For over two decades, Gina Williams has been dedicated to the telling of her people’s stories. Gina is a Balladong Noongar woman, with links through her grandmother’s line to the Kija people of the East Kimberley.
Trained as a journalist, Gina spent eight years at the helm of the Milbindi television series, a show that highlighted positive achievements of the West Australian Indigenous community.
Nowadays the mother of two is away from the camera, but her storytelling continues through music. And what nobody realized was Gina had a remarkable story of her own to tell.
Gina has had a life punctuated by devastation and dysfunction. Adopted at birth, Gina’s beloved adoptive father died just three weeks after she turned 12. After two different foster families, Gina was able to take control of her own destiny, getting a job in the media.
Gina is happily married with two children and uses the traditions of her elders (songs and spoken word) to take audiences on this amazing journey of proud Aboriginal woman who has struggled through the dysfunction stemming from her past and embraced the hope of her future.
She won numerous awards: Indigenous category, 2001 WA Song Contest, Winner: 2003 Kiss My WAMI, Most Popular Local Original Indigenous Act, Support: Wendy Matthews, Joe Camilleri, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, and Dave Steele, Headline Artist: Indigenous Showcase (2003 Perth International Arts Festival) Artist: 2004 WAMI Weekender and launch of the WAM Hall of Fame, Headline Artist: 2004 National NAIDOC Awards and Gala Ball, Headline Artist: 2005 Rotorua International Festival of Arts, Te Ihi – Te Wehi, Finalist: 2005 WAMI Awards, Best Indigenous Act.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
