In a first, the competition included two age-based categories; a junior competition for entrants aged 12 to 14 years old and a senior competition for entrants aged 15 to 18 years old.
The competition welcomed a record number of submissions from talented young Indigenous artists from as far north as the Torres Strait Islands and as far south as Mackay.
The top three winners in each category received an Apple iPad Pro 11” 128GB Wi-Fi and Apple Pencil, valued at $1,398, a $500 gift voucher for art supplies, and a $250 gift voucher for art supplies, respectively.
Among the many entrants, the well-deserving 2021 winners in each category were:
Junior category (12-14 years old)
- First place: Waterfalls by Yalla Jackonia (14 years old)
- Second place: The sum of her past by Naomi Sansness (12 years old)
- Third place: ‘Towri’ Shield of Lore by Quinn Go Sam (14 years old).
Senior category (15-18 years old)
- First place: Nawi and Nujay by Wudarabin Snider (16 years old)
- Second place: Cultures colliding by Michael Baragud (17 years old)
- Third place (equal): Living with blue by Chantel Joinbee (15 years old)
- Third place (equal): Waters of Murray Island by Chantelle Passi (17 years old).
In 2020, the Board launched the third annual competition in mid-June and announced the winners in the final week of September. The competition continued despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the organisation’s commitment to support Indigenous youth, and a meaningful pathway towards inclusion of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The competition—based on the theme of ‘Regeneration’ – life before, during, and after coronavirus, complemented the NAIDOC theme of ‘Always Was, Always Will Be,’ and Reconciliation Week’s theme of ‘In this together’— saw a record number of incredible artworks submitted by young and upcoming local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists between the ages of 13–21 years.
The top three winners received an Apple iPad Pro 11” 128GB Wi-Fi and Apple Pencil, valued at $1,548, a $500 gift voucher for art supplies, and a $250 gift voucher for art supplies, respectively.
Among the many entrants, the well-deserving 2020 winners were:
- First place: Varni Nona
- Second place: Alkira Geia
- Third place: Stacey Edwards
The 2019 theme of ‘mental health’—saw some inspirational artwork submitted by young and upcoming local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists between the ages of 13–21 years.
The top four winners received an Apple iPad Pro 10.5” 64GB Wi-Fi and Apple Pencil, valued at $1,000, a $500 gift voucher for art supplies, a $250 gift voucher for art supplies, and a $100 gift voucher for art supplies, respectively.
Among the many entrants, the well-deserving 2019 winners were:
- First place: Moniesha Wallace
- Second place: Tanisha Vincent
- Third place: Kashana Wallace
- Fourth place: Ronald Creek
The 2018 theme was ‘health care and wellbeing in our communities’ and there were two artwork categories: Aboriginal artist and Torres Strait Islander artist.
There were a range of incredible submissions from gifted young artists, resulting in three first place winners. The winners each received an Apple iPad Pro 10.5” 64GB Wi-Fi and Apple Pencil, valued at $1,000 each.
Among the many entrants, the well-deserving 2018 winners were:
Aboriginal artwork:
- Joint winners: Jasmine Grogan (Mareeba State High School) and Wudarabin Snider (Cooktown State High School)
- Second place: Danae Hastie (Mareeba State High School)
- Third place: Jalene Gordon (Innisfail)
Torres Strait Islander artwork:
- Winner: Shanaye Bevan (Cooktown State High School)
- Second place: Euwanae Mairu (Herberton)
- Third place: Jai-Lahni Clumpoint (Townsville)
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