It is widely acknowledged that arts programs in health care settings contribute to a range of positive benefits including reduced length of hospital stays, lower reliance on pain relief medication and improved emotional wellbeing of patients and staff.

The Arts in Health Program for the new Tweed Valley Hospital focuses on the hospital as a place of healing, reflection and discovery. This encourages a range of local themes to be explored through visual engagement and storytelling across the hospital site.

The Hospital features more than 90 artworks by artists who all share a significant connection to the Tweed Valley. Artists were selected for the project through the Arts Working Group which included representatives from community, Northern NSW Local Health District staff, Tweed Regional Gallery and informed by cultural knowledge holders from the Aboriginal and South Sea Islander community.

Primary artists and major artworks:

• Hiromi Tango – Garden | Healing Together
• Frances Belle Parker – The Path We Take
• South Sea Islander – Reflection Park

We invite you to immerse yourself in the cultural experience of the Tweed Valley Hospital art program, either first-hand at the hospital or virtually through the images and stories on these pages.

Photo credits: Courtesy of the artists.

Click the image for a 'quick link' to the details/location of the artwork and details about the artist(s).

Details of the artwork and artists

Basement

Trevor Worden – Untitled 1

Location: Mortuary

Artist: Trevor Worden

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Murwillumbah, NSW 

This photograph embodies the tree, in all its tangled forms, as a thing of enduring beauty, inspiring serenity and peace and asking nothing in return. 

Picture yourself in this scene, lying on the soft green grass. What sounds can you hear around you? What sights can you see? 

Trevor Worden is a talented photographer whose work often explores free compositions and unpredictable elements.

Trevor Worden – Untitled 2

Location: Mortuary

Artist: Trevor Worden

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Murwillumbah, NSW 

This photograph embodies the tree, in all its tangled forms, as a thing of enduring beauty, inspiring serenity and peace and asking nothing in return. 

Picture yourself in this scene, lying on the soft green grass. What sounds can you hear around you? What sights can you see? 

Trevor Worden is a talented photographer whose work often explores free compositions and unpredictable elements.

Lower Ground

Caldera School & Kobie Bursac – Journey

Location: Lower Ground Corridor near West Entry

Student Artists: Ashlea Daley, Cody Murray, Kayden Smith, Mia Brown, Shakayha Cora, and Trey Windley, mentored by Kobie Bursac School Principal: Taisuke Shimizu Journey 

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper. 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

Observe the red and brown shapes along the bottom of the artwork. How many different dot and line patterns can you see within each shape? Find your favourite pattern and draw it on your palm with your finger. 

Aboriginal students from the local Caldera school created this artwork with First Nations artist and mentor, Kobie Bursac. This collaborative work is the culmination of several design components created by students that were inspired by local traditional stories. These were then combined with elements of their individual cultural identities. Adopting colours, imagery and textures reflective of the region’s rich natural environment, students were given the opportunity to propel the creative process from conception to creation. Fused amongst imagery of the hinterland’s iconic skyline across Wollumbin is iconography depicting the Tweed River. The circles that join from one end to the other are symbolic of the many tribal groups within the Bundjalung nation and communicate the importance of connection: to Country, community, culture, and identity. The artists acknowledge and respect the great Ancestors and Elders of the land on which this hospital stands. 

About the project: 

Caldera School is an alternative educational setting whose mission is to foster the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of young people by offering a dynamic and nurturing learning environment. The school is committed to providing students with opportunities to learn and grow in a supportive and engaging setting that is tailored to their unique needs and aspirations. The primary objective of the Aboriginal mentoring program is to empower Aboriginal mentees to develop the necessary skills, confidence, and resilience to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. By doing so, the school aims to foster a greater sense of cultural pride and belonging within the Aboriginal community.

Ian Tremewen – Coloured Sail Patterns

Location: Community Mental Health reception waiting room

Artist: Ian Tremewen

Original watercolour painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper Bundjalung Country, Bilambil Heights, NSW. 

This artwork is inspired by sail shapes viewed from an aerial perspective. Observe the trails left behind the sailboats as they move through the water. Do you imagine them moving fast or slow? How many different colours can you count? 

Ian Tremewen was born in Canada and lives and works in Australia. Working in a distinctive pop style, the artist explores an alternative vision of life where colour is exaggerated and shapes are playfully deconstructed to create whimsy and a feeling of joy.

 

Jane Hoggard - Twilight

Location: Emergency Department, Interview Room

Artist: Jane Hoggard

Mixed media on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Fingal Head, NSW 

The harbour at Fingal Heads provides shelter from the Strait. The headlands at the mouth of the harbour are lush and even in summer the ranges reflect the last light of day. 

Imagine reaching out and running your fingers over each part of this artwork, from the scrawl of the drawn lines, to the thick blocks of painted colour. How does each section feel to the touch? 

What do the textures remind you of? 

Residing in Northern NSW, Jane Hoggard is deeply connected to her natural surroundings. Working with mixed media allows Jane to playfully incorporate textures and colours into her work.

Leah Bartholemew – Nature Is Healing

Location: Emergency Department - Child and Adolescent sub-wait play area

Artist: Leah Bartholemew

Digital illustration 

Woiwurrung Country*, Fitzroy, VIC 

This artwork depicts the native flora and fauna of Northern NSW, including the galah, koala and cockatoo, and many native plant species. 

Imagine walking through this colourful landscape. What sound does each animal make as it moves through the bush? Do they move fast or slow? Can you imitate their movements? 

Leah Bartholomew is a multi-disciplinary Melbourne-based artist and designer specialising in murals and painted artworks. Leah’s artworks are an optimistic, colourful reflection of her hometown in Northern NSW.

Leah Bartholemew – Sitting In Stillness

Location: Emergency Department - Child and Adolescent Procedure room

Artist: Leah Bartholemew

Digital illustration 

Woiwurrung Country*, Fitzroy, VIC 

This artwork invites you to pause and admire the beauty of flowers, taking a moment to connect to the natural world.

Imagine reaching out to touch the flowers in this image. How does each petal, stem and leaf feel? How do you imagine this bouquet would smell? What animals would the flowers attract? 

Leah Bartholomew is a multi-disciplinary Melbourne-based artist and designer specialising in murals and painted artworks. Leah’s artworks are an optimistic, colourful reflection of her hometown in Northern NSW.

Leah Bartholemew – Local Observations

Location: Emergency Department - Child and Adolescent - Resus Bay

Artist: Leah Bartholemew

Digital illustration 

Woiwurrung Country*, Fitzroy, VIC 

This work is inspired by the biodiverse landscape of the Tweed Coast and Northern Rivers. The artwork incorporates a variety of plants and animals including the echidna, ulysses butterfly, kookaburra, bottlebrush, kangaroo paw and banksia. 

