Three Dresses

A richly illustrated picture book by Nukgal Wurra author-artist Wanda Gibson about her joyful childhood beach holidays in Far North Queensland.

'Take three dresses ... one to wash, one to wear and one spare.'

When Wanda Gibson was a little girl, her mum would tell her this as they packed to go on holidays. Wanda grew up on Hope Vale Mission in Far North Queensland, and her family were allowed only one short break away from work each year. They would walk for two days to get to their special spot at the beach. Here, they camped in the sandhills, cooked fresh fish on the fire and swam in the ocean.

Beautifully illustrated with Wanda's paintings, this heart-warming true story celebrates family time, connection to place and finding joy in the simple things, like your favourite three dresses.

About the Author

Wanda Gibson is a Nukgal Wurra woman of the Guugu Yimithirr people (on her mum's side) and lives in Hope Vale on the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Her dad is a Yuuethawarra man and his country is around Cape Melville. Both of Wanda's parents were Stolen Generation and were brought to Cape Bedford Mission when they were ten or twelve. Wanda is a master weaver - she weaves baskets, birds and fish from dried grass. She is also a painter and completed a Diploma of Visual Arts at Cairns TAFE in 2014. Wanda has five kids, eleven grandkids and five great-grandkids.