Regional art award entry donated to Qantas Founders Museum

The artwork, titled Letter from Longreach, was painted by CQUniversity art collection manager, Susan Smith, and was officially handed over to the Qantas Founders Museum last week.

Letter from Longreach is an acrylic on canvas and was painted as an entry in the 2018 Queensland Regional Art Awards.

Ms Smith said the work celebrated the independent spirit of Queensland’s iconic aviators, who shattered records and gender stereotypes and conquered the tyranny of distance. 

“Their adventures gave Australia’s national airline, Qantas its start,” she said.

“The compositional format symbolises both an aviator’s map and an airmail letter.

“Over this is a multi-layering of historical and contemporary narratives to add depth visually and conceptually, connecting past and present.”

CQUniversity associate vice-chancellor (Central Highlands), Blake Repine, said CQUniversity was excited to be involved with the donation.

“The artwork depicts aviator Ivy Pearce Hassard; the map of the England-Australia Empire Air Route; an aviator brooch with the portrait of aviator Lores Bonney AM MBE; a de Havilland biplane; Qantas co-founder Paul McGinness; the Brisbane Story Bridge; brolgas and kangaroos; tools and fuel associated with aviation workshops; the early Qantas hangar, and an imaginary scene of an aviator landing in the outback,” he said.

“The Qantas Founders Museum is the perfect home for it and we hope the work is enjoyed by all visitors to the museum.”

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Qantas Founders Museum CEO, Tony Martin, said the museum was thrilled to accept the work into its collection.

“We are very thankful to CQUniversity for their continued support of Qantas Founders Museum,” he said. “This beautiful piece by Susan Smith highlights many of the important moments, people and places in Australia’s aviation history and will be a welcome addition to our collection and the stories our museum tells.”