Imagine walking through this colourful landscape. What sound does each animal make as it moves through the bush? Do they move fast or slow? 

Leah Bartholomew is a multi-disciplinary Melbourne-based artist and designer specialising in murals and painted artworks. Leah’s artworks are an optimistic, colourful reflection of her hometown in Northern NSW.

Leah Bartholemew– Documenting My Daily Walks

Location: Emergency Department - Child and Adolescent - Treatment Bays x 6

Artist: Leah Bartholemew

Digital illustration 

Woiwurrung Country*, Fitzroy, VIC 

These illustrations depict Australian native flora such as Sand-Spurrey, Native Ginger, Coastal Banksia, Purple Coral Pea, Wattle and Red Flowering Gum. 

Concentrate on the image of the flower. Imagine picking it up and holding it to your nose. How does the plant smell? What does the scent remind you of? 

Leah Bartholomew is a multi-disciplinary Melbourne-based artist and designer specialising in murals and painted artworks. Leah’s artworks are an optimistic, colourful reflection of her hometown in Northern NSW

Lyndall Phelps – Natures Healing

Location: Multifaith room

Artist: Lyndall Phelps

Digital illustration 

Bundjalung Country, Ballina, NSW 

This artwork explores ideas of loss and fragility, and alternatively, healing and protection. The work was developed through research into the ninety-two threatened plants species listed by Tweed Shire Council. 

Observe each of the plant forms featured in the artwork. How many do you recognise? 

How many different leaf shapes can you count? 

Lyndall Phelps artistic practice involves research and collaboration, investigating collections, both historical and contemporary, in archives and museums.

Marta Spear – Wet Times

Location: Kurrajong - Foyer (West)

Artist: Marta Spear

Original collage, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Mount Warning, NSW 

Wet Times is an assemblage of leaves and seeds collected alongside the local creek in Wollumbin-Mount Warning during the wettest year experienced to date. During this time, the bunya cones were plentiful and many butterflies were seen in the area. Imagine scooping up these leaves with your hands. 

Are the leaves soft and supple, or crunchy and crinkly? What places do the leaves remind you of? 

Marta Spear creates colourful and engaging botanical collages of seeds and flowers. Her collages form a ‘botanical diary’, depicting changes of the seasons through nature.

Marta Spear – Dry Times

Location: Kurrajong - Foyer (East)

Artist: Marta Spear

Original collage, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Mount Warning, NSW 

Dry Times is an assemblage of leaves collected alongside the local creek in Wollumbin-Mount Warning in 2019. During this time, the creek dried out almost completely. 

Imagine scooping up these leaves with your hands. Are the leaves soft and supple, or crunchy and crinkly? What places do the leaves remind you of? 

Marta Spear creates colourful and engaging botanical collages of seeds and flowers. Her collages form a ‘botanical diary’, depicting changes of the seasons through nature.

Meli Axford – Steal my Sunshine

Location: Community Mental Health

Artist: Meli Axford

Acrylic and oil paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Stokers Siding, NSW 

This painting depicts a playful scene, where young people play by the pool with their puppy. The work is set against the background of the Tweed Valley. Observe the water in the pool. Imagine running across the lawn and diving in. 

How does the water feel when it meets your skin? What sounds can you hear while you swim under the water? 

Meli Axford creates vibrant images centred around the Aussie backyard swimming pool, that pay homage to the family-friendly lifestyle of Northern NSW.

Meli Axford – Over and over

Location: Community Mental Health

Artist: Meli Axford

Acrylic and oil paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Stokers Siding, NSW 

This painting depicts a playful scene, where young people play by the pool with their puppy. The work is set against the background of the Tweed Valley. 

Observe the water in the pool. Imagine running across the lawn and diving in. How does the water feel when it meets your skin? What sounds can you hear while you swim under the water? 

Meli Axford creates vibrant images centred around the Aussie backyard swimming pool, that pay homage to the family-friendly lifestyle of Northern NSW.

Michael Philp – Walking Up Sandhills

Location: Indigenous Meeting Room

Artist: Michael Philp (Bundjalung*) 

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Caldera, NSW 

This artwork reflects on the artist’s childhood, spending time on the beaches of the Tweed Coast swimming, surfing and digging for pippies with family. The work expresses the joy of climbing up the massive sand dunes and rolling back down. 

Observe the expansive sands set against the blue sky. What do these colours remind you of? Imagine sinking your fingers deep into the sand. How does the texture feel? 

Michael Philp is a contemporary Aboriginal artist whose signature minimalist style, tells the story of his people from a modern perspective.

Trevor Worden – Untitled 4

Location: Community Mental Health - Youth Sub-Waiting Room

Artist: Trevor Worden

Digital photograph reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Murwillumbah, NSW 

This photograph embodies the tree, in all its tangled forms, as a thing of enduring beauty, inspiring serenity and peace and asking nothing in return. 

Picture yourself in this scene, floating among the early morning mist. What sounds can you hear around you? What scents are floating through the air? 

Trevor Worden is a talented photographer whose work often explores free compositions and unpredictable elements.

Ground Floor

David Young – The Long Walk Back #1

Location: Cancer services reception wait room

Artist: David Young;

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, NSW 

This photograph captures surfers walking along Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay. The artist was particularly drawn to the frozen, slightly awkward stance of the surfer, the father and children, accompanied by the softer elements in the background. 

Imagine walking along the beach in this photograph. How does the sand feel beneath your feet with each step? What sounds can you hear around you?

David Young – The Long Walk Back #2

Location: Renal reception wait room

Artist: David Young;

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, NSW 

This photograph was taken at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay, capturing three surfers in moment - perfectly framed between the black rocks and their boards. 

Observe the waves lapping at the bottom of the surfboard and pooling at the rocks. How do the waves sound as they sweep across the shore? How does the water feel against your ankles? 

David Young was formally trained in London and has over thirty years’ experience as a professional advertising, editorial and arts photographer.

Hiromi Tango – Garden | Healing Together

Location: Main entry foyer

Artists: Tweed Valley Community and Hiromi Tango, GARDEN | HEALING TOGETHER Fabricator: Perides Art Projects 

Cast aluminium, enamel paint, woven textiles 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Valley, NSW 

Stand under this healing garden and observe the subtle shift in colour. 

Think of a place by the coast or hinterland and imagine the warm breeze brushing your cheek. Close your eyes and think of all the colours you’ve just seen. How do the colours make you feel? 

GARDEN | HEALING TOGETHER explores the healing and medicinal properties of flora in the Tweed Valley region and the powerful influence of aroma and colour on mood. Informed by members of the local Aboriginal and South Sea Islander communities, the artwork takes as its starting point the shape of the lilly pilly berry. Its blue and green colour palette recalls the lush nature of the Tweed Valley between the coast and the hinterland, inspiring feelings of calm and wellbeing. 

