Annie "Grannie" Moysey (née Knight;[1] 1875 - February 2, 1976) was an Aboriginal matriarch. She passed down the traditions of her tribal affiliation and was a revered figure among her people and in Wilcannia.
Moysey was born north of Bourke on the banks of the Warrego River near Fords Bridge.[1] She was of Gunu descent and raised by her grandmother who taught her to speak Gunu, Margany and Wangkumara.[1] She also learned traditional lore as a child.[2] Moysey worked along the Darling River, working at various stations, but most often at Old Toorale and also raised her own children, grandchildren and others.[1] She taught her grandson and artist, William Badger Bates, how to carve in the kalti paarti style.[3] During the 1920s, Moysey was forced to take the children she cared for to the Pooncarie Aboriginal Reserve, due to a work shortage.[2] She stayed outside the reserve in a camp she set up herself and continued to work to care for the children.[2] On October 11, 1930, she married Leonard Alfred Moysey in Wilcannia.[2] The couple transferred briefly to Medindee Mission Station, but returned to Wilcannia in 1939.[2]
Moysey was the last person living in her area who could perform the corroboree in the traditional way.[1] She was known as Wilcannia's Grandmother and had a great deal of authority among her people.[4] She kept the tribal laws and people believed that she had mekigar (or Barkindji witch doctor) knowledge.[2] Moysey died on February 2, 1976, in the Wilcannia and District Hospital.[2]
