Bundaberg’s Brooke Sutton will have her artwork featured in Nestle’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Development brand after winning a national competition.
The proud Kalkadoon woman from Kepnock Girls Academy was named the winner of the Nestle Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Development Program (AYDP) artwork contest.
The competition was run to celebrate Nestle’s 10-year partnership with Girls Academy, which aims to develop and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls through their in-school mentoring and leadership program.
The 16-year-old said she was blown away when she learnt she had won.
“I knew that I was going to be up against a lot of other talented artists,” Brooke said.
“It was a competition with all the Girls Academy artists in Australia … I’m just absolutely amazed!”
Brooke said she was so happy that her artwork would feature as part of Nestle’s brand identity and on its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
“It’s their first RAP plan,” she said.
“They’re a Swiss company so it’s a really important step for them and I’m so honoured that I was able to be a part of that.”
The Nestle artwork competition invited students were invited to create a piece of artwork that reflects the company's motto of: Good Food, Good Life.
Brooke said a lot of time and thought went in to developing the artwork, as outlined in her description.
“The community symbol in the middle of the painting represents Nestle and the food products that they provide for the community, with the people around the outside celebrating a healthy ‘Good Life’,” she wrote.
“The bird footprints symbolize nestles journey from Infancy in 1887 to present day, with the human footprints symbolising Nestles commitment to our traditional owners and how it is always moving forward with Nestle’s Reconciliation Action Plan.”
Nestle Corporate Programs and Sponsorship Manager Rashna Shroff said it was incredible to see the pride and passion in the artwork entries.
Renowned artist and AYDP ambassador Jeremy Donovan has been supporting the campaign and the emerging young artists. A shortlist of entries were voted upon by Nestle staff.
“It’s been wonderful to see the response to the competition,” Ms Shroff said.
“We opened up voting to our staff and Brooke’s beautiful artwork was overwhelmingly decided the winner.”
Brooke and Kepnock Girls Academy have won some great prizes, including dedicated funds to support art and cultural activities in the academy.
This includes an art workshop with Jeremy Donovan for the girls to learn more about Jeremy’s story and his artworks.
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