Still Deadly: Voices of Our Elders

Acknowledgement of Country

Ipswich City Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera, and Ugarapul People of the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we share. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, as the keepers of the traditions, customs, cultures and stories of proud peoples.

Still Deadly: Voices of Our Elders honours the resilience, knowledge, and culture of Elders with connections to the Ipswich region. The exhibition is inspired by 2026’s NAIDOC theme, 50 Years of Deadly – celebrating the ongoing work, leadership, and expressions of Elders who paved the way. Still Deadly recognises the invaluable contributions of these Elders to their community through truth telling.

The exhibition, and accompanying online collection on Picture Ipswich, showcases recorded video stories and portrait photography of each Elder – acknowledging their ongoing role as knowledge keepers and shapers of Ipswich’s future.

The exhibition includes the voices of ten Elders: Aunty Barbara Tolhurst, Aunty Elaine Chermside/Anderson, Uncle Errol (Earl) Davidson, Aunty Jill Davidson-Thompson, Uncle John Ridgeway, Uncle Kevin Anderson, Uncle Lindsay Bayles, Aunty Narrella Simpson, Uncle Patrick Scribner, and Uncle Rossi Anderson.

Still Deadly was developed in partnership with photographer Jim Filmer, and cultural liaison Lowana Walker.

Jim Filmer is a visual artist and photographer born in Adelaide, South Australia (Kaurna Country), and currently lives in the Brisbane Valley. Jim Filmer’s work is deeply rooted in researching and narrating social issues close to his heart, resulting in compelling storytelling imagery. Through collaborative work with local Elders, Filmer has been encouraged to explore his own First Nations heritage. Filmer continues to research and explore these connections, allowing this cultural exploration to inform and enrich his artistic practice.

Lowana Walker is a proud First Nations woman with connections to the Yuin nation of South Coast New South Wales. She has lived, been educated, and worked on Yuggera, Jagera, and Ugarapul Country since her teenage years, shaping her connection to the local First Nations community. In her role as the cultural liasion, Lowana committed to fostering meaningful engagement with local First Nations Elders, ensuring their stories were respectfully represented and captured through culturally safe practices.

This is an Ipswich Art Gallery Exhibition. This exhibition is supported by Picture Ipswich.

Exhibition Dates:

Saturday 27 June to Sunday 26 July 2026

10:00am — 3:00pm | Ipswich Community Gallery

Content Advisory

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this exhibition may contain the names of people who have passed away. This exhibition explores sensitive themes, including lived experiences of mental health,  suicide, discrimination, and the Stolen Generations.

The views expressed in this exhibition are those of the individual participants, reflecting their own stories, histories, and perspectives.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Notice (ICIP)

This work contains traditional knowledge and cultural expression which is Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).  ICIP refers to the rights Indigenous peoples have to their cultural heritage, including all aspects of cultural practices, traditional knowledge, resources and knowledge systems.  Please contact Picture Ipswich if you wish to reference or reproduce this work.