Dren, She Was Diagnosed with Epilepsy at Just Three Months

standard.net.au Saturday February 01, 2020 THE STANDARD 23 ACTION: Fiona at the Reconciliation Action Plan launch in December 2019 at the MCG. (above) IMPRESSIVE: Fiona's Walkabout Wickets banner at the 2016 Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. (below) Pictures: Cricket Australia GRAND: Fiona (centre) with artist Vicki Couzens and First X1 commemorative cricket team member Scott Boland at Harrow, marking the 150th anniversary of the team's England tour. (left) dren, she was diagnosed with epilepsy at my epilepsy," she says. "It just calmed in the Warrnambool Art Gallery. to me," she says. just three months. everything down." There followed a diversity of projects for With the encouragement of editor Prescribed medication and sent home to A self-taught artist, Fiona initially began Fiona, among them several album cover de- Claire Jennings, Fiona turned her talents Framlingham, Fiona's future appeared far with dot paintings before switching to her signs including two for south-west musician, to children's Aboriginal picture books. The from promising. Her parents were told she present style of line work. Sadly, it took the Goanna front man Shane Howard. result was the 2012 release of the popular would likely die, with a life expectancy of 20 deaths of her brother Ian, 36, and niece In what evolved into a successful profes- title "Minkgill Chases the Rainbow", a "cute, at best. But the difficulties and limitations Samantha, 18 in 1989 to provide the catalyst sional collaboration with her husband, artist colourful little book" that Fiona says helped of life as an epileptic child and later the for her first serious foray into the visual arts. Ken McKean, the couple's first joint project to lift her art to a brighter place. disappointment of being denied her dream "That really motivated me to do some- was a mural for the Port Fairy Folk Festival Her second, book, "The Rainbow Serpent of becoming a lawyer only strengthened her thing with my life. That was when I put in 1998. Another project Fiona is particularly is Coming", is due out in the coming weeks. resolve to make something of herself. brush to canvas and became more of a proud of is their second major commission While her latest project, an active-wear It was at the age of about 12, watching her serious artist." by City of Melbourne for the sculpture "Eel range featuring her indigenous designs siblings painting around the kitchen table, Her first work was a simple painting of Trap" at Birrarung Marr park. is gaining momentum, Fiona cites her that she first found relief and hope. two turtles, a fitting symbol of the artist's In recent months the couple has collabo- work with Cricket Australia as perhaps the "There was always painting going on at slow but determined path to success. rated on a substantial public art project with highlight of her career so far. home. Pat (Patricia) and Bernice were both Resolving to nurture her talents with their indigenous designs embedded on the A keen supporter of the game, she is also painters and Lenny was a great drawer," she formal training, Fiona studied a Diploma in forecourts of five new and renovated train intensely proud of her family's place in the recalls. "Mum once painted on a boomerang Studio Textiles at South West TAFE in Warr- stations on the Melbourne-to-Ballarat line. sport's indigenous history. that Dad made as a gift for someone. It was nambool in 1993, later adding an Advanced It was on Christmas Eve in 1998 that Fio- Cricket Australia's latest Reconciliation mainly Pat I used to see painting a lot of Diploma of Art and Design to her resume. na's life reached a major turning point with Action Plan announced in December, landscapes and Aboriginal art. She was a Fiona's exposure to the arts community the arrival of the couple's daughter Trish. paid tribute to Fiona's contribution to the great inspiration for me." opened the door to a stimulating new world "My life changed in several ways," Fiona process, saying: "Walkabout Wickets is When Fiona decided to try her hand with of creativity and opportunity, including recalls. Not only were they overjoyed with and will remain a prominent symbol and a paintbrush, she found it not only enjoya- having her portrait painted by noted artist, the new addition to their family, but miracu- reminder of Australian Cricket's respect ble, but she was rewarded with an unexpect- the late Brian Dunlop. The 1993 oil painting, lously, the birth also signalled an end to the to Australia's First Nations peoples and an ed health benefit. "Sundown, Sunrise" was exhibited in the epilepsy that had plagued her all her life. enduring connection to the 1868 Aboriginal "I used to find it was very calming for National Gallery of Victoria and today hangs "It was the best thing that ever happened Team who toured England.".

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