Teresa Gambaro (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As a lover of art, I am proud to share a story today about a local artist in my electorate who had the opportunity to showcase an impressive array of her artwork during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane. Pamela Hergenhan is 83 years old and has, over the course of six decades, been known as a fine teacher, wife, university lecturer and of course artist, with a flair particularly for illustrating Australian culture and life through her work. Pamela had to transverse a particularly difficult path when ill-health fell on her husband, Laurie, a then lecturer at the University of Sydney, and she took on the role of carer to their three daughters. All challenges aside, Pamela stayed the course and her passion for art remained undiminished over those years. She was able to refocus her energies on a revitalised artistic career after Laurie's recovery and a move to Brisbane where he was appointed as a lecturer in Literature at the University of Queensland. As for Pamela's exhibition, one admirer described it as 'joyous and colourful', saying 'Her love of the Australian story and our early poets and writers shines through.'

The Australian government has initiated a raft of support programs for emerging artists claiming that 'artistic production, experience and enjoyment help shape and sustain our social wellbeing and cultural identity. For those who have made the sometimes long journey from emerging to renowned, whose work inspires us, challenges us and provokes us to new thoughts and ideas, and gives us fresh perspectives on life and the world— (Time expired)