‘My childhood home was an old worker’s cottage in inner city Brisbane, perched on the side of a hill that extended out into a huge Blackbean tree that filled with rainbow lorikeets in December and active possum families, fruit bats and diamond pythons at night. My favourite place to be was nestled in the huge arms of the large Camphor Laurel in the front garden, reading comics, doing my homework or eating mixed lollies. Much time as a kid was spent gazing out from the chalk dust drabness of my state primary classroom at the sundrenched world of swaying Eucalypts dreaming of a life of immersion in nature as depicted by Arnhem Land first nation children Ricci and Nicci in our school reader, Bush Walkabout.
The subject of trees, particularly Australian native trees however is not a given, to be always there, providing sustenance and rejuvenation to the eyes and souls of many. For thousands of years of adaptation to a uniquely harsh Australian climate, the trees and flora of Australia have stabilized the soil, trapped water and carbon dioxide and provided habitat and nourishment for vast ecosystems. As colonial land practices replaced Indigenous land management, we see those delicate ecosystems decimated, soil blowing freely and the climate change.’ Judith Sinnamon May 2020
Judith Sinnamon has a Diploma of Fine Art majoring in Painting from Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. Her work is held by the Mater Private Hospital Brisbane Art Collection, the Kawana Private Hospital Art Collection, Museum on Brisbane and numerous private collections in Australia and overseas.
