Our People

Our Artists

  • Lorraine Brown & Narelle Thomas

    Aunty Lorraine Brown and Auntry Narelle Thomas are a proud Yuin/Gunai Kurnai sisters and respected Elders and senior artists at Coomaditchie.

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  • Woman holding dried plants in front of colorful wall art

    Allison Day

    Allison Day is a proud Dunghutti woman and a long-standing member of the Coomaditchie artistic community since 2002.

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  • Shane Brown

    Shane Brown is a proud Yuin/Dunghutti man and son of Lorraine Brown, respected Elder and senior artist at Coomaditchie.

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  • Tynan Lenihan

    Emerging artist Tynan Lenihan is a proud Yuin/Dunghutti man, son of artist Shane Brown and grandson of Lorraine Brown, respected Elder and senior artist at Coomaditchie.

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  • Dereke (Lumpy) Brown

    Dereke (Lumpy) Brown is a proud Yuin/Dunghutti man and son of Lorraine Brown, respected Elder and senior artist at Coomaditchie.

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  • Nicole Archibald

    Nicole Archibald is a proud Dunghutti woman originally from Kempsey, now valued artist of the Coomaditchie community.

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  • Jessica Mook Brown

    Emerging artist Jessica Mook Brown is a proud Dunghutti/Yuin woman and granddaughter of Lorraine Brown, respected Elder and senior artist at Coomaditchie.

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  • Kanisha Storer

    Kanisha Storer is a proud Walbunja/Wiradjuri woman and an emerging artist from the Coomaditchie community. 

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  • Meahala Langlo Brown

    Emerging artist Meahala Langlo Brown is a proud Yuin/Murruwarri woman and granddaughter of Lorraine Brown, respected Elder and senior artist at Coomaditchie.

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  • Dee-Jaye Brown

    Dee-Jay Brown is a proud Yuin and Dunghutti artist and son of artist Shane Brown and grandson of Lorraine Brown, respected Elder and senior artist at Coomaditchie.

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  • Selai Storer

    Selai is a proud Walbunja woman and Ngaramura Project worker who has discovered a passion for painting alongside Coomaditchie’s senior artists.

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Staff

  • Narelle Thomas 

    Community Worker, Bushcare Advisor, Artist

    Born in Nowra in the mid-1960s, Narelle is a Yuin/Jerrinjah woman and is descended from the Gunai Kurnai nation. Narelle spent her childhood in the Shoalhaven and has lived in the Illawarra since the 1970s. She is highly skilled in bush regeneration and is an accomplished artist and community worker. Narelle and her sister Lorraine Brown create beautiful artworks. Lorraine and Narelle work like professional dancers, one leads and the other follows and no-one steps on any toes. Narelle is a qualified Aboriginal heritage and sites worker and has participated in many archeological surveys in the Illawarra region. Both Narelle and Lorraine are committed to their families and the Coomaditchie community.

  • Lorraine Brown

    Community Worker, Artist 

    Lorraine is an experienced worker who has supported and mentored community members for over twenty-five years. She is descended from the Gunai Kurnai nation and is a Yuin/Jerrinjah woman born in Bega, one of 7 children, and raised in the Shoalhaven. She moved to the Illawarra in 1972 and now calls this home. Lorraine is the premier artist of the Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation. Together with her sister Narelle, Lorraine has contributed to a prolific amount of public art in the Illawarra. She views her ability to paint as a gift. Lorraine uses bold colours that reflect her coastal upbringing. "We are East coast saltwater people", she says. My colours symbolise my life. I had a great childhood, great parents, family and extended family.  

  • Kristy 'Lil' Thomas

    Administration Manager

    Lil is an integral member of the Coomaditchie, daughter of the esteemed premier artist Narelle Thomas. She manages the programs and day to day functions of Coomaditchie. Lil has many years experience as a caseworker working with vulnerable families and has a Diploma in Community Services. She is the mother of four children, and is a qualified Accountant and Bookkeeper, with many years of Administration experience.  

  • Michelle Wilson

    Project Coordinator, Ngaramura Project

    Michelle is the Coordinator of the Ngaramura Project, which provides a supportive pathway assisting young people to re-engage with education through a cultural learning framework.

  • Selai Storer

    Case worker, Ngaramura Project

    Selai is the case worker of the Ngaramura Project, which provides a supportive pathway assisting young people to re-engage with education through a cultural learning framework.

  • Nicole Archibald 

    Community Worker

    Nicole has been part of Coomaditchie for more than 10 years—first as a dedicated volunteer and now as a valued staff member. She plays a key role in supporting programs and workshops, ensuring the space is prepared for participants and lending a helping hand wherever she’s needed. Nicole’s commitment and reliability make her an essential part of the team.

  • Reanne Potter 

    Graphic design, marketing and social enterprise management 

    Reanne specialises in delivering end-to-end creative solutions, navigating the entire spectrum from marketing strategies and brand development to graphic design and the execution and rollout of intelligent artistic deliverables. With over two decades of expertise in branding and design, Reanne's passion lies in creating and maintaining meaningful collaborations.