In sad news today, resected Bundjalung man and artist Albert (Digby) Moran has died at the age of 71. 

A message on Facebook from his partner Kerry, said “on behalf of Digby's family and myself I am deeply saddened to inform you all that Digby passed away suddenly yesterday. We are all devastated. He is loved by so many people and will be sorely missed. Thank you all for supporting him, he received great pleasure from reading your comments."

Digby was born in Ballina and raised on Cabbage Tree Island. His father was Dungutti and his mother Bundjalung. 

He is a highly respected member of the Lismore/Ballina community and one of the region’s highly regarded artists.

Before he started painting, Digby worked in agriculture and even as a boxer before he turned his hand to art. 

His dad Teddy Moran passed his skill as a boxer onto his son.

Digby spent time in showman Jimmy Sharman's travelling boxing tent watching his father fight as the heavyweight champion of the North Coast.

As a child, Digby would watch his grandfather burn designs into boomerangs as a child, but it wasn’t until a battle with alcoholism saw him give up drinking and cigarettes and take up painting.

In 1991, he undertook an art course through TAFE which launched his career as an artist. 

Painting provided a vehicle to express his stories with a strong focus on his time at Cabbage Tree Island. 

He once said, “Those were my happiest years growing up there”.

 As a storyteller, Moran accessed traditions passed on to him by his paternal grandfather, using this as his inspiration to paint and express his Bundjalung heritage.

His art studio was badly affected by the 2017 Lismore floods, and he lost most of his materials and much work. 

But after the floods receded, he created a body of work entitled Growing Up on the Island which he exhibited at Lismore Regional Gallery.

Lismore Regional Gallery said on Facebook: "Over the past 30 years Mr Moran had established himself as one of the Northern Rivers’ most recognised artists achieving national and international recognition. His esteem came from his unique and deeply personal story, and artworks expressing his place within Bundjalung land.

"Mr Moran’s Lismore studio was devastated in the 2017 floods, when he lost many works. A subsequent creative outburst resulted in the 2018 exhibition at Lismore Regional Gallery, 'Growing up on The Island'. This show reflected on his time growing up on Cabbage Tree Island, in the Richmond River, for which he had very positive memories. When we spoke with Mr Moran about these works, his infectious laughter and smile would erupt under his curls with these memories.

"While this exhibition was on, Mr Moran would be present in the gallery on most days, sharing his work, and stories with visitors. Recently we had to put some figures together of exhibition visitation over the last years and were gratified to see that (not including The Archibald Prize), Mr Moran’s exhibition had been the most highly attended, which indicates the huge affection our community had for this artist."

Lismore Regional Gallery added: "While Mr Moran was known for his incredible art career, he was equally known for his work supporting young people. He generously committed huge amounts of time teaching art techniques and sharing stories to children across the region. So much so that we are certain that if you asked a young person in the region to name an artist, Mr Moran would be one of the most identified."

Digby once also allowed New Italy artist Jeff Gant to paint his likeness for the Northern Rivers Portrait Prize in 2013.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School said on Facebook: "Uncle Digby was such a humble, gentle and wise man who had an incredibly positive impact on so many of our students and staff, whilst he was at our school last term. We are truly grateful to have spent the time we did with such a talented man and feel blessed that he shared his gifts with our school community. Our condolences go out to Uncle Digby's family. He will be terribly missed."

The local community mourns his loss and the Northern Rivers will not be the same without him.