Paddy Fordham was born in Arnhem Land in the early 1930's and passed away 1 June 2006. His country is called Bamdibu near Bulman Station. Paddy started working as a boy around cattle yards, which finally led him into the career of a stockman for 20 years. Before this, he spent much of his time hunting and learning culture and customs from his father and uncles. He can remember being taken to sacred locations where he was told many Dreamtime stories of how customs came to be and why aboriginal people practice them. Paddy's unique depiction of the Mimi Spirit was the centre piece for most of his paintings. He often painted a dancing Mimi Man, which he says is a good Mimi. He looks over the land as a protector, and only comes out at nights. The Mimi is not visible during the day. Paddys works are part of many well known collections and can be seen in the Darwin and Canberra museums. Paddy traveled to Canberra for the opening of the Hollow Log memorial at the National Gallery of Australia as a tribute to all the aborigines who had died as the result of European contact. Thirty of the two hundred poles in this installation were made by Paddy. Paddy has exhibited his works at the Dusseldorf Art and Antique Fair in Germany.