Final Resting Place

Final Resting Place
2026
Acrylic on canvas
91 × 122 cm

My great grandmother Mary Thorpe was a part of the Stolen
Generation. She was moved from mission to mission while her
mother searched for her. After the passing of her mother and
partner, and after years of being displaced, she was told that if
she did not move to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), all of
her money would be taken and she would be left with nothing.

Minjerribah became the final place she was taken, and
ultimately her final resting place.

This artwork reflects the cultural significance that Minjerribah
holds for me. It represents my own footsteps on Country,
walking beside the ancient pipi shell middens left by our
Ancestors and the healing waters that continue to hold our
stories. It captures the overwhelming sense of belonging, peace
and connection I felt the first time I stood on Country, while
honouring the journey my great-grandmother was forced to
endure.