Lives enriched by art and education

GROWING up in Gordon, Deanne Gilson lived near a clay mine and would create her own pots.

The daughter of an artist, she was “obsessed with making things out of nature,” also a keen drawer of still life.

But it wasn’t until Ms Gilson’s second son was three that she decided to take a “nerve wracking” risk, reinforcing her talent and passion with full-time tertiary study.

“I was an artist, but I’d worked in a laundry for 12 years, pegging sheets every day, and I was a single mum really struggling,” she said.

“I heard another single mum on the radio saying that she’d sold her home to go back to educate herself, so I did all of that too, and got part-time work.”

Receiving a small grant from the Ballarat Arts Foundation, Ms Gilson bought equipment and headed to study fine art. An Aboriginal woman, uni supported her to finally share her story.

“I was just doing what I loved, but pulling myself out of poverty and trying to be a role model for my boys. I always had my artistic techniques, but when I learnt how to write in a way that people could understand, that was my turning point,” she said.

Now a PhD student, Ms Gilson’s 12-year relationship with university has given her a Bachelor of Fine Art and Diploma of Education, to name a couple of many qualifications.

Since 2012, she’s combined her great love of art and value for kindness, Indigenous heritage and storytelling with education.

“I’ve probably taught 5000 children with my freelance cultural workshops. I go into primary and secondary schools, kinders, the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the Koorie Heritage Trust, the Geelong Gallery and workplaces,” she said.

“Without an education, people can’t fit into this society and work. Education is everything and it goes hand-in-hand with art. It’s who I am, and the cultural workshops have helped me unpack my own identity.”

Ms Gilson’s vibrant schedule also includes exhibiting artwork, but “never the same thing twice,” facilitating cultural awareness training sessions, and presenting Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies which bring healing, calming energy to events.

“I was born in 1967, so my childhood was still oppressed, and my Aboriginal mother was a non-person in society. Australian Aboriginal history wasn’t taught or told, so our responsibility is to teach that,” she said.

“It’s taken me a long time to grow and value myself but I can now pass that onto other Indigenous children. Art celebrates culture and keeps it alive.”

For her sharing of art, culture and stories, Ms Gilson has been nominated as one of the Zonta Club of Ballarat’s Great Women for 2020.

It’s a “real honour” and thrill for her, aiming to raise the profile of her ancestors’ history and ultimately “close the gap.

“It’s not only about indigenous education, but educating people that are not Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders about how we can best support each other and work together,” she said.

“The key has to be that art plays a big role with Aboriginal people because it’s a way of telling these stories.”

Away from work, making and studying, Ms Gilson gardens amongst her roses, makes pasta from scratch and fiercely loves her two sons and grandson.

“He is going to have a wonderful life of experiences in a multicultural society. That’s who we are,” she said.