A powerful message of connection, resilience and unity took centre stage when Blayney Meals on Wheels Service Manager Leeanne Wright attended the National Meals on Wheels Conference in Adelaide.
The conference brought together representatives from Meals on Wheels services across Australia under the theme “Stronger Together”, highlighting the opportunities ahead for the organisation’s 35,000 volunteers and 590 service locations nationwide. The event encouraged attendees to share ideas, learn from one another and explore ways to strengthen support for communities across the country.
This year’s conference was built around three key themes, known as the Golden Threads: The Art of the Possible, The Art of the Mission, and The Art of the Actual. For the conference dinner, attendees were invited to “Create a Masterpiece” inspired by these themes.
For Leeanne, inspiration came close to home.
After discussing the conference theme over coffee with her sister, respected Aboriginal artist Darleen Cooper, the pair realised the event’s message aligned perfectly with Darleen’s artwork, Stronger Together, originally commissioned by Newcastle University in 2022 as part of a mental health campaign.
Darleen offered to recreate the artwork on a handmade hessian outfit for the conference dinner, and Leeanne eagerly accepted.
The result was a striking and deeply personal creation featuring hand-painted artwork across the hessian top, matching shoes and earrings. The project took more than a week to complete, with Darleen noting that painting on fabric presents very different challenges from working on canvas.
Leeanne and Darleen are proud Dunghutti women whose traditional lands span the Macleay Valley and the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Darleen is well known for her commitment to preserving traditional Dunghutti culture through her artwork and Dreamtime stories.
The Stronger Together design reflects three interconnected themes – Connection, Resilience and Collective Strength – symbolising unity, support and the importance of cultural identity in fostering wellbeing.
For Leeanne, wearing her sister’s artwork at a national gathering dedicated to caring for others was a fitting tribute to both family and community.
It was a powerful reminder that when people come together with a shared purpose, they are indeed stronger together.
