Uncle Ray Hurst wanted to thank the staff, in particular the nurses, for looking after him, so he did it the best way he knows how – by creating an artwork to gift them.

Uncle Ray is a Durug (Hawkesbury River) man, but has been living on Biripi country for decades, having married Worimi/Biripi woman Patricia Davis-Hurst, AO, AM.

Eighty-three year old Ray has been painting since he was a four year old. He had a break of about 10 years, but picked up the brushes again when Aunty Pat passed away, to help him recover from her death.

Related reading: Manning mourns Aunty Pat

“I donated paintings to various schools and places like that, just to make myself happy, and it was all in memorial for my wife,” Uncle Ray said.

His donated paintings hang in the Westpac Bank at Taree, Chatham High School, St Clare’s High School, Wingham High School, St Joseph’s Primary School Wingham, Manning Gardens, and three hang at the University of New England Manning Centre. He also has paintings hanging in 19 countries across the world.

This most recent one ended up being a collaborative effort between Ray and the nurses at Mayo Home Nursing.

“I had a bad incident in June 2017 and I couldn’t paint for five months. Now I’ve taken it back up again, and because the nurses have been looking after me for about three years now, more so since I had this incident, I thought I would talk to Margaret [regional manager of Mayo Home Nursing] and make a painting to donate to them,” Uncle Ray said.

“So I designed it and I thought, ‘the nurses come here every day, why don’t they have a go’,”.

Watch Uncle Ray explain the symbolism of the painting and how the nurses became involved:

Margaret Adams, Mayo Home Nursing regional manager, said she was blown away when she first saw the artwork.

“Ray’s wife was a very famous woman, not just locally but internationally as well, and they’ve been trailblazers in getting indigenous rights and recognition in the area. We’re very honoured that Ray is part of our Mayo journey as well, we’re quite privileged to have that connection,” Margaret said.

Healthe Care’s northern service development manager, communities, Luke Tanks was invited to attend the presentation of the painting from Uncle Ray to the service.

“I think it’s a wonderful gift to be given because it truly demonstrates not just the client journey that’s been experienced here, but also the two-way relationship of support, companionship and engagement,” Mr Tanks said.

“Myself, I feel a great attachment to the painting you have given based on an emotional response and I just think it’s lovely,” Mr Tanks told Uncle Ray.

“It also serves as a marker for indigenous people of the local community. They walk in this office, and it gives them an attachment, and they feel comfortable and they feel at home even if they don’t know us. I think that’s really important. Something I’d really like to do more of is partner with the local indigenous community to do that,” Mr Tanks said.