Scenes from a major art exhibition held in Darwin by Shirley Collins , of the Raintree Gallery, who on Sunday will celebrate her 80th birthday at a bash entitled Eighty and fabulous . Her contribution to the appreciation of Aboriginal art, crafts and fashion has been truly fabulous , even though it caused her grief due to her participation in the poorly organised and run Bank of America Down Under Tour in the lead up to the Sydney Olympics in the USA .
Wearing a shimmering white dress, looking like a stunning Motown singer , she is pictured at the top with Harold Thomas, designer of the Aboriginal flag , and his son . In the other shot she is with the Northern Territory Administrator Commodore Eric Johnstone and Lady Susan Renouf, former wife of politician Andrew Peacock , who opened the exhibition . Lord McAlpine , who had bought a large part of Broome, Western Australia , flew in aboard his private jet and bought most of the exhibition .
Shirley's Raintree Gallery promoted Tiwi fashion nationally in 1986. As part of the America's Cup celebrations, she organised a display of Aboriginal art at Rhode Island and she also promoted art and crafts in Japan.
The daughter of a Stolen Generation child , Bridget Johnson , of Borroloola , placed in Darwin's Kahlin Compound , Shirley worked in a Chinese softdrink factory then saw a position for a Girl Friday in the Northern Territory News tin bank building where she became a book binder .
Of Shirley , it was said in recent years that she always looked elegant , even if wearing something she bought from an op shop .
The daughter of a Stolen Generation child , Bridget Johnson , of Borroloola , placed in Darwin's Kahlin Compound , Shirley worked in a Chinese softdrink factory then saw a position for a Girl Friday in the Northern Territory News tin bank building where she became a book binder .
Of Shirley , it was said in recent years that she always looked elegant , even if wearing something she bought from an op shop .
