annecto commissioned local Kempsey artist, Uncle Richard Campbell to produce artwork for the Reconciliation Action Plan. The artwork will also be on the cover of the
The Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan will be formally launched this week as part of NAIDOC Week celebrations. Uncle Richard is a Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti man from the NSW mid north coast, who was kidnapped from his family at the age of nine and placed in Kinchela Boys Home (KBH). As a
Uncle Richard is a Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti man from the NSW mid north coast, who was kidnapped from his family at the age of nine and placed in Kinchela Boys Home (KBH).
As a child, Uncle Richard sketched as a way to pass the time and to ease the pain of being removed but he never forgot the cultural knowledge his father passed on to him before he was taken to KBH.
“When I was a kid I used to sit down with my father, Uncle Richard said. He used to make a lot of tools like boomerangs and shields and I would watch him, help him out and paint them.” Uncle Richard’s work has been showcased all over the world. Pope Benedict XVI’s viewed his work during a visit to Australia in 2008, to coincide with World Youth Day. Uncle Richard has had his artwork exhibited at the Canonisation Ceremony of Saint Mary Mackillop at the Vatican in Rome in 2010. His artwork is printed on a trademark shoe for his nephew, pro-skateboarder Kieran Reilly and can also be seen on vehicles belonging to the local Kempsey aged care facility, Booroongen Djugun.
The significance of the artwork Uncle Richard was commissioned to do for annecto’s Reconciliation Action Plan is representative of the relationships annecto is creating with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
The large circles signify annecto while the tracks and smaller circles represent the connections annecto has created with the community of Kempsey in NSW and partner organisations like Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) and Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group Sydney.
While the dots represent annecto being a voice for older Aboriginal people and advocating on their behalf, the colours Uncle Richard has used come from the elements of earth, air, water and fire and symbolise annecto helping to provide warmth to keep older Aboriginal people safe and secure.
Read about annecto’s 2017 NAIDOC Week activities here.
Read about annecto’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan here.
Download a copy of annecto’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan here.
