A true magnet for unique characters, the Territory houses its fair share of seniors with a twinkle in their eye and a yarn to spin. You may know them from the market, the sports club or RSL, or they might be your parent, grandparent or lifelong friend. Sometimes settling here after a lifetime of travelling around the world, sometimes returning after a lifetime away, the senior community plays an integral part in the Territory community – which the Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award and Exhibition helps to honour.

The Department of the Legislative Assembly has run the award since 2007, taking over from the Office of Arts who had run it previously. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Jane Aagaard explains to me “There was an 18 month hiatus where the Office of Arts decided that it didn’t quite have the sparkle that it could have had, and at the time the arts minister had a conversation with me and I said we’d love for the assembly to do that. It’s something that the Parliament would love to do – in representing everybody, not just the government or even just the arts community. We can bring together senior Territorians and artists in a really exciting way.”

So 3 years ago, Parliament House hosted its first Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award. “It was fabulous,” Madam Speaker tells me. “We had about 500 seniors come along, plus people from the arts community, including the artists, the people who’ve been painted, and all the family and friends of the artists and subjects. We try to make it a celebration of being a senior Territorian.”

For many competition entrants, the Portrait Awards are their first time entering into an art exhibition. The relative lack of specific requirements for submissions can be enticement enough for many amateur artists of all ages to try their hand at a portrait, and because of that, the award truly reflects a genuine cross-section of the community.

2008 winner Al Strangeways, from Central Australia, only entered her portrait of Willie Dugald at the last minute. “Winning simply blew me away,” she exclaims. “One always hopes, imagines, dreams, but I never seriously considered it. It was a joy and an honour and something that still makes me smile and encourages me to keep putting paint to canvas, keep struggling away. I’m very grateful.”

The Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award will be hosted at Parliament House between Wed 7 – 28 October. All enquiries phone: 8901 4159.