The local community was invited to create woven elements for the artwork during a series of workshops, where they participated in the soothing, meditative process of creating “seedlings”. More than 500 community members contributed to the artwork; winding yarn, sorting materials, exploring texture and colour, while connecting with each other through the shared experience. 

About the artist: 

Hiromi Tango is a Japanese-Australian artist who works across sculpture, drawing, photography, installation and performance. Over the last decade, Hiromi’s practice has explored how engagement with art as both audience and maker can promote wellbeing and improve health. Hiromi Tango is represented by Sullivan+Strumpf Gallery.

Jane Hoggard - Cascade at the Sounds

Location: Staff workspace in Executive area

Artist: Jane Hoggard

Mixed media on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Fingal Head, NSW 

This artwork captures the meditative quality of water flowing through the landscape. 

Close your eyes and imagine yourself sitting beside a waterfall. Does the water fall abundantly, or is it just a trickle? What can you hear and smell? 

Residing in Northern NSW, Jane Hoggard is deeply connected to her natural surroundings. Working with mixed media allows Jane to playfully incorporate textures and colours into her work.

Trevor Worden – Untitled 3

Location: Medical imaging - Reception wait room

Artist: Trevor Worden

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Murwillumbah, NSW 

This photograph embodies the tree, in all its tangled forms, as a thing of enduring beauty, inspiring serenity and peace and asking nothing in return. 

Observe the fine mist floating among the trees in this scene. 

Close your eyes and imagine walking slowly into this cloud of mist. Take a long, deep breath in. What smell does the forest mist carry? How does it feel as it brushes your skin? 

Trevor Worden is a talented photographer whose work often explores free compositions and unpredictable elements.

Warren Keats – Margaret Lillie's Kick Ups

Location: Executive workspace

Artist: Warren Keats

Original painting reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

Warren Keats’ paintings record happenings in the Tweed area in the 19th and early 20th Century. This artwork was donated to the Tweed Valley Hospital by the artist’s family. Picture yourself among the crowd in this scene. How do you imagine the music sounds? Are you dancing fast or slow? 

Warren Keats OAM worked as a biological artist with the University of Queensland and the CSIRO. Warren founded the Tweed Heads Historical Society in 1985.

Level 1

Jane Hoggard – Follow My River

Location: Special Care Nursery (B1) Lounge

Artist: Jane Hoggard

Mixed media on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Fingal Head, NSW 

This artwork captures the meditative quality of the natural environment, where light catches the powerful waterfalls that stream steadily into the sounds below, each crevice rich with plant life. Imagine reaching out and running your fingers over each part of this artwork, from the scrawl of the drawn lines, to the thick blocks of painted colour. How does each section feel to the touch? What do the textures remind you of? 

Residing in Northern NSW, Jane Hoggard is deeply connected to her natural surroundings. Working with mixed media allows Jane to playfully incorporate textures and colours into her work.

Leah Bartholemew – Documenting My Daily Walks

 

Location: Perioperative services (A1) Paediatrics (ceiling)

Artist: Leah Bartholemew

Digital illustration 

Woiwurrung Country*, Fitzroy, VIC 

These illustrations depict Australian native flora such as Sand-Spurrey, Native Ginger, Coastal Banksia, Purple Coral Pea, Wattle and Red Flowering Gum. Concentrate on the image of the flower. Imagine picking it up and holding it to your nose. How does the plant smell? What does the scent remind you of? 

Leah Bartholomew is a multi-disciplinary Melbourne-based artist and designer specialising in murals and painted artworks. Leah’s artworks are an optimistic, colourful reflection of her hometown in Northern NSW.

Megan Cochran – Green Pastures

Location: Special Care Nursery (B1) Interview room

Artist: Megan Cochran

Mixed media on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

Inspired by the grassy hills of the Tweed Valley, this artwork explores human connection to the earth through immersion in the landscape. Observe the shade of green in this painting. What does it remind you of? What textures and smells does it bring to mind? 

Megan Cochran draws inspiration from the natural environment, her visual style evokes a sense of wonder, curiosity and reflection.

Megan Cochran – The Field

Location: Maternity birth suite (B1) Multi-purpose room

Artist: Megan Cochran

Mixed media on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the promise of the season of spring and the harvest it brings. When the bitter winter season ends, a season of restoration and abundance arrives, bringing with it hope and healing. 

Imagine yourself lying down amongst the flowers in this green pasture. How does the grass feel underneath you? What scents do you imagine drifting through the spring breeze? 

Megan Cochran draws inspiration from the natural environment, her visual style evokes a sense of wonder, curiosity and reflection.

Sylvie Kettle – Vessel I

Location: Maternity IPU (B1) reception

Artist: Sylvie Kettle

Acrylic and oil paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Stokers Siding, NSW 

This painting depicts a playful scene, where young people play by the pool with their puppy. The work is set against the background of the Tweed Valley. Observe the water in the pool. Imagine running across the lawn and diving in. How does the water feel when it meets your skin? What sounds can you hear while you swim under the water? 

Meli Axford creates vibrant images centred around the Aussie backyard swimming pool, that pay homage to the family-friendly lifestyle of Northern NSW.

Sylvie Kettle – Vessel II

Location: Maternity IPU (B1) reception

Artist: Sylvie Kettle

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Cudgen, NSW 

This work is a celebration of women as the carriers of life and the entrance to this world. Imagine yourself standing in this scene, basking beneath the sun. What time of day is it? Does the air feel warm and humid, or cool and crisp? 

Sylvie Kettle’s artworks celebrate the female form and natural landscape. Her expert use of colour and form convey a sense of warmth, depth and calm.

 

 

Sylvie Kettle – A New Sun

Location: Maternity services reception

Artist: Sylvie Kettle

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Cudgen, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the sun and the warmth it brings us each day, embedded within the cyclical rhythms of life. Observe the bright yellow colours in this painting and bring to mind a warm, sunny day. 

Close your eyes and imagine this glowing sunlight warming your face. How does the light make you feel? 

Sylvie Kettle’s artworks celebrate the female form and natural landscape. Her expert use of colour and form convey a sense of warmth, depth and calm.

Sylvie Kettle – Cudgen Pickings

Location: Maternity family lounge

Artist: Sylvie Kettle

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Cudgen, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the abundant volcanic soils of this land, which provide nourishment for all communities. Notice the fruits falling from the tree into the basket. What does their colour remind you of? 

Imagine the taste of the fruits when you bite into them. Do they taste juicy and sweet, or sour and tangy? 

