GROWING up in Gordon, Deanne Gilson lived near a clay mine and would create her own pots.<\/p>\n
The daughter of an artist, she was \u201cobsessed with making things out of nature,\u201d also a keen drawer of still life.<\/p>\n
But it wasn\u2019t until Ms Gilson\u2019s second son was three that she decided to take a \u201cnerve wracking\u201d risk, reinforcing her talent and passion with full-time tertiary study.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was an artist, but I\u2019d worked in a laundry for 12 years, pegging sheets every day, and I was a single mum really struggling,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard another single mum on the radio saying that she\u2019d sold her home to go back to educate herself, so I did all of that too, and got part-time work.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Now a PhD student, Ms Gilson\u2019s 12-year relationship with university has given her a Bachelor of Fine Art and Diploma of Education, to name a couple of many qualifications.<\/p>\n
Since 2012, she\u2019s combined her great love of art and value for kindness, Indigenous heritage and storytelling with education.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout an education, people can\u2019t fit into this society and work. Education is everything and it goes hand-in-hand with art. It\u2019s who I am, and the cultural workshops have helped me unpack my own identity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Gilson\u2019s vibrant schedule also includes exhibiting artwork, but \u201cnever the same thing twice,\u201d facilitating cultural awareness training sessions, and presenting Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies which bring healing, calming energy to events.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was born in 1967, so my childhood was still oppressed, and my Aboriginal mother was a non-person in society. Australian Aboriginal history wasn\u2019t taught or told, so our responsibility is to teach that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
For her sharing of art, culture and stories, Ms Gilson has been nominated as one of the Zonta Club of Ballarat\u2019s Great Women for 2020.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a \u201creal honour\u201d and thrill for her, aiming to raise the profile of her ancestors\u2019 history and ultimately \u201cclose the gap.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key has to be that art plays a big role with Aboriginal people because it\u2019s a way of telling these stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
Away from work, making and studying, Ms Gilson gardens amongst her roses, makes pasta from scratch and fiercely loves her two sons and grandson.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is going to have a wonderful life of experiences in a multicultural society. That\u2019s who we are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GROWING up in Gordon, Deanne Gilson lived near a clay mine and would create her own pots. The daughter of an artist, she was \u201cobsessed with making things out of nature,\u201d also a keen drawer of still life. But it wasn\u2019t until Ms Gilson\u2019s second son was three that she decided to take a \u201cnerve […]<\/p>\n