Glenn Morgan Archie Roach honoured with ‘journey home’

I was very saddened by the passing of the late, great Archie Roach in July 2022. I first heard Archie on his album Charcoal Lane (1990). The song ‘Took the children away’ would always make me tear up, and still does. It’s so sad and moving. As Archie’s career grew, he became a great educator through his songs and gentle storytelling. I had the privilege of seeing him perform on a number of occasions.

This painting is about how Archie was honoured by people standing on the highway in the cold and rain to pay their respects as his hearse was driven from Melbourne to Warrnambool, in Gunditjmara Country, for a private funeral on 22 August 2022. I would like to thank the Roach family for allowing me to enter this work into the Sulman Prize.

Glenn Morgan, 2023

The family of Archie Roach have kindly given permission for his name and image to be referenced in this artwork and displayed within this exhibition.