Sylvie Kettle’s artworks celebrate the female form and natural landscape. Her expert use of colour and form convey a sense of warmth, depth and calm.

Sylvie Kettle – Life Nectar

Location: Maternity assessment sub-wait room

Artist: Sylvie Kettle

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Cudgen, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the life-giving force of nature. The artist was inspired by the experience of bathing under a banksia archway, feeling nourished and energised by the natural surroundings. Imagine yourself in this scene, lying beneath the banksias on a summer day. 

How does the sunlight feel on your skin? What sounds can you hear around you, drifting through the breeze? 

Sylvie Kettle’s artworks celebrate the female form and natural landscape. Her expert use of colour and form convey a sense of warmth, depth and calm.

Level 2

Ben Devlin – Flametail Snapper (-28.3952 Lat 153.5857 Long)

Location: Rehab inpatient dining and recreation room (Ward A2)

Artist: Ben Devlin

Ink on rice paper 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work showcases a flametail snapper that was served grilled with mullet roe and pea miso at Pipit Restaurant. It was caught by Fleming Fish Co from Pottsville NSW. Observe the fine red scales of the snapper fish. What does the colour remind you of? Imagine yourself running your fingers along the scales - how do they feel? 

Ben Devlin is a chef and artist based in Pottsville. He uses the traditional Japanese printmaking method of Gyotaku, where ink is applied to one side of a fish, covered with paper and then rubbed to create an exact record of the freshly caught fish. The work highlights the importance of local ingredients, sustainable fishing and coastal management processes.

Ben Devlin – Mahi Mahi (-30.8623 Lat, 153.2494 Long)

Location: Rehab inpatient dining and recreation room (Ward A2)

Artist: Ben Devlin

Ink on rice paper 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work depicts a mahi mahi that was served grilled with bamboo shoots at Pipit Restaurant. It was caught during the summer by Nautical Seafoods from South West Rocks, NSW. Imagine the mahi mahi fish swimming through the image. Is the water rough and bumpy, or smooth and calm? 

Ben Devlin is a chef and artist based in Pottsville. He uses the traditional Japanese printmaking method of Gyotaku, where ink is applied to one side of a fish, covered with paper and then rubbed to create an exact record of the freshly caught fish. The work highlights the importance of local ingredients, sustainable fishing and coastal management processes.

Ben Devlin – Sardines (-30.8636 Lat, 153.0387 Long)

Location: Rehab inpatient dining and recreation room (Ward A2)

Artist: Ben Devlin

Ink on rice paper 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work depicts sardines that were served pickled with shiso vinegar, bonito garum, and almond tofu at Pipit Restaurant. They were caught in winter by Nautical Seafoods from Iluka, NSW. Follow the trail of sardines with your eye. Do you imagine the sardines moving fast or slow? 

Ben Devlin is a chef and artist based in Pottsville. He uses the traditional Japanese printmaking method of Gyotaku, where fisherman would apply ink to one side of a freshly caught fish, then cover the fish with paper and rub to create an exact record of the fish, to highlight the importance of sustainable fishing and coastal management processes.

Christine Slaab – The Saltwater Life

Location: East lift lobby corner (B Block)

Artist: Christine Slaab

Digital illustration 

Bundjalung Country, Fingal Head, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the artist’s childhood memories of time spent on the Tweed Coast with family, fishing and collecting pippies, mud crabs or oysters. 

Imagine yourself sitting by the ocean waters of the Tweed Coast. Can you smell the salt in the air? 

Can you feel the breeze blowing through your hair? How does the ocean air make you feel? 

Christine Slabb is inspired by her connection to community and cultural practices that encourage respect for the environment.

 

David Young – The Long Walk Back #1

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU - Parents lounge

Artist: David Young

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, NSW 

This photograph captures surfers walking along Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay. The artist was particularly drawn to the frozen, slightly awkward stance of the surfer, the father and children, accompanied by the softer elements in the background. Imagine walking along the beach in this photograph. How does the sand feel beneath your feet with each step? What sounds can you hear around you? 

David Young was formally trained in London and has over thirty years’ experience as a professional advertising, editorial and arts photographer.

David Young – The Long Walk Back #2

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU - Recreation room

Artist: David Young

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, NSW 

This photograph was taken at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay, capturing three surfers in moment - perfectly framed between the black rocks and their boards. Observe the waves lapping at the bottom of the surfboard and pooling at the rocks. 

How do the waves sound as they sweep across the shore? How does the water feel against your ankles? 

David Young was formally trained in London and has over thirty years’ experience as a professional advertising, editorial and arts photographer.

David Young – The Long Walk Back #3

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU (Ward B2) Multipurpose room

Artist: David Young

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, NSW 

This photograph was taken at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay. It captures a lone surfer walking back to the shore, silhouetted against a cloudy sunset fading from blue to orange. When was the last time you watched the sunset? What colours did you see in the sky and how did they make you feel? 

David Young was formally trained in London and has over thirty years’ experience as a professional advertising, editorial and arts photographer.

David Young – The Long Walk Back #4

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU (Ward B2) Recreation room

Artist: David Young

Digital print on photographic paper 

Bundjalung Country, Byron Bay, NSW 

This photograph was taken at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay. It captures a surfer emerging from the ocean after her last surf, with sunlight catching the tail fin of the board. 

Imagine you’ve just come out of the ocean after a swim. How does the sand feel beneath your feet with each step? How does the ocean breeze feel on your wet skin? 

David Young was formally trained in London and has over thirty years’ experience as a professional advertising, editorial and arts photographer.

Ian Tremewen – Cudgen Starry Night

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU (B2) Procedure room

Artist: Ian Tremewen

Original watercolour painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Bilambil Heights, NSW 

This painting offers a reinterpretation of Vincent Van Gogh’s famous work, The Starry Night, 1889, to portray the local Bundjalung landscape. The artwork was inspired by the night sky over Cudgen, in particular the way the stars and the moonlight reflect off the clouds. Imagine yourself laying on the hills at the bottom of this landscape, looking up at the starry sky. What do the cloud shapes remind you of? Do you imagine them sitting still, or drifting slowly through the air? 

Ian Tremewen was born in Canada and lives and works in Australia. Working in a distinctive pop style, the artist explores an alternative vision of life where colour is exaggerated and shapes are deconstructed to create whimsy and joy.

Ian Tremewen – Rainforest Beach Waterfall

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU (B2) Play room

Artist: Ian Tremewen

Original watercolour painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Bilambil Heights, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the varied landscapes of the Tweed region, where one might find a beach set against a rainforest, or a waterfall in close proximity to the coast. Notice the patterns in this painting. How many different dots and lines can you see? What do they remind you of? 

Imagine yourself strolling through this colourful landscape. What sounds would you hear and what would you see? 

