Break Thru NAIDOC Week Celebrations - Maitland

We had great pleasure in seeing firsthand on Saturday night just how a little bit of faith, belief and encouragement can really make a change in another person’s life.

Saturday night was the launch of WUPA @ Wanaruah, an Aboriginal Art Exhibition organised by Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation. This black tie event was held in the Barrel Room at Tempus Two Winery, Pokolbin. Ungooroo, in conjunction with major sponsors Hunter Valley Gardens and Coal & Allied, invited local Aboriginal artists to take part in this Aboriginal Art Exhibition.

So when the opportunity presented itself for one of our job seekers to take part, it was too good to pass up. Maitland BTPS staff pooled their resources and together with some support from BTPS, we sponsored Donna Brown, to allow her the chance to illustrate her work.

Donna Brown is 36 years of age and was born in Penrith- Nepean Hospital, NSW, and takes great pride in her family totems the great white shark (Biripi) and the koala (Gnarabul).

While Donna has always enjoyed painting it was only after losing custody of her children 3 years ago that she really started to emerge herself in her work. She discovered she enjoyed working with all kinds of different texture and would use toothpicks and a pallet knifes to paint her images.

As we walked into Tempus Two on Saturday night, it was with great pride for what Donna has been able to achieve, as her consultant Letisha Malloy turned to see she had tears in her eyes. When asked if it was tears of pride all she could do was nod as words had escaped her.

To see her art work displayed among other talented artists was somewhat overwhelming and filled her with amazing self belief, something she had not had for a very long time.

We know that this opportunity would not have been possible if it was not for the wonderful relationships formed with Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation, Aboriginal Enterprise Development Office, New Careers for Aboriginal People, Break Thru People Solutions and the incredible support she received from her consultant, Letisha.

Donna would like to thank everyone who has helped her along the way, but most of all thank you to Break Thru People Solutions and the staff at Maitland office. “Without the encouragement, support and faith in me I would never have dreamt I could do this, but they made me believe in myself because they believed in me too”.

The WUPA @ Wanaruah Aboriginal Art Exhibition is from Thursday the 1st of July to Sunday the 31st of July 2010 at Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin. There are also great activities for the kids over the school holidays including art classes.

Check out the websites for more details www.ungooroo.org.au and www.hvg.com.au/events