In her final years, Thanakupi made Three Waterholes of Mbau Tjath (Bouchat) 2007, and it exemplifies her late Weipa phase. Her representative platters, known also as ‘earth surface platelets’, appear cracked, dry, the ground lifted after rain. As Weipa is an ongoing site of prolific mining, these works sustain a symbolic connection to Country.

On each side of this platter appear depictions of the three wells or waterholes of Mbau Tjath (Bouchat), north of Weipa. On the platter’s upper side, the wells are without any accompanying motifs; but on its underside, the wells snake through a scene from the main legend of the Thaynakwith peoples – that of The Four Fishermen.