Photo series celebrating First Nations stockwomen wins prestigious art prize

The images capture First Nations women who have spent their entire working lives on cattle stations in far-north Queensland.

Shirley Mary Ann McPherson, a Kurtijar woman from the series 'Tribute to Indigenous Stock Women' by David Prichard.

Shirley Mary Ann McPherson, a Kurtijar woman from the series 'Tribute to Indigenous Stock Women' by David Prichard. Source: National Portrait Gallery London/© David Prichard

One of the world's most regarded photography prizes has been awarded to a striking series of images celebrating First Nations stockwomen. 

The Taylor Wessing Prize recognises excellence in photographic portraits, and is awarded by the UK's National Portrait Gallery.

Shot in the far-north Queensland town of Normanton, the photographs feature Kurtijar women Gloria Campbell, Merna Beasley and Shirley Mary Ann McPherson, as well as Gkuthaarn woman Mildred Burns, and pay tribute to the gruelling, and often forced, work they and others undertook for decades.
Sydney photographer David Prichard was the photographer behind the lens and the winner of the award. 

Mr Prichard said he planned to give the £15,000 prize money to the women and their communities. 

"I made the decision that the money would be donated back to the community. I thought that was only appropriate," Mr Prichard told the ABC.
"I've already been in contact with the community, and asked... the women to try and have them decide how they would like to spend the money.

"And there's a range of ideas and I'll wait to hear back from them to see what they think."


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Published 10 November 2021 3:42pm
By NITV Staff Writer
Source: NITV News


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