FAMILY and friends of the late Graeme Acton gathered at the Rockhampton Regional Art Galley this week to unveil a hand-woven portrait of the larger-than-life beef identity and community activist.
The late Mr Acton's life was cut short just 12 months ago this week, dying from head injuries sustained from a horse fall while campdrafting at Clarke Creek.
Life-long friends Baillieu and Sarah Myer, Yulgilbar, Baryulgil, NSW, along with friends of the Acton family, wanted to see his memory honoured in an exceptional way and commissioned the portrait from the Australia Tapestry Workshop.
The portrait was presented to members of the Acton family in Rockhampton this week, during the week-long Beef 2015 event.
Former governor of Queensland Penelope Wensley AC told the 70 guests at the unveiling that the portrait captured the spirit of the country and the spirit of Graeme himself.
"The image chosen for this portrait is of Graeme in one of his trademark big hats and classic work shirts, as bright and blue as the clear central Queensland sky, comfortably beside one of his beloved greys, Comet," she said.
"The Big-G achieved enormous success in his life - and if it had not been so cruelly cut short at the Clarke Creek Campdraft, we would have seen greater success and more generous contributions to the organisations, institutions and causes he chose to support, including the Capricornia Helicopter Rescue Service, Royal Flying Doctor and the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame."
The portrait will hang in the Rockhampton Regional Gallery until the Paradise Lagoons Campdraft in July, where it will then take 'pride of place'.
Helen Walker
Journalist for Queensland Country Life at Rockhampton.
Journalist for Queensland Country Life at Rockhampton.
