Meet the Team

Luke and Ava Brock are compelling storytellers and cultural knowledge holders from the Kerrupjmara clan, from Gunditjmara Country. They founded Black Bird in 2023 to share traditional and modern stories of Aboriginal culture, experience, people, and country. Black Bird is the name of their totem, the red-tailed black cockatoo. It fosters a connection to family history and an embodiment of what they seek to represent. 

Ava Brock

Ava Brock is a proud Gunditjmara woman, from the Kerrupjmara clan - ‘fresh water people’. Ava grew up in Myrtleford, on Dhuderoa country, in North East Victoria, and is currently in Year 12. Ava’s grandma was stolen as a baby from the Lake Condah mission, and as a result the family have been piecing together their family history and place in the world over many years. Following a family reunion at the Lake Condah Mission in 2018, Ava has a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, her Aboriginal ancestry. Learning from her cousins and aunties, she started depicting her culture and local surroundings through her artistic practice.

While presenting her artwork ‘Ngatanwarr, Wata Waloong, Wata Pooray’ (Welcome, Come Near, Come Far), which was commissioned by the Alpine Shire in 2023, she was approached by a model agency representative from DKM, and is now represented by that agency. After graduation, Ava hopes to take a gap year to work on the business, and then study business at University. 

Ava was inspired to start Black Bird with her father Luke to share her personal journey as an artist, model, and an Aboriginal woman navigating her history, and her place in the world. 

“I tell my story to break the idea that you have to look a certain way to be Aboriginal. Black Bird is an opportunity to engage with young Australians, particularly young girls, to share my culture, and what it’s like to be an Aboriginal person in this world. I put my own spin on it. I tell people that you can do whatever you want, and be whoever you want to be. Life’s too short not to express who you are as a person. I hope to be that person that inspires someone to ask more questions, to not be afraid, and to have the bravery to take that next step.”

People need to hear diverse Aboriginal stories. Aboriginal culture is different all over the place, and through different people’s lenses. You have to go out and find it yourself, because you won’t learn it in school.
— Luke Brock

Luke Brock

Luke Brock is a Kerrupjmara (Freshwater People) man, from Gunditjmara country. He is a respected keeper of cultural knowledge, and tells the dreaming stories of Budj Bim from his Country. Luke’s family history goes back over 40,000 years, part of the oldest story ever told.

Luke's mum was one of the last babies to be taken from Lake Condah Mission (in South West Victoria), as part of the stolen generation. She grew up with three other stolen Aboriginal kids in Beechworth, North East Victoria, where Luke was born and raised. 

“It’s a sad history, but it’s something that we’ve taken the positives from, and turned it into something we’re proud of.”

Luke began working in a butcher shop when he was 12 years old, starting out as the ‘clean up boy' at what used to be Arthur Stephenson’s butcher shop. He spent the next decade working in abattoirs and boning rooms in Myrtleford, Wodonga and Eurobin. In 2000, he commenced work at the old Beechworth Prison, and there began his 20-year association with the Victorian state government. His work with the Department of Justice saw him supporting the Koori men and their families while in custody at Beechworth, and contributing to the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement. He went on to spend five years at Rumbalara Aboriginal Health Cooperative as deputy CEO and then CEO, before moving into the environment space, working with NECMA and DELWP to support engagement with local traditional owner groups.

Luke currently manages the butchershop at Discovered Wildfoods, a wild harvest game meat company. Through his business Kerrupjmara Meats, he leads a ‘Bush Butcher’ training program for young fellas from Wadeye, in partnership with Thamarrurr Youth. 

Luke is proud to start his new venture, Blackbird, with his daughter Ava.

“I’ve met and worked with Aboriginal people from all across Australia: different cultures, different people, different languages, different stages in terms of how we meet the milestones of closing the gap. I’ve got a good breadth of knowledge in terms of experience. But I have a white father, and I have a white history. So I don't walk away from that, and I don’t disclaim that at all. It fits in with who we are - we’re part of the community. We bring all our stories to who we are and what we do.”

Mt Buffalo Aboriginal cultural camps Black Bird Luke and Ava Brock

How we started

In 2023, Ava was commissioned by the Alpine Shire to create an artwork featuring Mt Buffalo. In producing and presenting this artwork, a passion was sparked. She wanted to share her journey of self discovery and empowerment with others.

Joining forces with her father Luke, the duo are now sharing their unique cultural storytelling experiences with audiences near and far through their business Black Bird.  

Following an invitation by outdoor education organisation Belgravia, the duo began delivering cultural presentations to school camp groups at Mt Buffalo, in North East Victoria. 

“We talk about what they can relate to, and also what might challenge them. We talk about the known history of Mt Buffalo, and the people from there, our family’s history, from creation right through to mission days. And we talk about some of the current things that we’re working on. We work with the teachers and students to answer any questions, and we give them honest answers.”