Our Gladstone team continue to prove their excellence in inventive thinking, recently engaging local talent to create a beautiful display of Indigenous artwork, using quite a unique canvas.

The idea came about by Area Manager David Slack-Smith, who was keen to find new and inventive ways to promote our commitment to diversity and inclusion to a key customer. Sharing the idea with Site Administration Assistant and Indigenous employee Kelita Eldridge, they set to work on researching local artists from the Gladstone region.

Kelita reached out to Patricia Coleman, a Byellee woman from the Kardabai Region (Gladstone) who was interested in sharing her talents with our business. Ensuring that Patricia was set up to work safely at our workshop, the team were in awe as Patricia intricately painted the 10-foot shipping container over the course of the month. Using dot and line techniques, and a rich array of colours, Patricia chose to paint the shipping container with her interpretation of the surrounding land and waters on Byellee Country.

Local artist, Patricia Coleman, shares her work with Gladstone employees, Natasha Holzheimer, Kelita Eldridge and Adrian DeDaunton.

Patricia said she wanted her painting to be representative of the land in which we live.

“In our country you can find birthing places, burial grounds and trees, scar trees, fish traps, ochre quarries, fishing grounds, bora grounds, waterholes, artefact scatters, stone arrangements, women’s business, men’s business, ceremonial grounds and both land and water,” she said.

Dave was proud to see the finished piece on display and share it with our customer.

“The artwork creates a conversation starter for not only Monadelphous employees, but for all site-based teams. For us, it’s a unique way to promote diversity and our commitment to reconciliation which are part of our shared values at Monadelphous.”

Monadelphous General Manager – M&IS Eastern Region Duane Oxford, congratulated the Gladstone team for working together to turn the idea into a reality and ensuring the project was completed safely.

“It’s fantastic to see our team engaging with local artists from the community in which we operate our business. I’m keen to explore ways for this idea to be adopted in other areas of our business,” said Duane.

The finished piece of artwork is currently on show in the Gladstone region and will be transported to multiple sites in coming years.

Well done to all involved!