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A Man Called Yarra
"I'm a Wathaurong man. I'm an artist who draws on life in this big red and yellow and black country."
Stan "Yarra" Yarramunua: artist, musician, actor, social worker, businessman.
From growing up in poverty in Swan Hill – and sometimes on the road, with his itinerant father – Yarra had a tumultuous and often rough childhood. He learnt early how to lift a wallet or two, and grew into a ratbag who looked set to follow in his father's footsteps: fall into one too many skirmishes with the law; have one too many drinks, sliding down the path to alcoholism.
Yet after years of addiction, Stan gave up drinking, discovered painting and found his true name of Yarramunua. Soon he was selling his traditional paintings, and hand-crafted clapsticks, didgeridoos and boomerangs, at markets across Melbourne. He opened one of the first privately owned Aboriginal art galleries in Australia, and represented Indigenous artists from around the country, including from the desert regions.
Today, Yarra is an internationally renowned artist and performer. But he hasn't forgotten his roots: he is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal kids in his home town, and has helped many young Indigenous men find their way out of addiction and despair. This is an inspiring story of a remarkable man overcoming hardship, striving for a better life, and reclaiming his ancestry.
Stan "Yarra" Yarramunua: artist, musician, actor, social worker, businessman.
From growing up in poverty in Swan Hill – and sometimes on the road, with his itinerant father – Yarra had a tumultuous and often rough childhood. He learnt early how to lift a wallet or two, and grew into a ratbag who looked set to follow in his father's footsteps: fall into one too many skirmishes with the law; have one too many drinks, sliding down the path to alcoholism.
Yet after years of addiction, Stan gave up drinking, discovered painting and found his true name of Yarramunua. Soon he was selling his traditional paintings, and hand-crafted clapsticks, didgeridoos and boomerangs, at markets across Melbourne. He opened one of the first privately owned Aboriginal art galleries in Australia, and represented Indigenous artists from around the country, including from the desert regions.
Today, Yarra is an internationally renowned artist and performer. But he hasn't forgotten his roots: he is committed to improving the lives of Aboriginal kids in his home town, and has helped many young Indigenous men find their way out of addiction and despair. This is an inspiring story of a remarkable man overcoming hardship, striving for a better life, and reclaiming his ancestry.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 14, 2018
What an extraordinary account of a rags to riches life. For all his failings and misdeeds, Yarramunua is an endearing character. Would love to meet him one day and I don't think he would disappoint.
September 20, 2018
I tried really hard to get into this book, to find some aspect of this man that was likeable or noble - but found none. I didn't like his style of writing and even less, his story.
December 12, 2018
Interesting insight into his life
June 17, 2019
Stan (Dryden) Yarramunua is a Wathaurong artist, gallery owner, and actor. But in A Man Called Yarra, he tells the story of how he came to be rich and successful. Growing up, he idolised his father and spent as much time with him as possible, even when that meant leaving his mum and his siblings and extended family. His father taught him skills like fighting, theft, and squatting. Yarramunua is very open and honest about his past, and not at all ashamed or apologetic about his upbringing. The other thing his father taught him was not to tolerate racism - while Yarramunua’s father was not Aboriginal, he would not abide any prejudice against his Aboriginal family.
Eventually Yarramunua settles back into life with his mum, but he has learned a lot from his father - he starts a gang in Shepparton, then as he grows up he drifts between jobs. He falls in love, but is regularly unfaithful to his partner. He becomes addicted to alcohol, which fuels his self-destructive habits.
A Man Called Yarra is a true rags-to-riches tale, though, and Yarra talks about the process of becoming sober, finding a passion for acting and painting, and becoming unapologetically wealthy. Although Yarramunua remains deeply flawed throughout his candid life story, and although I’m not at all a fan of his politics, he is completely charming and likeable. Now, Yarramunua uses his art, and the wealth it has created, for social and community good.
Eventually Yarramunua settles back into life with his mum, but he has learned a lot from his father - he starts a gang in Shepparton, then as he grows up he drifts between jobs. He falls in love, but is regularly unfaithful to his partner. He becomes addicted to alcohol, which fuels his self-destructive habits.
A Man Called Yarra is a true rags-to-riches tale, though, and Yarra talks about the process of becoming sober, finding a passion for acting and painting, and becoming unapologetically wealthy. Although Yarramunua remains deeply flawed throughout his candid life story, and although I’m not at all a fan of his politics, he is completely charming and likeable. Now, Yarramunua uses his art, and the wealth it has created, for social and community good.
August 7, 2019
Very readable and very open, honest and sharing - captures a strong, independent, confident personality in love with life who achieved a lot and did much good for his people and other people struggling - despite many ups and downs. Lots of good information about First Nation culture, in specific details and in how how deeply embedded in feelings and subconscious responses to external events. Details about the First Nation art world also valuable. Its main strength for me is that his life showed the power of love and that Stan Yarramunua does not deceive - I was often annoyed by things he did and said that other biographers might have left out to create an easier to like portrait. I like this man because he shows the truth of himself, warts and all. That takes courage as I suspect some will judge the man via their own intolerance for his imperfections, though none of us are perfect, and not the quality of the book.
March 13, 2019
I hadn't heard of the author before picking up his biography, but I do like a good rags-to-riches tale. And it's definite rags and riches -- a childhood anecdote recalls him watching his siblings race pigeons for crumbs on the ground because they have no other food, and he now owns multiple sports cars and a mansion.
Somehow the author comes across as likeable, although for much of the book he's a thief or an alcoholic, and throughout the book he's a jerk to women. So much cheating -- if you want to sleep around, stop getting into monogamous relationships! Gosh.
Even when talking about how rich he is now, and how clever his entrepreneurial ideas have been, it somehow doesn't come across as bragging. He has a real gift of the gab, which is obviously one of the the keys to his success (the other being his chutzpah). An interesting life and an interesting book.
Somehow the author comes across as likeable, although for much of the book he's a thief or an alcoholic, and throughout the book he's a jerk to women. So much cheating -- if you want to sleep around, stop getting into monogamous relationships! Gosh.
Even when talking about how rich he is now, and how clever his entrepreneurial ideas have been, it somehow doesn't come across as bragging. He has a real gift of the gab, which is obviously one of the the keys to his success (the other being his chutzpah). An interesting life and an interesting book.
August 19, 2022
A must read for anyone, particularly anyone who lives in Australia, a chance to extend your knowledge and extend your awareness.
A story of life navigated with power and strength and success and failures, good decisions and perhaps some questionable ones but a life lived fully.
A story of life navigated with power and strength and success and failures, good decisions and perhaps some questionable ones but a life lived fully.
October 29, 2020
I quite enjoyed listening to Stan Yarramunua’s remarkable and detailed life story, he seems to be a very interesting person. Love a good and genuine rag-to-riches tale.
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November 5, 2023interesting narrative, but it wasn’t for me
Audio: Narrator was a great fit
Audio: Narrator was a great fit
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews