Beige Dimer is a Wongatha/Ngadju Mirning woman with a dream.
In a bid to help better her community, the 25-year-old student from Kalgoorlie moved to Perth to pursue her studies in Health Science. Her aspiration is to become the first member of her family to earn a degree.
“My dad’s always taught me that education is the right pathway, and in order to gain respect for our people we need to be educated.”
But her dream doesn't stop there. Beige wants to become a doctor to help with health problems such as mental health and substance abuse amongst the Kalgoorlie community.
Beige and her little brother - Neil-J, named after their grandfather, who was a famous Aboriginal dot artist. Neil-J is now being taught how to paint. Source: NITV News
“I’ve had a lot of preventable death in my community and also in my family so I want to help make my community and my culture stronger.”
"I wanted to inspire people, especially from my community, that studying, becoming qualified is important to making a difference and contributing to society.”
The full time student believes it is important for her people to go to university and become qualified to help make a better future for Aboriginal people.
Beige is a triple threat. She has beauty, brains and a bold attitude – which is why she’s been selected as one of the top eight finalists for the Miss NAIDOC Perth leadership and empowerment program, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
“I’m looking forward to building relationships with other strong Indigenous women. I wanted to inspire people, especially from my community, that studying, becoming qualified is important to making a difference and contributing to society.”
The final night of the crowning will be held in Perth on Saturday 27 May and will see each woman dressed to impress. Presenting not only themselves to the public, but also their perspectives on Aboriginal history and culture. A panel of judges will then decide who wore it best - through confidence and demeanor.
For Beige, this is the first she’s been surrounded by other young inspirational Aboriginal women and she says ‘it’s been an honour’.
Beige and some contestants of the miss NAIDOC Perth program Source: NITV News
“It inspires me to know there are other people out there who want to help our mob. They’re working hard to keep our culture strong. Some have already graduated so I really look up to them as intelligent and inspirational Indigenous women.”
When she's not busy studying, Beige is painting her cultural roots. She's a third-generation Aboriginal dot artist, inspired by her late grandfather and father who are international Indigenous artists.
“My grandfather, Neil Dimer, used his artistic talents to pass his Aboriginal heritage through the next generation.”
Beige’s father, Jason Dimer, has recently been named as an international artist for his artistic talent to depict traditional Dreamtime stories, been passed down from his tribe.
This artwork was designed by Beige herself, after her father taught her how to tell stories through dot work. Source: NITV News
Now he has taught his children the art of dot painting to keep their culture alive.
“My dad taught me the paintings depicted cultural stories from our area of Kalgoorlie. He taught us how to share these stories through art. Imagine Aboriginal people sitting around a waterhole and with native animals and bush tracks, that’s the stuff we paint,” she said.
“Be proud and have no shame.”
“My favourite painting is one of my grandfather’s paintings. He actually hasn’t finished it yet – it’s for my dad to finish so my dad is currently working on it. My grandfather has done most of it - the goannas and snakes on it.”
Over the course of six weeks the eight Miss NAIDOC Perth candidates have attended workshops to better their leadership skills, public speaking, modeling, confidence boosting and cultural knowledge.
Beige believes that despite only one woman gets to be crowned, all of them are winners with strong, positive and inspirational messages. Hers of course has a heavy focus on education.
Jason holding his dads painting which happens to be Beige's favourite Aboriginal dot work. Source: NITV News
“Go to school, go to University and do what you’ve always wanted to do - so you can give back to community and help keep the Aboriginal culture stay strong,” she said.
“Be proud and have no shame.”
