Minister’s Christmas card competition highlights artistic talent
Congratulations to twelve year-old Rekisha Morrison, the winner of this year’s Christmas card design competition held by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion.
A Christmas card design competition has shown the high level of artistic talent evident in young remote Indigenous school students.
In its second year, The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Christmas card design competition celebrates the artwork of young students from Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS) schools around Australia.
With the winner’s artwork to be displayed on the Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion’s 2015 Christmas card, the competition attracted entries from students in some of the most remote communities in Australia.
The entries ranged from traditional local representations of Christmas time to drawings of Santa making his deliveries, although one artist included a crocodile in a Santa hat as a local hazard Santa needs to avoid.
While last year’s competition included many very good entries, Minister Scullion says that this year was even better.
“I was extremely impressed by the high quality of the entries, which shows there are many fine young artists who are already a cause for pride in their communities,” said Minister Scullion.
“However, this meant that I had a very difficult job choosing the winner.”
The Minister eventually chose twelve year old Rekisha Morrison from Epenarra School in the Northern Territory as the winner, for her colourful drawing of a rainbow. The Dreaming around Epenarra is Rain Dreaming and the colours of Rekisha’s drawing are those of Epenarra rainbows at sunset.
Rekisha, who said she was quietly confident that she would win the competition, is an RSAS success story at Epenarra School. She has been attending school every day since the Strategy was introduced and, according to her teacher, her reading and writing has greatly improved.
In addition to having her artwork displayed on Minister Scullion’s Christmas card, Rekisha will also receive an art pack worth $50 while Epenarra School will receive a $250 shop voucher, and all finalists will receive a certificate of appreciation signed by the Minister along with an art book and materials in acknowledgement of their hard work.
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A good education is essential for a good future. Getting children to school, improving education outcomes and supporting families to give their children the best start in life is a major priority for the Australian Government.
The Remote School Attendance Strategy is about working together with schools, families, parents, and community organisations to ensure all children go to school every day.