Acrylic on canvas

The wandering albatross, with its awe-inspiring wingspan—the largest of any bird—embodies the spirit of freedom and resilience. Soaring effortlessly over the wild seas surrounding Macquarie Island, this majestic seabird is a master of the winds, traveling vast distances across the Southern Ocean.

Acrylic on canvas

Funds raised through the sale of this painting went to the Dayboro Rural Fire Brigade

Poem by Rachael Middlebrook

Out in the scrub where the gum trees sway,
Where the sun bakes the earth through the long, dry day,
Lives a spirit unbroken, steadfast, and true—
The rural firefighter, in gold and blue.

With boots in the dust and a helmet of flame,
They answer the call, though no one seeks fame.Through smoke-choked valleys and ridges steep,
They battle the fire where shadows
creep.

The dragon roars through the dry, brittle brush,
Its breath turns the bushland to a smoldering hush.
But they stand with their hoses, their courage ablaze,
Turning terror to triumph in the smoky haze.

It's not for the riches; there's no gold to claim,
But for kin, for country, they play this game.
A fence to defend, a neighbour's old shed,
A forest to save from the ashes' spread.

And when the blaze is beaten, and the silence takes hold,
The stars pierce the sky, serene and cold.
They sit by the truck, their faces stained,
By sweat, by soot, by the fight they’ve gained.

In the heart of Australia, where the bush runs deep,
Lives the rural firefighter, awake while we sleep.
With grit and resolve, they heed the land’s plea—

Oil on canvas

This painting is dedicated to my Dad who introduced me and my brothers to sailing when we were kids. Sailing 8ft timber Northbridge Juniors. I loved everything about it: scribbling the race buoy marker names down my arm in permanent marker, the rush of adrenaline at the race start line, and even the thrill of righting my boat after it capsized from a little too much enthusiasm with the mainsheet. My boat was called FIDO, with a paw print on the sail—you could spot it anywhere. Those moments on the water were some of the best parts of my childhood, filled with adventure, resilience, and pure joy.

Thanks Dad.