Ian Tremewen was born in Canada and lives and works in Australia. Working in a distinctive pop style, the artist explores an alternative vision of life where colour is exaggerated and shapes are deconstructed to create whimsy and a feeling of joy.

Ian Tremewen – Fingal Light

Location: Child and Adolescent - Outpatient reception wait room

Artist: Ian Tremewen

Original watercolour painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Bilambil Heights, NSW 

This painting depicts the Fingal Head Lighthouse, an iconic landmark in the region. Situated on the headland hill between Fingal Beach and South Beach, the lighthouse is a beacon for fishermen and ships at sea. Imagine climbing up all the steps to reach the top of the lighthouse where you can look out across the ocean. What colours and shapes can you see on the horizon? 

Ian Tremewen was born in Canada and lives and works in Australia. Working in a distinctive pop style, the artist explores an alternative vision of life where colour is exaggerated and shapes are deconstructed to create whimsy and a feeling of joy.

Jane Hoggard – Banksias in Flight

Location: Child and Adolescent IPU (B2) Reception

Artist: Jane Hoggard

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Fingal Head, NSW 

The artist describes this work as “my take on a banksia, full flight - out of its vase! Free to decorate wherever they choose to land, these jurassic buds create a happy, energised piece. If you stand back and look there is a suggestion of a secret large urn shape in the background.” Concentrate on the image of the flower. 

Imagine picking it up and holding it in your hands. How does the plant feel? Is there a difference in texture between the petals and the leaves? 

Residing in Northern NSW, Jane Hoggard is deeply connected to her natural surroundings. Working with mixed media allows Jane to playfully incorporate textures and colours into her work.

Jason King – Community Spirit on Country

Location: West lift lobby corner (A Block)

Artist: Jason King

Original painting on canvas reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Duranbah, NSW 

This artwork represents the many communities within the Tweed Valley. The work reflects on the community spirit that teaches us to appreciate the beauty in diversity and embrace our differences. As you look at this artwork, move your eyes across the dotted lines and the outline of each shape. You may wish to sway your body at the same time. How does the movement feel? What does it remind you of? 

Jason King is a local Aboriginal artist, born in Murwillumbah, raised in Tumbulgum, living on Bundjalung Country in the Tweed Valley.

Karyn Fendley – Serenity

Location: Older Persons (GEM - B2) Lounge

Artist: Karyn Fendley

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Mullumbimby, NSW 

This work is inspired by the Corindi River at Red Rock in the south of Yuraygir National Park in Northern NSW. The mature trees in these paintings offer shelter to the young saplings, which represent new beginnings. 

Imagine yourself standing within this landscape. What time of day is it? Does the air feel warm and humid, or cool and crisp? Karyn Fendley is a landscape artist based in Mullumbimby, NSW. 

Karyn’s artwork investigates how we remember places, capturing the essense of these locations through simple imagery.

Karyn Fendley – Into the Trees

Location: Older Persons (GEM - B2) reception

Artist: Karyn Fendley

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Mullumbimby, NSW 

This work is inspired by the Corindi River at Red Rock in the south of Yuraygir National Park in Northern NSW. The mature trees in these paintings offer shelter to the young saplings, which represent new beginnings. 

Imagine yourself sitting beneath one of the mature trees. Is it cool beneath the tree canopy or warm and humid? What sounds can you hear? 

Karyn Fendley is a landscape artist based in Mullumbimby, NSW. Karyn’s artwork investigates how we remember places, capturing the essense of these locations through simple imagery.

Karyn Fendley – Waiting for the Storm

Location: Rehab IPU (A2) Reception

Artist: Karyn Fendley

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Mullumbimby, NSW 

This work was inspired by a visit to Lake Hiawatha near Minnie Water in Yuraygir National Park, Northern NSW. Paperbarks stand along the shore of these waters in beds of fragile reeds, outlined by the light reflecting off the surface of the lake. Imagine yourself standing next to one of the trees, gently running your hand across the paperbark. Does it feel soft or crisp? What sound does the bark mark when you run your hand across it? 

Karyn Fendley is a landscape artist based in Mullumbimby, NSW. Karyn’s artwork investigates how we remember places, capturing the essense of these locations through simple imagery.

Warren Keats – Fingal lighthouse with Mount Warning in background

Location: Staff shared workspace

Artist: Warren Keats

Original painting reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

Warren Keats’ paintings record happenings in the Tweed area in the 19th and early 20th Century. This artwork was donated to the Tweed Valley Hospital by the artist’s family. Look closely at the wisps of cloud in this painting. Is it a windy or still day? What sounds can you hear around you, and what smells drift through the air? 

Warren Keats OAM worked as a biological artist with the University of Queensland and the CSIRO. Warren founded the Tweed Heads Historical Society in 1985.

Level 3

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd – Splendour

Location: Cardiology ward reception (Ward A3)

Artist: Bianca Gardiner-Dodd

Original painting on canvas reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the natural shapes and forms found in the Australian landscape, exploring the real, the imagined and the whimsical. A variety of colours can be seen in this artwork. How many different shades can you count? Which shapes catch your eye, and what do they remind you of? 

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd is a Kamilaroi woman with Bundjalung cultural ties. Her contemporary approach to Aboriginal art is inspired by the shifting coastal landscape and the symbols of her ancestry.

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd – Gudjin Creek

Location: Intensive Care Unit (A Block) Lounge

Artist: Bianca Gardiner-Dodd

Original painting on canvas reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work celebrates the ancient waters that stretch through the traditional land of the Coodjingburra or Goodjinburra people of the Bundjalung Nation. The healing waters of the creek provide the essential elements for life in this timeless land. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Imagine yourself standing by the flowing waters of the creek. What sounds can you hear around you? How does this place make you feel? 

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd is a Kamilaroi woman with Bundjalung cultural ties. Her contemporary approach to Aboriginal art is inspired by the shifting coastal landscape and the symbols of her ancestry.

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd – Ocean and Earth

Location: Intensive Care Unit (A Block) Carers room

Artist: Bianca Gardiner-Dodd

Original painting on canvas reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work honours the peace and harmony found in the delicate balance of the coastal environment - from the rising hill to the ocean, and everything in between. Look closely at this painting and you will notice different patterns. Which ones catch your eye? What do they remind you of? Can you trace them on your palm with your finger? 

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd is a Kamilaroi woman with Bundjalung cultural ties. Her art is inspired by the shifting coastal landscape and the symbols of her ancestry.

Christine Slaab – The Saltwater Life

Location: East lift lobby corner (B Block)

Artist: Christine Slaab

Digital illustration 

Bundjalung Country, Fingal Head, NSW 

This artwork celebrates the artist’s childhood memories of time spent on the Tweed Coast with family, fishing and collecting pippies, mud crabs or oysters. 

