A powerful new artwork by respected Aboriginal Elder and artist Aunty Joyce Crombie was today donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS) Longreach Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, serving as a spiritual symbol of connection, healing, and community strength in the outback.
A proud Wangkangurru/Yarluyandi, Birdsville woman of the Simpson Desert and Western Queensland, Aunty Joyce has long used her art to convey deep emotional and cultural narratives. Her latest piece, Mental Spiritual Awakening, captures the emotional journey of mental illness and recovery, and the strength found in community, culture and services like the RFDS.
“Through my painting, I want people to know they are not alone,” Aunty Joyce said. “There is always hope and someone or something to help guide you through the tough times.”
The artwork centres around a deep blue core—symbolising emotional pain and sorrow—not as a void, but a space where light can still reach. Surrounding rays of yellow sunshine represent healing, love, and connection to community and Country.
Travel lines and spirit sound waves are interwoven throughout the piece, echoing the nonlinear nature of healing and the supportive voices of family, song and spirit.
The donation holds special meaning for Aunty Joyce, who has long worked with RFDS teams based in Mount Isa and Charleville and continues to draw strength from her connection to RFDS health professionals.
“The RFDS has always been the only support for the people in the bush,” she said.
“The doctors, flight nurses and clinicians play a huge part in outback lives, and without RFDS visits, more lives would be lost.”
Dr Tim Driscoll, the RFDS State Manager Mental Health, remains close to Aunty Joyce and was pivotal in supporting her after the loss of her daughter in 2016.
“Just being able to talk to someone helped me through, Dr Tim has been a good friend,” she said.
The artwork will be displayed at the RFDS Longreach Base, where the organisation’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides vital psychological and emotional support to people in Longreach and surrounding communities.
This initiative reflects the RFDS’s enduring commitment to delivering the finest care to the furthest corner, ensuring that people in remote and rural communities can access culturally safe, compassionate mental health support close to home.
“We’re so honoured to display this piece at the clinic,” Dr Tim Driscoll said.
“It speaks directly to the lived experience of many in our community and the strength that can be found in culture, art and connection.”
This donation aligns with the RFDS’s broader commitment to providing culturally safe, holistic healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland. The Longreach Mental Health and Wellbeing team plays an essential role in delivering these services to remote and rural areas.
The piece will remain on permanent display at the RFDS Longreach Base, offering a space for cultural reflection, healing and hope for all who walk through its doors.
