Page 1323 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 11 April 2018
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well. He was sentenced to execution by firing squad in February 2006. This was carried out in April 2015.
What makes the Sukumaran story so heartbreaking is the person he became in prison. He taught English, computer, graphic design and philosophy classes to other prisoners. He was foundational in opening a computer and arts studio. He lobbied for the implementation of accountancy and legal courses in prison. He took on leadership roles, working with the guards, resolving disputes and making small repairs around the prison. From prison, Sukumaran started a business selling artworks. He was working towards his bachelor degree in fine arts from Curtin University.
On viewing his artworks, like everyone else at the exhibition, I was humbled but deeply moved. The exhibition brought the personal impact and cost of such a severe punishment system home to me. This was only heightened by having his family in the room at the opening of the exhibition.
The gallery of artworks he painted in his final 72 hours offered otherwise unobtainable and harrowing insights into his thinking, his mind, in those final hours and days of his life. If anyone has time, I would encourage them to go to Tuggeranong Arts Centre to see this exhibition and to see this how this young man, facing his final 72 hours, displayed that in artworks. When you walk away, you are not the same person.
It is simply great to see an exhibition of such character and such depth in our local Tuggeranong Arts Centre. The Tuggeranong Arts Centre goes from strength to strength. It has been providing meaningful community participation and opportunities for more than 25 years. It builds on the artistic and cohesive capital of creative thinking from Tuggeranong. The flow-on effects from the centre’s work across the local community is there to be seen.
To Rauny Worm and her team, for all of the work that they do at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre, I say: keep up the good work. It is a jewel in the Tuggeranong Valley. I would say to anyone who wants to consider the human condition and go on a journey of reflection that this is an exhibition that will make you think, that will make you reflect. It has changed my world.
Hawker Primary School fete
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (6.12): It was my privilege on a recent Sunday morning to attend the autumn fete held at Hawker Primary School, and what a fantastic event it was. I think all of Hawker and half of the surrounding suburbs showed up.
Fetes are always an exciting time for school students, the staff and the community. They are also complex events to plan and run well. I therefore want to express my particular thanks to coordinators Emma Dykes and Suze Carr, who managed to stage an event no-one in attendance will ever forget. Emma and Suze were assisted by a team of volunteers who powerfully worked together so that everything ran beautifully.
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