Imagine yourself sitting by the ocean waters of the Tweed Coast. Can you smell the salt in the air? Can you feel the breeze blowing through your hair? How does the ocean air make you feel? 

Christine Slabb is inspired by her connection to community and cultural practices that encourage respect for the environment.

 

Gene Slockee – Wubin (Clever)

Location: Intensive Care Unit (A3) Meeting room 1

Artist: Gene Slockee

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

This artwork tells the story of patient care provided in the intensive care unit. The centre represents a meeting place, where intensive care specialists, who hold special knowledge to heal people, work together to coordinate care. The white lines represent this healing knowledge flowing towards the patients, guided by ancestral spirit beings. Ten circles containing symbols for men and women represent patients, surrounded by the staff who care for them. 

At the top and bottom of the painting lines represent the different health journeys taken by patients and families – the journey to recovery and continuous life, as well as the spiritual journey to join the campfires amongst the stars. 

Dr Gene Slockee is a Bundjalung, Darumbal and South Sea Islander man and Anaesthesiologist.

Jason King – The Hunter and the Great Kangaroo

Location: West lift lobby corner (A Block)

Artist: Jason King

Original painting on canvas reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Duranbah, NSW 

This work is an interpretation of the Cudgen creation story of the hunter who went into the hills to find kangaroo. When the hunter found the Great Kangaroo, he threw his spear, injuring the animal. The hunter ran after him, but the kangaroo kept jumping ahead and resting. Each time he rested, his blood fell on the ground, becoming the red soil of the Tweed Valley. Observe the kangaroo track winding through the centre of the painting. Can you trace the path in the air with your finger? Where do you imagine the track leads? 

Jason King is a local Aboriginal artist, born in Murwillumbah, raised in Tumbulgum, living on Bundjalung Country in the Tweed Valley.

Kate Constantine – Gurrundurrung (Gadigal Translation: the inner bark of the paperbark)

Location: Intensive Care Unit (A3) Lounge

Artist: Kate Constantine

Ochre and acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Myocum, NSW 

In Gadigal language, the Gurrundurrung’ is the inner bark of the paperbark tree. This part of the tree is traditionally used to aid the survival of Culture, holding infinite beauty, truths and stories, while telling us about the life of the tree itself. 

This artwork was made with sustainably foraged and hand milled ochre from Arnhem Land. Imagine running your fingers along this painting. How does the texture feel? Which shapes catch your eye, and what do they remind you of? 

Kate Constantine is a proud Gadigal woman of the Eora Nation and a neo-contemporary Indigenous artist, living and working on Bundjalung Country.

Kate Constantine – Garagula garramilyi (Gadigal Translation: the ebb and wash of the sea)

Location: Intensive Care Unit (A3) Meeting room 2

Artist: Kate Constantine

Ochre and acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Myocum, NSW

In Gadigal language, ‘Garagula garramilyi’ evokes the ebb and wash of the sea. This work celebrates these flows, which connect sea country to sky country through the cycles of the stars, the sun and the moon. 

The artist invites us to consider the simplicity of this connection alongside the complexity of life between these realms. Imagine running your fingers along this painting. How does the texture feel? Which shapes catch your eye, and what do they remind you of? 

Kate Constantine is a proud Gadigal woman of the Eora Nation and a neo-contemporary Indigenous artist, living and working on Bundjalung Country.

Kate Constantine – Mudung (Gadigal Translation: alive)

Location: Intensive Care Unit (A3) Interview room

Artist: Kate Constantine

Ochre and acrylic paint on canvas 

Bundjalung Country, Myocum, NSW 

The sea spinifex is perhaps at its greatest point of life at death. This painting embodies the spinifex dancing freely amongst the dunes, carried only by the sea and the wind with reckless abandon. This artwork was made with sustainably foraged and hand milled ochre from Mullumbimby. Observe the sea spinifex plant at the centre of this painting. 

Imagine it dancing across the sand, carried by the ocean breeze. Take a moment to make up your own dance, inspired by the movement of the spinifex. 

Kate Constantine is a proud Gadigal woman of the Eora Nation and a neo-contemporary Indigenous artist, living and working on Bundjalung Country.

Lola Anne-Davis – Floating Leaves

Location: Medical IPU (B3 Ward 1) reception

Artist: Lola Anne-Davis

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Eora Country, Sydney, NSW 

This work honours the artist’s South Sea Islander and Aboriginal heritage, referencing her great-grandmother who was taken from her home in Vanuatu to work as a servant for a sugarcane plantation master in Australia. Traditional medicinal leaves are depicted in the painting to symbolise their use for healing, medicine, food, tools, weapons, building materials, nets and carry bags. 

Closely observe the red colour lining the outside of the leaves for 10 seconds. Close your eyes and remember the vibrancy of the red. Hows does this colour make you feel? 

Lola-Anne Davis is a Sydney-based artist who celebrates her South Sea Islander and Aboriginal heritage through her work.

Warren Keats – Fingal lighthouse and Keepers cottage

Location: Staff shared workspace

Artist: Warren Keats

Original painting reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

Warren Keats’ paintings record happenings in the Tweed area in the 19th and early 20th Century. This artwork was donated to the Tweed Valley Hospital by the artist’s family. Look closely at the horizon in this painting and the changing colour of the ocean. Is it a windy or still day? What sounds can you hear around you? 

Warren Keats OAM worked as a biological artist with the University of Queensland and the CSIRO. Warren founded the Tweed Heads Historical Society in 1985.

Level 4

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd – The Three Brothers

Location: East lift lobby corner (B Block)

Artist: Bianca Gardiner-Dodd

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work reflects the local Bundjalung story of the Three Brothers in their canoe. Under the guidance of the stars, the brothers navigate the tides and currents of the ocean. Look closely at this artwork. Can you spot the twinkling stars of the night sky? If you could journey across the ocean in a canoe, where would you go and what incredible sights would you see? 

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd is a Kamilaroi woman with Bundjalung cultural ties. Her art is inspired by the shifting coastal landscape and the symbols of her ancestry.

Jason King – Clan groups and languages on Country

Location: Surgical IPU (A4 Ward 2) corridor

Artist: Jason King

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Duranbah, NSW 

This work represents the diverse clan groups within the Bundjalung Nation and dialects spoken on Country. The artist has used colour and layering to represent the connections that exist between each clan group through story, ceremony, dance and song. Observe the rich colour palette of this artwork. Have you seen these colours on Country before? Where have you seen them? 

Jason King is a local Aboriginal artist born in Murwillumbah and raised in Tumbulgum, living on Bundjalung Country in the Tweed Valley.

