Born near The Granites on the western edge of the Tanami Desert, Thomas Jangala lived predominantly at the Aboriginal settlements of Yuendumu and Lajamanu following World War II. Growing up he worked as a stockman and did some fencing work. 'We would chop trees, and dig holes in the ground and lay fences to keep the cattle in. The boss would make us work really hard in those days, no lazy business.Then after that I came to Yuendumu to settle down and I got a job as a police tracker here. After I quit from my job as a police tracker, i got a job in the school working as the janitor and driving the school bus.'
He also appeared in the final episode of Bush Mechanics.
Jangala has extensive knowledge of traditional ceremonial life and is a relation of Darby Jampijinpa Ross. In 1999, he travelled to San Francisco with Warlukurlangu Artists to create a ground painting installation at the museum promoting Warlpiri culture.
Source: Bush Mechanics website http://www.bushmechanics.com/ (Sighted 1/4/11)
