Congratulations to Maggie-Jean Douglas – a Gubbi Gubbi artist from South East Queensland who is the winner of the prestigious National NAIDOC poster competition for 2021.
Her entry – Care for Country – was chosen from 260 entries in the national competition.
The 21-year-old artist said her first thoughts on hearing the 2021 NAIDOC theme ‘Heal Country!’ was about how country has cared for and healed First Nations people in all senses of the meaning for so long.
“I wanted to create an artwork that told that story and made me hopeful for what’s to come in future years,” she said”.
The iconic NAIDOC poster has been celebrating and promoting NAIDOC Week since the late 1960s and rose to national prominence in the 1970s with the establishment of the Indigenous rights movement.
Free printed copies of the 2021 National NAIDOC Poster will be available through the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s regional network in a few weeks.
Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021 ‘More than a word’. Reconciliation takes action’ urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action. Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process.
About the NRW2021 Artwork
Action by Jessica Johnson, is the story of the land and community sharing the united call for action on reconciliation. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples have been listening to the heartbeat of the land and sea for generations. With their rainbow shaped souls the spirits ask for us to join and make reconciliation more than a word, take action. We need to love one another and every aspect of the existing environment and community – we all have a role to play.
Moving from Awareness to Action
The Reconciliation movement is at a tipping point: In the past year, with Black Lives Matter protests and huge numbers at Invasion Day rallies across the country, we’re seeing people are understanding the truth and speaking up on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
More than a word. Reconciliation takes action asks people to take this awareness and knowledge, and use it as springboard to more substantive, brave action. For reconciliation to be effective, it must involve truth-telling, and actively address issues of inequality, systemic racism and instances where the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are ignored, denied or reduced.
While we see greater support for reconciliation from the Australian people than ever before, we must be more determined than ever if we are to achieve the goals of the movement — a just, equitable, reconciled Australia. As history tells us, this will only happen through continued and concerted action from those who are already part of the reconciliation movement to those who are yet to join.
Moving towards a braver reconciliation requires a vision for what a just equitable and reconciled Australia looks like.
According to the 2020 Australian Reconciliation Barometer there is far greater awareness of the complexity and magnitude of First Nations cultures and knowledges; and many more Australians now understand the brutal impact that British colonialism and the modern Australian state have had on First Nations families and communities. We are seeing more people speaking up, speaking the truth, asking the hard questions, seeing the hard facts, and informing themselves about issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The 2021 theme calls on others to follow their lead by reflecting on their own contributions and striving to do more.
Artist Rhonda Sampson with her artwork at Campbelltown Stadium.
A bright new mural now greets fans visiting Campbelltown Sports Stadium and they’ve got Eagle Vale artist Rhonda Sampson is to thank for it.
Campbelltown Council asked Ms Sampson to create the piece, which is accompanied by a Welcome to Country address, to acknowledge and celebrate the traditional owners of the land.
Ms Sampson, a Kamilaroi woman, said she was honoured to create the artwork – titled Past Present and Future – and very proud of the finished product.
“It was an honour to do it, to represent the Aboriginal community and to acknowledge traditional owners,” she said.
“I’m really proud, as an Aboriginal girl, to be asked to do something at this level. I’m proud of the work.”
Ms Sampson said she undertook a lot of research to try and incorporate as much as she could into the piece.
She said the stadium was built on Dharawal land and originally called Orana Park. She said orana was a Wiradjuri word meaning ‘welcome’, which was fitting for a place which saw people gather there from afar.
“I met with the council staff in October last year and got an idea of what the artwork should represent,” Ms Sampson said.
“The stadium is a massive meeting place, all our major sports events are held there. So, I thought about that, growing up as a local girl, what that meant to me.
“I’ve got the stadium lights represented in there – they’re the four big white circles – because you know, locally, that if those lights are on something is happening.”
Ms Sampson said she incorporated the colours of Wests Tigers into the piece, alongside the council’s branded colour palette.
She said the adjoining Athletics Stadium was represented, and well as communities from the north, south, east and west.
“People come from afar to attend the events at the sports stadium,” she said. “It’s a big meeting place, which is very diverse and multicultural, so those four river elements represented communities coming from other places to meet in our inclusive town.”
Ms Sampson said she had a clear idea from the start of how she wanted to artwork to come together.
She said it was created with the three “key elements” of ‘past’, ‘present’ and ‘future’ at front of mind.
“The past acknowledges the Dharawal people, the stadium is on their land, and it was built to honour the history of that, the evolution from a farming area to what it is today,” she said.
“The present is the sports stadium as one of Campbelltown’s major attractions. It has hosted major international events and we’ve welcomed visitors from far and wide to showcase their talent and celebrate in unity, supporting the events held at the stadium.
“The future is about Campbelltown growing and growing fast. It is anticipating the moments that haven’t happened yet, and more excitement into the future.”
Campbelltown mayor George Brticevic said the mural was a welcoming new feature for the stadium.
“Fans attending Macarthur FC or Wests Tigers games will now be greeted with this fantastic new artwork as they go to take their seats to watch our local teams play,” he said. “It is a fitting representation of Campbelltown Sports Stadium’s place in our modern history, told through the perspective of a local Aboriginal artist.”
The mural is just one part of a suite of new visual elements, including signage, installed throughout the stadium in the past few months.
The TAFE NSW Excellence Awards recognises outstanding student achievements. The awards acknowledge determination, resilience and leadership – identifying those who achieve outstanding academic results, who provide significant contribution to their professions, and who exhibit exceptional personal qualities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award
This award recognises the achievement of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who displays a strong understanding and knowledge of the vocational education and training system and demonstrates the relevance of lifelong learning for themselves and their community.
