My name is Jasmine Fitzgerald, I have four adult children and four grandchildren.

I was born in 1972 in the beautiful, picturesque town of Esperance, I have one older brother and one younger sister, my late parents were hostel parents for over 50 young men.  Mum cleaning and cooking. Dad driving over 300km every day through virgin bushland heavily populated by wild kangaroos, to transport the men to the farms where they worked.  We lived there for 10 years.

From there we moved to Melbourne for 2 years, where my parents established the first Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship Church, Sir Doug and Lady Nicholls became close friends with my parents.  I loved the sites, sounds, hustle and bustle, and the cultural diversity of the Melbourne lifestyle, visiting the markets, going into the City Centre, attending festivals and getting to know the people. I went to Burnley Primary School and remember our class riding on a float in the 1981 Moomba Festival, I won an art award/prize from Peter Russell Clarke, for a painting that I did for a competition (Peter Russell Clark was an artist and first chef in Australia to do a cooking show on tv).

We moved to a country town in WA called Gnowangerup (the place of the Mallee Fowl) It was there we lived on a small farmlet/training centre for 4 years while my father was  the Principal of  the UAM theological college.  We were introduced to more of our family and the Noongar way of life, the language etc. I remember picking fruit from the large orchard, collecting eggs from the poultry farm, milking the cows on the occasions that my father would travel interstate etc.  We would climb the haybales to the top of the hayshed, pick field mushrooms and just be free to be children on the farm with our homelife/school/church routine. Mum and dad would take us bush, to pick quondongs (wild salty, sour bush plums), run through the wildflowers and explore the creek beds. We could see the Stirling Ranges in the distance from our back yard and I climbed Bluff Knoll, that was a thrill. I just loved the whole country town experience.  It was here that my mother and father got me into classical piano lessons which I continued after we left Gnowangerup.

From there we moved to Perth, my father became the Principal of the Aboriginal Evangelical Fellowship Bible College (a faith-based venture) in Victoria Park for 10 years, with over 50 students successfully graduating.  

I went to Thornlie Senior High School for 4 years.  I enjoyed the challenging projects we were given in the TEE Art classes and learning about the early art movements and artists from the 18 & 19th century’s. I was always involved in with theatre/art/music programmes through my schooling whether it be in choirs or playing instruments.  My choice of instrument was always the keyboard and I still play today in church and for my own personal relaxation.    We always had a piano in our house an expensive investment my parents were willing to work hard for and make sacrifices to obtain and keep me learning. 

Those years of learning were challenging and enjoyable yet difficult as I had experienced racism, however I am grateful for the education I received.

INSPIRATION

I was very inspired by the Herbert Mayer Collection of  Carrolup Artwork (1940’s) Exhibition that I attended at Curtin University.    My first thoughts after learning the backgrounds of these child artists and their stories was how such beauty can come from such brokenness these children were traumatised by separation from their parents and families yet they produced such lovely insightful art, depicting their country and culture.

Bella Kelly’s Artwork also exhibited at Curtin University was also very beautiful and thought provoking, the stories behind the paintings and artists were very moving and inspirational.

My father at the age of 4 was placed in the Gnowangerup Mission for 10 years, he desperately wanted to be with his mum and family but the oppressive laws and policies of the day prohibited Aboriginal children from attending the local primary school. So my grandmother wanting to ensure her son had a good education entrusted the missionaries to take care of him. She went to work alongside her family on the farms for rations or small wages. He ran away when he was 14 years old, then started working for the farmers in the district.  His story inspires me to keep persevering throughout my life and work hard as he did as a child in the mission right up until a few years before his death. I would describe his experiences there as bitter sweet (in my words) he had a close bond with one missionary, the Superintendent, Mr Street, who he says is “the missionary he loved”, because of the protection and care he showed for dad. That relationship lasted until Mr & Mrs Street died.

 

COMMUNITY ARTS

I am a self-taught artist, I like to explore different medium, however, I prefer acrylic paints. I paint mainly flora and fauna, landscape and occasionally abstract.

I have been commissioned to do various projects for different school groups throughout South Perth, Curtin Primary School, Como PS, Hensmen Street.

I have currently been commissioned to work on a 50 metre footpath mural for the Cannington Community College of Wharf St, Cannington.

After the passing of my parents (2 years ago) who gave me a solid foundation and left a lasting legacy for me and my siblings and encouragement to lift my vision and aim high, I decided to pursue an art career and be more intentional in my aspirations. I am exhibiting some of my art this year and am hoping to be commissioned to do more paintings.