Teena’s Story.

Born in 1961, Teena was one of six children born in Alice Springs Australia to Doreen and Leslie Frogg. Leslie was Kalkadoon from central Queensland and Doreen was Arrente also from Alice Springs.

Teena had a happy, healthy and balanced childhood sharing a home in Alice Spring with a large extended family that included her mother, father, siblings, grandparents, aunties and uncles. She attended Ross Park Primary School in Alice Springs until the welfare system of Norther Territory removed Teena and her 5 siblings, which makes Teena part of the Stolen Generation.

Teena was placed into St Marys Children’s Village, run by the Anglican Church, in 1968-69, the times of which are uncertain due to poor record keeping. Teena’s experience while in care of the Anglican Church was traumatic but changed when the Gaff family arrived and Bob Gaff became the new director for the home, ultimately turning St Mary’s into a loving and caring environment.

In 1975, Teena and her siblings were released from St Mary’s. Teena’s mother had married, Peter Franey, a white Australian man who adopted all 5 siblings. Authorities then allowed for the release of Teena and her siblings who were then happily reunited with their mother.

In 1977, Teena gave birth to her first son, Ronald, followed by Gerald and then finally her daughter Lisa. She is the proud biological grandmother of 5 grandchildren, but culturally she is grandmother to more than 25 grandchildren. In 2022, Teena become a great-grandmother to Jermiah.

Throughout Teena’s life, art has played a significant role in her life. The traditional Arrente artform is one of few clans who historically used dots to tell their stories. This form of storytelling has been passed down through her grandmothers to granddaughters for thousands of years. Teena will continue to share this ancient form of storytelling with her own granddaughters.

Teena’a artwork has been purchased by a range of different people, including the odd celebrity.