Cirrus@Austlit

Nancy Sheppard grew up in country New South Wales and gained a Teacher's Certificate at Armidale Teachers' College in 1952. In 1955 she was appointed sole qualified teacher at Ernabella in the Pitjantjatjara Lands, Central Australia. During the next nine years she studied the language and experienced the culture and friendship of the Pitjantjatjara people. Sheppard took over four hundred photos of them.

Since 1967 Nancy has lived in Adelaide, continuing her study and teaching of the Pitjantjatjara language and working as interpreter and translator. She taught in a course offered at the University of Adelaide 1968-75 - the first of its kind in Australia - and from 1976-80 at the Underdale CAE. She retains a deep interest in the Pitjantjatjara language and a commitment to its continuing use and status as a second language in South Australia. As well as the book listed here, she has also (as Nancy Nicholson) produced a Pitjantjatjara Primer (illus W M Hilliard, Christian Pacific Literature Society, c 1960). She describes herself as an avid storyteller. Nancy also has a Diploma in Sociology from the University of NSW.