The Executive Director’s Award winner: Southern Cross Catholic College Burwood construction student Charlotte McCaughan’s artwork, titled “Tableland of Faith and Time” tells her story of redemptive healing following a life-altering head injury.

My injury made me question my faith in God and if it were not for the teachers and family members who supported my academic work and social life, I would not be sharing my experiences with the world around me,” said Charlotte.

Charlotte’s work is a table made from a natural piece of wood (Bunya pine) with a cross representing her faith in Christ and the stars reflect her journey toward faith. Each star contains names of those people who have been pivotal in her journey from family to teachers. Each star is a place of Catholic faith; her primary school and her two secondary schools.  

Two students entered the Exhibition, the second entrant was Reuben Cule who created a charcoal on paper timeline of the Catholic School titled; “The Evolution of Students” which marked the major shifts from teacher centered classrooms to self directed learning by students including a focus on Vocational Education such as the Construction Certificate Three that Reuben is currently completing. 

The work is in my favourite medium Charcoal on paper, it begins with the 1900’s classroom reflected by the clothes and objects in the classroom. The middle image shows two children in the 1960’s, more casual, looking less formal and engaged…. The last image reflects my own learning in the present which is ongoing and very engaging…”

On Friday night the winners of the RE Clancy prize were announced. There are 8 prizes overall and the most prestigious being the Clancy Prize. The theme of the 2021 exhibition was; Celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia.

The Clancy Prize exhibition is showing at McGlade Gallery on Australian Catholic University’s Strathfield Campus until Sunday 30 May, 2021.