Works by some of Australia’s top Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are set to be auctioned at the Bond University Indigenous Gala but few carry as much personal meaning as a painting by student Abelee Stanley.
Ms Stanley spent weeks creating the painting that reflects her diverse heritage.
From Murgon, 250km northwest of Brisbane, she has Torres Strait Islander ties on her father’s side (Mabuiag Island) and Aboriginal ancestry on her mother’s side (Birri Gubba and Barunggam).
Ms Stanley’s painting will be auctioned at the Indigenous Gala which raises funds for Indigenous scholarships at Bond University.
“The blue represents the sea on my Torres Strait Islander side while the green is the land around Murgon where I grew up,” the Indigenous Scholarship recipient said.
“In the middle, that’s my support group, so my mum’s side, my dad’s side, the Nyombil Centre and Kalwun (Indigenous community organisation) where I work.”
Ms Stanley said she loved the opportunities for personal growth in a city such as the Gold Coast but also hoped to work in remote communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The Bond University Indigenous Gala will be held on campus on Friday, November 22.