Jason King – Cudgen

Location: Medical IPU (B4) corridor

Artist: Jason King

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Duranbah, NSW 

This work is the artist’s representation of the Cudgen creation story of the hunter that chased the Great Kangaroo through the Tweed Valley and beyond. 

Can you find the symbol of the kangaroo track, and the hunter following closely behind? What other symbols can you see in the artwork? 

Jason King is a local Aboriginal artist born in Murwillumbah and raised in Tumbulgum, living on Bundjalung Country in the Tweed Valley.

Jason King – Ceremony

Location: Surgical IPU (A4 Ward 1) entrance

Artist: Jason King

Original painting on canvas reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Duranbah, NSW 

This artwork reflects on Aboriginal Ceremony, using the colourful shades of ochres from Bundjalung Country to honour the spiritual connection between Aboriginal art and Culture. The circular designs in the work represent ceremonial grounds, yarning circles and gathering spaces. 

Observe the rich colour palette of this artwork. Have you seen these colours on Country before? Where have you seen them? How do these colours make you feel? 

Jason King is a local Aboriginal artist born in Murwillumbah and raised in Tumbulgum, living on Bundjalung Country in the Tweed Valley.

Lola Anne-Davis – My name is Togo (Tuku)

Location: Medical IPU (B4 Ward 1) reception

Artist: Lola Anne-Davis

Acrylic paint on canvas 

Eora Country, Sydney, NSW 

This artwork reflects the artist’s dual Aboriginal and South Sea Islander heritage (from the marriage of her grandparents) living on Bundjalung country, with its red soil, rich and fertile, and waterways shaping the landscape and providing nourishment. The Togo family are spread across the Tweed Valley, other parts of Australia, and the islands of Vanuatu, connected by culture, country, and a sense of family and belonging. 

The symbol of the tusks represents customs and traditions in South Sea Islander culture, while leaves are included as tokens of peace. Observe the lines and dots that connect each of the symbols in this artwork. How many different patterns can you see? What do the patterns remind you of? 

Lola-Anne Davis is a Sydney-based artist who celebrates her South Sea Islander and Aboriginal heritage through her work.

Lola Anne-Davis – Clans on Country

Location: West lift lobby corner (A Block)

Artist: Lola Anne-Davis

Original artwork, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Eora Country, Sydney, NSW 

This artwork is a representation of the many clan groups living in and around the Tweed Valley, their connection to Country and each other. The Tweed River is a central theme, flowing from the rainforest to the sea to sustain plants, people and animals. Observe the river flowing across the centre of the artwork. Do you imagine the river flowing fast or slow? Move your hand in the shape of the flow. What does the movement remind you of? 

Lola-Anne Davis is a Sydney-based artist who celebrates her South Sea Islander and Aboriginal heritage through her work.

Warren Keats – Kerosene light on Fingal Headland in 1872

Location: Staff shared workspace

Artist: Warren Keats

Original painting reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

Warren Keats’ paintings record happenings in the Tweed area in the 19th and early 20th Century. This artwork was donated to the Tweed Valley Hospital by the artist’s family. Picture yourself in this scene. What details in the landscape catch your eye? What sounds can you hear around you, and what smells drift through the air? 

Warren Keats OAM worked as a biological artist with the University of Queensland and the CSIRO. Warren founded the Tweed Heads Historical Society in 1985.

Level 5

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd – Gudjin Story Compass

Location: East lift lobby corner (B Block)

Artist: Bianca Gardiner-Dodd

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Bundjalung Country, Pottsville, NSW 

This work reflects local Bundjalung stories that reference traditional mapping systems, celebrating connectivity of people, places, traditions, customs, beliefs, communication and relationships. Look closely at this painting and you will notice different patterns. Which ones catch your eye? What do they remind you of? Can you trace them on your palm with your finger? 

Bianca Gardiner-Dodd is a Kamilaroi woman with Bundjalung cultural ties. Her art is inspired by the shifting coastal landscape and the symbols of her ancestry.

Heather Bell – Hastings Point

Location: Staff shared workspace

Artist: Heather Bell

Watercolour on paper 

Bundjalung Country, Banora Point, NSW 

Donated to the hospital by the artist in 2022, this watercolour painting presents a view of the cliffs along Hastings Point, which overlook the Bundjalung Coast. 

Imagine yourself in this painting, standing on the clifftop and looking out over the ocean. Can you smell the salt in the air? What do you imagine you would see on the horizon? 

Heather Bell was born in Wagga Wagga in 1936 and studied at East Sydney Technical College.

Lola Anne-Davis – The Riverbank

Location: Surgical IPU (A5 Ward 1) corridor

Artist: Lola Anne-Davis

Acrylic paint on canvas

Eora Country, Sydney, NSW 

This artwork represents the artist’s fond memories of growing up and spending summers with family at the Tweed River where they would swim, fish, swing from the rope-swing, enjoy good food, share stories and build happy memories. 

Look closely at the circles in this painting and you will notice they contain different colour patterns. How many different patterns and shades can you see inside the circles? What do they remind you of? 

Lola-Anne Davis is a Sydney-based artist who celebrates her South Sea Islander and Aboriginal heritage through her work.

Lola Anne-Davis – Wild Garden

Location: West lift lobby corner (A Block)

Artist: Lola Anne-Davis

Original painting, digitised and reproduced as wallpaper 

Eora Country, Sydney, NSW 

This work reflects the importance of connecting with and nurturing nature to support our physical and mental health and wellbeing. Plants are part of the Dreaming and our senses are awakened when we admire their beauty. Look closely at the lush natural environment depicted in this painting. How many different shades of green can you see? What smells and textures do these colours bring to mind? 

Lola-Anne Davis is a Sydney-based artist who celebrates her South Sea Islander and Aboriginal heritage through her work.

Tina Wilson – Playing Possum: Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis

Location: Medical IPU (B5 Ward 1) Staff station

Artist: Tina Wilson

Watercolour on paper 

Bundjalung Country, Uki, NSW 

Evenings in the Northern Rivers spring to life with night-time creatures. This painting depicts the squirrel glider, often seen gliding across the canopies of eucalypt, wattle and acacia trees, spreading pollen as they travel. 

Imagine clinging to the mother squirrel glider’s back as you glide together across the tree canopies. Can you feel her warmth through the fur? How does the forest look, moving below you? How does the air feel, rushing past your ears? 

Tina Wilson OAM is an artist and writer with a passion for the natural world, working across writing, illustrating, and publishing.

Tina Wilson – Time stands still: White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae

Location: Medical IPU (B5 Ward 1) Reception

Artist: Tina Wilson

Watercolour on paper 

Bundjalung Country, Uki, NSW 

This artwork is inspired by a walk along the river at the base of Clarrie Hall Dam, stopping to witness an elegant white-faced heron. Observe the heron standing tall and still in the calm water. In which place do you feel most calm? Close your eyes and visualise yourself in this place. Take a breath in for four seconds, and release for six. Can you feel the stillness?