Rhonda Sampson was named the 2020 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award for the TAFE NSW Excellence Awards.
The prestigious Fisher’s Ghost Art Award at Campbelltown Arts Centre (C-A-C) is an annual art prize inviting artists to submit works in a variety of artistic categories and mediums. The Fisher’s Ghost Art Award coincides with Campbelltown’s annual Festival of Fisher’s Ghost. Held over 10 days, the festival dates back to 1956 and celebrates Australia’s most famous ghost – Frederick Fisher.
It was a privilege to be shortlisted as a finalist in the Aboriginal Art Award category this award is sponsored by the Liberal Party of Australia Campbelltown Councillors.
The Artwork: “In This Together”
2020 has been a very challenging year and during this time we have all had a role to play as individuals, families, communities, businesses and importantly as a society. In this time, we are reminded that no matter who we are or where we come from, we as a society are all ‘In This Together’. We have all come together and embraced unity and a mutual respect for one another as we all face these challenging times together because is our diverse society, we are all ‘In This Together’.
Today I was presented a TAFE NSW Gili Award for the Creative and Design Ideation Student of the Year. So happy to receive this award and honoured to be recognised for work that I have done another great achievement for 2020. Thank you to the Design Unit and Carolanne for your support and nominating me for the award.
2020 marks the 30th year of the TAFE NSW Gili Awards. The TAFE NSW Gili Awards is a significant recognition and celebratory event for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students, their families and communities, TAFE NSW employees and industry partners. Together, they contribute to the strength, diversity and richness of training and education outcomes for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Gili (pronounced ‘kill-ee’) is an Eora word meaning ‘to shine’ and is a very apt name for these awards, as the recipients are a shining example of excellence in Aboriginal education and training in TAFE NSW. Selected from across the State, the nominees highlight and celebrate TAFE NSW Aboriginal student achievements, as well as the innovative programs and dedication of TAFE NSW staff members that help empower Aboriginal people and communities every day.
It was wonderful to visit to Campbelltown Arts Centre (C-A-C) today and see the beautiful NIRIN exhibition and Aunty Barbara McGrady’s work Very Inspiring. I strongly encourage you all to go and visit it.
About the Exhibition – NIRIN
Campbelltown Arts Centre’s 2020 NIRIN Biennale exhibition is one of six across Sydney. This exhibition brings together almost a hundred First Nations artists from all around the world. First Nation peoples are traditional custodians of their land, meaning they have lived on their land before anyone else.
It was a pleasure to partner with the Mental Health Commission of NSW and develop the artwork for their publication “Journey of Wellbeing: A Preliminary Aboriginal Model of Care”.
The Journey of Wellbeing is a social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) model of care that emphasises the individual at the core of a healing plan. This model consolidates the exemplary elements of practice in the SEWB space that are being used by some Aboriginal Service Providers across NSW.
Three Macarthur region TAFE NSW students have taken out awards in the 2020 Southern and South West Sydney training awards.
They are Campbelltown’s Maxine Colligan who was named apprentice of the year, and Picton’s Samuel Jenks, who took out the school student of the year category.
Rhonda Sampson, pictured above, was named Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year.
The trio will now progress to the state training awards.
NSW training awards celebrate the excellence of apprentices, trainees and students undertaking vocational education and training.
Rhonda Sampson, a TAFE NSW student who operates her own graphic design business, said she was thrilled to receive the award and be recognised for her hard work.
She has completed designs for Aboriginal community groups and not-for-profits and local councils.
“As an Aboriginal graphic designer, I strive to embody my culture in the work I produce and to be recognised for my commitment to the Aboriginal community is so special to me.
“I’m a big ambassador for the positive transformation TAFE NSW can have in people’s lives and career and am thankful for the hands-on skills I learnt in my diploma that helped me kick start my future,” Rhonda said.
Samuel Jenks is completing his HSC at Picton High School.
“It is a great honour to win the award. I was thrilled to even be nominated so to win the award is an awesome achievement,’’ he said.
“I have really enjoyed the hands-on experience of my Certificate III in information digital media and technology and the practical knowledge that my teachers have provided.
“It is empowering knowing I am one step closer to my dream career working in cyber security and I’m still in high school,” said Samuel pictured above.
Maxine Colligan is a TAFE NSW student who is employed by AMA Group and studied a Certificate III in Automotive Refinishing Technology.
Maxine, pictured below, said the award wasn’t just a testament to her hard work throughout her TAFE NSW course and passion towards her trade, but a reflection of all women working in non-traditional trades.
“This award is a victory for all women in trades, who, like me, love the industry they’re working in. To be named as apprentice of the year is a very proud achievement for me.
“I’m thankful for the dedication my TAFE NSW teachers put into the course and empowered me with the practical skills I needed to forge a career in the automotive industry.’’
NSW Tertiary Education minister Geoff Lee said that he was delighted that so many of the award winners were from TAFE NSW and that the strong results at this year’s awards we are clear demonstration of the high-quality education and training provided by Australia’s largest training provider.
“TAFE NSW plays a critical role in shaping the careers of people across a range of important industries that are critical to the economy,’’ he said.
So proud to announce that I won the Regional Award for the 2020 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander of the Year for Southern & South Western Sydney. I have advanced to the next stage of the awards representing our region at the 2020 NSW Training Awards.
I am very grateful to have such an amazing teaching unit at Campbelltown TAFE NSW and Family & Friends who have lifted me up and supported me through my journey.
