a climax when I said the wrong thing or washed the wrong pants he came at me with a tomahawk he held it to my head and pinned me by the throat to the back door yelling "Do you want to die now or later" and continued to repeat this for what seemed like a lifetime.
He went to gaol for this said the right things did the right programs and I took him back he knew how to touch my heart with his tears. I had moved to Kempsey and moved in with me after living 6 months independently he got heavily into drugs and I rescued him.
He couldn't get work we got married and while my job was going ahead in leaps and bounds I was getting terrorised at home. He persuaded me to use marijuana to calm me and I could see this was another way to control me. He was straying with other woman and the violence got worse. With one slap with an open hand he could knock me off a chair and across the room. Slam my face into the sofa with such force that I couldn't breathe and my nose would bleed this went on for nearly a year. He was
good at the honeymoon stage making me feel special but also it was my fault, I didn't want to tell anyone as I thought they would think of me as a failure and stupid. And was already being told everyday how stupid I was I was beginning to believe it.
The climax came when he chased me right through the screen door with a knife...He couldn't catch me but my daughter collapsed the trauma was too much. My husband left for a short period but returned on his knees crying. My daughter left to live with her sister, now I was alone with him. I would dread when I heard the car coming up the driveway I now was experiencing what my Mum did. During the next 3 months I had my arm held over a boiling jug so I could experience real pain, or so I was
told, Knocked to the ground numerous times. I had a knife held to my chest till it drew blood I thought this was it I was alone now and he could do what he wanted. He had cut me off from my family and friends when people got too close and he thought they might find out what was really going on he would cut them off completely.
Finally when he was looking for work in another area I took the courage to ring my sister I couldn't take it anymore, within hours she was there to pick me up. I gave most of my possessions away and left. I was reunited with my baby girl......what a moment that was!!!
I returned back to my hometown to heal and although it wasn't easy I got myself together as best as I could with a lot of counselling and support. I did lay charges but I didn't go through with them because the police immediately gave him bail and I truly believed he would kill me and my kids if he looked like going to gaol.
So after a lot of dramas I started working as a Youth Officer at Orana Juvenile Centre but had to leave after 2 years because ironically I got charged with, ' Making a False Statement to Police' regarding my ex-partner so my position was annulled.
I moved back to the coast with my daughter and done some study but it was a struggle financial and I had trouble getting work. Thats when I contacted an old friend Ken Marslew, (actually my ex introduced us) he said he had plenty of work but not much money. I told him I didn't need much as long as I had enough for bread and devon I'd be fine and I felt I had a lot to offer others and Ken's organisation would be just the right environment for me.
So here I am today hoping to help others to find their way out of a situation like mine. Through all this I did get some positives I met Ken, I found my talent for painting, and I realise what is important in life. Not material possessions but giving to others. And with my ex I know he benefited a lot from our time together I taught him living skills and hopefully one day he will be a better person because of me.
I am happy now my kids have all grown and live independently and I have 4 grandchildren and 1 on the way.
The program talks through Kim's experiences and emotions during these times and tells of the tools and ways that gave her the strength to get to the place she is today.
It's my time now to spread my wings and touch ass many others as I can and to do this I always stay as positive as possible and look at the solution not the problem. I know my mother is watching over me with pride always and that her experiences and mine are helping others. - KIMI ALCOTT