Tina Wilson OAM is an artist and writer with a passion for the natural world, working across writing, illustrating, and publishing.

Tina Wilson – Summer calls: Wompoo fruit-dove, Ptilinopus magnificus

Location: Medical IPU (B5 Ward 1) Reception

Artist: Tina Wilson

Watercolour on paper 

Bundjalung Country, Uki, NSW 

The distinctive call of the wompoo fruit-dove can be heard throughout the Northern Rivers rainforest region. Despite its striking colours, its plumage easily disappears amongst the rainforest canopy. 

Imagine reaching out your hand and stroking the fruit doves from the top of their heads and down their backs. How do the feathers feel? What does the texture remind you of? 

Tina Wilson OAM is an artist and writer with a passion for the natural world, working across writing, illustrating, and publishing.

Tina Wilson – Symbiosis

 

Location: Medical IPU (B5 Ward 1) Sitting area

Artist: Tina Wilson

Watercolour on paper 

Bundjalung Country, Uki, NSW 

The natural ecosystem is a cycle of life. Fungi are the decomposers, converting organic matter into forms other organisms can use. The orchid depicted in this artwork, Sarcochilus fitzgeraldii, has been spotted on both Mt Cougal and Wollumbin. 

Look closely at the curved shapes of the fungi; each line documenting their growth pattern. Which other natural forms do these lines remind you of? Where have you seen them before? 

Tina Wilson OAM is an artist and writer with a passion for the natural world, working across writing, illustrating, and publishing.

Warren Keats – The mail arrives at Kynnumboon post office near Murwillumbah

Location: Staff shared workspace

Artist: Warren Keats

Original painting reproduced as a print 

Bundjalung Country, Tweed Heads, NSW 

Warren Keats’ paintings record happenings in the Tweed area in the 19th and early 20th Century. 

This artwork was donated to the Tweed Valley Hospital by the artist’s family. Picture yourself in this scene. Are you hopeful to receive a letter in the mail delivery? Who is the letter from? 

Warren Keats OAM worked as a biological artist with the University of Queensland and the CSIRO. Warren founded the Tweed Heads Historical Society in 1985.

External

Chris Gray – Connection to Country

Location: West Entry - Outdoor courtyard

Artist: Chris Gray

Laser-cut, powder-coated steel

Look closely at the shapes cut into this artwork. How many different symbols can you count? Which animal tracks can you recognise? Can you imitate their movements?

This artwork honours the stories of Gudjinburra, also known as Cudgen, by sharing cultural stories that shape the way we see and understand the local landscape.

In Bundjalung lore, all tribes connect to the Three Brothers, who travelled along the coast in their canoe, coming ashore to perform ceremonies.

The tracks of the wallaby and dingo represent Numinybah, which tells the story of a hunter who was out with his two dingoes in the mountains. The dingoes found the track of the wallaby and chased it towards the edge of the escarpment, struggling together until the animals fell over the edge. Numinybah means “hold on tight”, the place where the dingo held on tight to the wallaby.

The mountain depicted in the work is Wollumbin, a sacred place for Bundalung and other tribes.

The yarning circles refer to the gathering of Aboriginal Elders, past and present, and also acknowledge the medical staff at Tweed Valley Hospital who gather at this site to provide care to the community.

About the artist:

Chris Gray is a proud Goori man of the Bundjalung Nation. The artist employs a bold dot painting style to share culturally significant stories with a broad audience.

Frances Belle Parker – The Path We Take

Location: Hospital campus main entry (Cultural Gateway)

Artist: Frances Belle Parker

Digital illustration on glass and concrete base

Yaegl Country, Maclean, NSW

Imagine you are standing at the summit of Wollumbin overlooking the Tweed Valley all the way to the coast. What colours do you see on the horizon? What sounds can you hear around you? Take a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought you here.

This artwork welcomes community to the Tweed Valley Hospital through its acknowledgment of Bundjalung Country, its stories, and people.

The artist extends respect to the Country on which this place of healing has been built, celebrating the red ochre of the earth, the deep blues of the waterways that ebb and flow across the valley and rich greens of the hinterland.

The artwork is grounded in the story of the Three Brothers who traveled along the coast in their canoe, coming ashore to perform ceremonies. The shape of their canoe provides the base for the glass panels, three stars shining brightly in the night sky acknowledge their journey, as well as the healing journey of those who seek care here.

About the artist:

Frances Belle Parker is a proud Yaegl woman, mother and artist from Maclean in Northern New South Wales. Frances is inspired by Country and the stories which have been shared with her and passed down through Elders. Mapping the landscape enables the artist to document and share these stories with future generations.

Goompi Ugerabah – Ochres of Mother Earth (Mugeedah)

Location: Health Hub - Bugalwena outdoor courtyard

Artist: Goompi Ugerabah

Laser-cut, powder-coated steel

Look closely at this artwork and you will notice different patterns. Which ones catch your eye? What do they remind you of? Can you trace them on your palm with your finger?

This artwork depicts the ochres in the local region. Ochres are used on the body during corroboree, ceremony and travelling to or through other tribal areas. Ochre is also painted onto rock and bark to depict stories or happenings.

A proud culture man, Goompi has been gathering ochres to use for corroboree since his youth - some from local hills or mountainsides, others from within the sides of river inlets. The ochres are mixed with water to make a thickened slush, which is used to paint the body with symbols and lines representing totems and other special meanings during ceremony.

About the artist:

Goompi Ugerabah was born on the Kombumerri (Gold Coast) tribal area. His ancestors were held on the Pialba mission in the Maryborough region of Queensland, with their descendants eventually relocating to the Tweed area on Minjungbal tribal land where generations to date have remained. Goompi uses art to tell stories of his homeland that were passed down to him.

South Sea Islander – Reflection Park

 

Artist: South Sea Islander

The South Sea Islander Reflection Park was designed with the local South Sea Islander (SSI) community. The park is dedicated to recognising the history of the South Sea Islander people and their connection to the hospital site. 

The park features two drystone walls constructed using stones from walls that were disassembled within the hospital development area. 

The South Sea Islander (SSI) community played a pivotal role in shaping the park's design, opting for a symbolic nautilus shell shape. They also contributed to the intricate details such as the inscription in the paving, the map of the South Sea Islands on the central plaque, and the selection of plant species. Numerous individuals shared poignant family histories and experiences, which were thoughtfully compiled to create an information panel. This panel not only narrates the hospital site's history but also eloquently depicts the profound connection of the South Sea Islander community to the site.