25/08/2025
A Sea of Hats amongst the gumtrees, Watercolour on Cotton Paper, 2025
A Sea of Hats was inspired by a day that deeply marked me and the community of Moree. It was the day our community gathered to say enough is enough in the face of youth crime. What could have been a moment of defeat became instead a display of unity, strength, and resilience.
From where I sat in Jellicoe Park, I saw not only the size of the crowd — a sea of hats under the gum trees. You can spot Pringy in his bright blue shirt and lairy board shorts and Bill Poulos in his photography stance.
Each hat felt was a symbol of presence, each figure a story, each seat a commitment to change.
Moree has faced droughts, floods, crime, and heartbreaking loss. Yet this painting captures what I witnessed that day — a community that refuses to give in, finding strength in one another, and showing the power of standing together. It is both a record of that moment and a tribute to the spirit that defines us.
This is why I am proud to live in Moree. After being personally affected by crime, I am deeply inspired by the strength of our community and the way we continue to rise together.
