Bindi Lee has been announced as the inaugural winner of Racing Queensland’s NAIDOC Celebration Artwork competition.
The submission, titled ‘Where the Tracks Meet’ is a powerful design, encapsulating the profound connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians within the racing industry.
The artwork highlights the shared journey and the unity of cultures coming together, symbolised by the tracks – not only as literal pathways but also as a metaphor for the journey that has led to this moment of meeting and reconciliation.
The central focus is Racing Queensland, depicted as a convergence of cultural stories and histories, with lines of travel and resting places interwoven across the canvas.
The design reflects the ongoing commitment to reconciliation, with the centre of the piece marking not only the footprints of jockeys and their horses, but those of Indigenous people and their brumbies – acknowledging the longstanding bond between First Nations peoples and horses.
Through the inclusion of symbols representing the three codes of racing – thoroughbred, greyhound and harness – the artwork seamlessly connects the land, honoring the shared spaces that bring these elements together in the spirt of unity and respect.
A proud Quandamooka Noonuccal woman, Bindi is a qualified painter who manages an Indigenous small business providing residential and commercial painting services.
She was the first Indigenous woman to be employed as an apprentice painter and decorator in Central Queensland.
Bindi is also a qualified supervisor in the construction sector inspiring, supporting and encouraging Indigenous people and women in the trade industry.
This artwork will now be incorporated in RQ’s NAIDOC celebration events later on this year.
The inaugural RQ NAIDOC Celebration Artwork competition is part of the organisation’s ongoing commitment in our journey towards reconciliation, and strengthening its connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business, peoples, and communities.
Earlier in 2024, RQ launched its First Nations Hub, featuring a number of important tools that contribute to RQ’s journey towards reconciliation, including its:
- Reconciliation Action Plan;
- First Nations Strategy;
- Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Employment Strategy;
- Racing For Reconciliation video series; and
- First Nations Careers page.
The page also features a photo gallery, a list of club locations with traditional names and a contact page.
Click here to view the RQ First Nations hub.