Could the air of serenity that singer Wendy Matthews is exuding be related to the majestic Sioux tepee on her four hectare property on the NSW North Coast? The huge conical dwelling, full of brightly coloured American Indian rugs, knick-knacks and a fire pit Wendy dug herself, evokes images of pow-wows. It is a powerful link to Wendy's Abanaki Indian bloodline, a connection she values with passionate conviction. "I bought a Sioux tepee because traditionally it's the most comfortable and reliable design," she says. "There's nothing quite like conical living. It thrills me to the bone. It also helps to keep me grounded. I'm usually such a dreamer I need to wear heavy boots all year to stop me floating off," she adds with a laugh.

And the multi Aria winning singer is certainly flying high in her career. After performing on the Olympic Record, along with the likes of Marcia Hines, Mark Lizotte, Jon Stevens Ian Thorpe and Matt Shirvington, Wendy's now released a new single Free, from an album that's due for release in the new year.

"It's about taking power into your own hands, and that really struck a cord with me," she says. Wendy discovered her Canadian Indian heritage several years ago but had always sensed it.
"I never knew why I ended up on my knees in tears during cowboy and Indian movies and devoured every book I could find on American Indians, until one day I discovered there had been a hushed up, inter-racial relationship on my father's side of the family. When I heard this, everything fell into place. My mother and I went on a pilgrimage to visit the small but, to me very significant Abanaki tribe and that put things to rest in my soul."

Since arriving in Australia in 1983, Wendy, originally from Canada, has become one of our leading female vocalists. She took out citizenship in 1995, but didn't experience a sense of belonging until she acquired her land. "I often feel a great need to get out of the city, but finding this place was an accident. My younger brother was out here from Canada and we found it together, which was very special. It's so different from where I grew up in the frozen tundra", she says. "It's on top of a mountain with an incredible 360 degree view that gives me an extraordinary feeling of space. I can see the curve of the Earth, which takes my breath away." Wendy recently marked her 40th birthday on her land by creating what she describes as a 'kind of spell'. "It entailed writing down certain things I want to achieve in this next phase of life - internal things, not a Porsche - collecting a few gum nuts to fold in the paper and burning the whole lot at the base of the tree.

"On one hand I can't figure out what age has to do with anything," she adds pensively.  "Yet the music business and society in general place a lot of credence on it.
"There doesn't seem to be a place in society for older women who have acquired knowledge and wisdom and a strong sense of themselves.  I feel very empowered about age - even though I feel a lot younger than I am!  But I'm still affected by some of the negative connotations and the baby-oriented, this-is-what's-done-by-a-certain-age attitude of the West."
She admits a recent preoccupation with her body clock.  "I certainly don't intend to bring a baby into the world because I wanted something to look after or because I don't want to be alone.  There's a vast difference between desiring to be a mother as a grown-up, balanced adult and just wanting an extension of yourself."
Her 10-year relationship with musician Sean Kelly ended some years ago and Wendy now enjoys the solo life.  But this doesn't deter her from contemplating motherhood.
"For some strange reason, even as a tiny thing my Barbie never married Ken.  She was always a single mother and whenever I've seen myself with a baby it's only been the two of us."

Wendy Matthews ~ "I'm Such A Dreamer"




































































































Story: Jill Fraser
Pictures: Paul Broben
New Idea Magazine: December 2001