Waymaker: Medical Heroes: Aunty Diana Ross, Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood, Aunty Emily Marshall and Aunty Leila Murrison, Billboard exhibition. Waymaker concept and curation: Vicki Saylor (Manbarra Traditional Owner). PUNQ 2024 commission. Photograph: Pippa Samaya.
This is one of the ten billboards featuring in PUNQ billboard exhibition which takes place accross Gurambilbarra / Townsville, Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country / Hinchinbrook to Gudjal Country / Charters Towers.
View the interactive PUNQ Art Trail Map for directions or experience as part of our Gudjal Country / Charters Towers Art, Gold and History Bus Tour or Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country / Hinchinbrook Bus Tour.
Venue Accessibility- The Waymaker billboards are designed for safe viewing while traveling via car or bus.
- Please do not pull over on busy roads or highways to get a closer look.
- Enjoy the artwork from the comfort of your car while adhering to traffic regulations.
- If you see a billboard you'd like to capture for a photo, prioritise safety by pulling over only at designated rest stops or safe viewing areas.
Free.
Friday 2 - Sunday 18 August 24 hrs
Waymaker: Over 200 years of healing our people
Vicki Saylor & Pippa Samaya
Waymaker is a captivating art exhibition that celebrates the wisdom and strength of First Nations Elders of North Queensland using the ubiquitous and popular mode of commuter advertising, the billboard. Conceived and curated by Vicki Saylor and brought to life by photographer Pippa Samaya, Waymaker transforms everyday billboards into powerful platforms. Each billboard showcases a unique portrait co-created with the Elders themselves, reflecting a defining aspect of their life story and their immense contribution to our region.
Medical Heroes: Aunty Diana Ross, Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood, Aunty Emily Marshall and Aunty Leila Murrison
This group of Medical Heroes has provided over 200 years collectively of quality healthcare, not only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but also, to the wider community. Between them, they have worked in delivering primary healing and healthcare to rural, remote and urban communities around the nation. This includes from north, the Torres Strait Islands; west, the Kimberley region; the heart of our nation where they were working in Central desert communities; south, Tasmania and the northeastern coastal communities of Queensland. They are registered, enrolled nurses and trained specialists in mid-wifery, primary healthcare, eye health, tropical diseases, sexual health, mental health and women’s health.
These women have played a major role for our people around the nation and the development of Primary Health Care Certificate commonly known as the Indigenous Health Worker and Mental Health First Aid Certificates from the 1980s to 2000s. They are staunch advocates in supporting our people dealing with racism in the healthcare system from the 1960s to the present and had significant input into health education programs at TAFE and James Cook University that have been great influence for the development of similar programs in other universities nationally. Their tireless work has provided training and careers in the health sector that has seen an increase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses, doctors, dentists and the Allied Health workforce. They have been a great influence for health policy at state and national level to Closing the Gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
This project is commissioned by PUNQ and has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Festivals Australia program.
This is one of the ten billboards featuring in PUNQ billboard exhibition which takes place accross Gurambilbarra / Townsville, Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country / Hinchinbrook to Gudjal Country / Charters Towers.
View the interactive PUNQ Art Trail Map for directions or experience as part of our Gudjal Country / Charters Towers Art, Gold and History Bus Tour or Warrgamay, Nywaigi & Bandjin Country / Hinchinbrook Bus Tour.
Venue Accessibility- The Waymaker billboards are designed for safe viewing while traveling via car or bus.
- Please do not pull over on busy roads or highways to get a closer look.
- Enjoy the artwork from the comfort of your car while adhering to traffic regulations.
- If you see a billboard you'd like to capture for a photo, prioritise safety by pulling over only at designated rest stops or safe viewing areas.
Free.
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PUNQ respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
PUNQ respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
PUNQ is produced by Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts. The festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. Townsville City Council is a funding partner of PUNQ.