Bill Whiskey Tjapaltjarri, (1920's - 2008), was born at Pirupa Akla, country located near the Olgas and to the west of Ayers Rock. By the time he was a young man, most of Whiskey's family had passed away. Many of his people had begun moving towards Haasts Bluff mission, about 250 Kms to the north east. Whiskey joined a group of people who were about to make that journey. No one had yet seen white people, and when they arrived at the mission, the desert people were completely naked.

Whiskey, along with some of the others, decided not stay, as they were frightened when they saw white people for the first time. Their fear came from the belief that the white people were Mamu, or bad spirit people, and so the group continued to travel. They eventually arrived at an area near Areyonga, where a white missionary Pastor called Patupirri had established a camp. It was here that Whiskey and the others first tasted white man food. Whiskey tells how they would throw this strange food behind theirs backs, as they did not like its taste. Whiskey spent a little time with Patupirri before moving back to Haasts Bluff mission, where he had been told there were plenty of women. This time Whiskey stayed, and was given his first set of clothes. And it was here that he met his wife Colleen Nampitjinpa, and never returned to his home country.

Whiskey practiced as a witch doctor or traditional healer, and people would come from afar to be treated by him. While living at the Haasts Bluff mission, Whiskey took a job as cook for the contract fencers and mustering crew. He came to be called Whiskers, owing to his long white beard, and the name eventually evolved into Whiskey.

Later in life Whiskey moved to an outstation at Amunturrungu, where he still lives with his wife and their children. Whiskey began painting in 2004. The main images in his works are the Rockholes near Pirupa, Ayers Rock, and the story of his own journeys to Areyonga and Haasts Bluff. Whiskey is a very traditional man with an extremely jovial personality. The bright colours in his work are said to reflect the character of the man  bold, colourful, and strong in spirit.

Selected Exhibitions:

2006- Colliding Worlds, Tandanya, Adelaide
2006- Tony Bond Gallery, Adelaide
2006- Knud Grothe Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark
2006- Scott Livesey Gallery, Melbourne
2006- Luminaries of the Desert, Japingka Gallery, Fremantle, WA

Collections:

Kerry Stokes collection WA