Threads Through Time
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork is a unique visual language, carrying profound cultural stories, traditions and knowledge. Each artwork motif and design element is deeply connected to Country, culture, people and practices.
The artwork ‘Threads Through Time’ by Aunty Denise Proud was created with story in mind, weaving together the threads of our values, history and commitment to community.
Artwork Story
Threads Through Time by Aunty Denise Proud celebrates the evolving story of Anglicare — a journey of care, connection, and community. At its heart are three interconnected circular meeting places, representing the continuum of past, present, and future, and the collective spirit of today, tomorrow, together. These circles are linked together with pathways that echo the flow of water, symbolising the connection between saltwater and freshwater — essential sources of life, healing, and renewal.
The artwork motifs reflect Anglicare’s diverse impact
Aged Care is depicted through life’s journey, represented by flowing linework.
Residential Aged Care incorporates a meeting place, with U-shapes representing people gathered together, surrounded by woven patterns to symbolise the tapestry of a supportive network.
Children, Youth & Family support is symbolised by a strong network of meeting places, pathways, and interconnected individuals and families, highlighting the journey pathways of individuals and the bonds created through love, support, and belonging.
Housing & Homelessness is represented by stepping stones of different shapes and sizes, symbolising the various challenges faced by individuals, as well as the pathways that lead to security and belonging.
Legacy and Community Support is depicted by a central meeting place with five pathways radiating outward, a nod to Anglicare’s five female founders, whose determination laid the foundation for the organisation’s enduring commitment to community care.
Counselling is depicted through two U-shaped figures in conversation, surrounded by a broader circle that represents the safe space of confidentiality, guidance, and healing.
Scattered throughout the artwork are dots that represent connection points and the transfer of knowledge. A line-work motif symbolises the weaving of relationships, and the strength found in shared understanding and community networks.
The artwork’s colour palette is anchored in Anglicare’s signature navy blue, a grounding shade symbolising water, connection, and trust. This is complemented by vibrant oranges and hints of maroon, representing warmth and energy, and the rich ochre tones of the Queensland landscape. Purple shades highlight links to spirituality and compassion, while soft yellows symbolise hope, optimism, and future direction. These colours work in harmony to reflect Anglicare’s ethos of creating vibrant, supportive communities. This artwork embodies the spirit of Anglicare — a tapestry woven with threads of care, compassion, and resilience, connecting individuals, families, and communities across time and place.
About the Artist
Aunty Denise Proud is a Koa and Kuku-Yalanji woman from Cherbourg (Wakka Wakka Country), renowned as an educator, presenter, author, and artist. Recently awarded an honorary doctorate by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Aunty Denise is an Elder and consultant who leads cultural and educational workshops across various sectors, helping organisations engage meaningfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Her commitment to early childhood education began in the 1960s when, at just 16, she became the ‘teacher in charge’ of the first kindergarten in Cherbourg. Over the years, Aunty Denise has worked extensively in prisons and youth detention centres, delivering cultural programs for over two decades.
Aunty Denise is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Sunshine Coast and The University of Queensland and a board member of Reconciliation Queensland. In 2022, she received the Excellence in Educational Leadership award, and most recently, she was honoured with the ECA Barbra Creaser award for her work in the early childhood sector.
An accomplished artist, Aunty Denise has created jewellery, pottery, and paintings for many years, following in the footsteps of her siblings. Her artwork “Connectedness,” created for Anglicare Southern Queensland in 2022, features in the Anglicare Southern Queensland head office. This is the next iteration of her work for Anglicare Southern Queensland, continuing the organisation’s story of care, community, hope and connection.
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