mulaka makalina
mulaka makalina
AIATSIS
pre-order only - Pick up and shipping estimates apply from date of release
Couldn't load pickup availability
The story of nupiri and riyawina and their epic encounter with a rogue stingray. From the creators of luwa tara luwa waypa.
riyawina’s grandmother warns her: ‘Look out for makalina, stingray! Don’t go swimming or diving when you’re sad or crying or else makalina will sense you are vulnerable and may attack you as prey.’ But when riyawina discovers that nupiri has broken his promise to her, she is angry and upset. She heads out alone to dive for shellfish and forgets her grandmother’s warning. In the deep, the stingray makalina senses her tears and comes for her…
As nupiri races to save riyawina, he calls on moinee, the great creator, and the ancestral warriors in the Milky Way to hunt down makalina, the rogue stingray. mulaka makalina is a dramatic Tasmanian Aboriginal story, with evocative illustrations from the team that created luwa tara luwa waypa
Production Details
- Picture book, Hardcover
- 250 mm x 270 mm
- 32pp + cover
- Releases 5 November 2026
- ISBN 9781922752215
About the author
Dave mangenner Gough is a celebrated artist, curator and cultural practitioner dedicated to practising and demonstrating Tasmanian Aboriginal culture for all Australian people, to bring communities together and preserve traditional culture.
A proud trawlwoolway man – descended from bungana (chief) manalargenna’s oldest daughter woretemoeteyemer of north-east Tasmania – Dave has a strong personal connection to lutruwita Tasmania. Dave is Chair of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council.
Dave is an artist who has exhibited nationally and internationally. He has also curated some significant exhibitions. Dave’s first picture book, luwa tara luwa waypa, illustrated by Samantha Campbell, was published in 2022 and was shortlisted for the Education Publishing Awards Australia in 2023.
Dave created a performance of mulaka makalina which was shown at the Mapali sunset gathering during the 2023 Ten Days on the Island festival.
About the Illustrator
Samantha Campbell grew up in the Northern Territory and lives in Alice Springs. She is descended from the Dagoman people from Katherine and as a child lived in remote communities across the Top End. Samantha is a contemporary artist and illustrator of many books including Big, Big Love by Lisa Fuller, winner of the 2025 ACT Literary Awards, Children’s Literature (younger readers). Her first book, Alfred’s War, written by Rachel Bin Salleh, was short-listed for the Premier’s Literary Awards and the Speech Pathology Awards. Her other books include Aunty’s Wedding, by Miranda Tapsall and Joshua
Tyler, Brother Moon by Maree McCarthy Yoelu, Freedom Day by Rosie Smiler and Thomas Mayo, Bidhi Galing by Anita Heiss, My Deadly Boots by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler, and Brave Like Bunji by Jake Gablonski. She also co-owns and operates Coolamon Creative, a creative services business.
