Sam Lim (Tangney, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I first walked into the home studio of Tangney artist Joan Peters I saw a painting from her time in Iceland that caught my eyes. I was moved by the painting and could feel the coolness of the landscape. Joan, I'm proud to say, was a finalist for this year's Lester Prize of Portraiture. Her piece is titled Drop-ins with Marjorie, inspired by her conversations with Marjorie—a 97-year-old textile artist. Joan's accomplishment is even more impressive considering she is 75 years old and only started painting five years ago. Joan's life is one of passion and energy. She was born in Malacca and worked as a flight attendant, including as one of Singapore Airlines' inaugural Singapore Girls. She migrated to Perth in 1975. She was a single parent and has worked as a chef, sound recordist and film producer. She founded an international charity in Kenya. When she received a law degree, she became an entertainment lawyer. In 2022 she was awarded OAM for her contributions to the performing arts and film.

When Joan started losing her hearing, she picked up a paintbrush. She told me that this is the course of life and that, if she weren't deaf, she wouldn't have known she could paint. Joan paints her memories—for example her artist residency in Iceland or when she took her caravan and travelled across Western Australia alone. In December Joan will have a new exhibition in Fremantle called Sini Sana, which means 'here and there'. When I met with Joan we reflected on our childhoods. We shared that we have both grown up in a small village. Joan told me that, as she grew up, no-one put any limits on her or expectations that she had to go in one direction or the other. Her motto is to always say yes. She has said yes to so many opportunities and now she's saying yes to being one of Tangney's great artists. Thanks, Joan.

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