To celebrate Mable's 10th-anniversary, we asked our community to help us create an artwork to commemorate this milestone.
In August, we put a call out on social media for both Mable clients and independent support workers to create an artwork that showed us what they love about Mable. Any creative medium was welcome - from drawing, painting to sculpture, and more! The only other requirement was a short blurb describing their artwork. The winning artwork would be the inspiration for a large-scale artwork in our Sydney office.
The Mable team was overwhelmed with the number of entries and were in awe of our creative and talented community. Meet our winner and the top 10 shortlisted artworks.
Winning artwork by Todd Murfitt, SA
"My artwork, ‘Harmony in Nature' represents the joy and fulfilment I find in the outdoor work I do with my support worker from Mable. Together, we care for my dogs, tend to the chickens, and nurture our aquaponics garden. This piece reflects the peace I feel in nature and the meaningful connections we build through our shared efforts. Mable helps me live a balanced and fulfilling life, and this artwork captures the essence of that support."
Unveiling of the artwork
On 10 October, we held our 10th-anniversary celebration breakfast at the Sydney Mable office. Members of the Mable community, long-time supporters, and staff attended the event, which included the unveiling of Todd's winning artwork.
At the event, Todd shared how he felt about winning the competition. "When I found out I was the winner of the competition, I was in a few different states of mind; I was shocked, I didn't expect to win the competition, and I was overjoyed. It came at a really important time for me to have a win, so it felt really special that this could happen."
Todd continued, "I feel very special being here today. To hear a bit more about the Mable story gave me a greater level of joy and pride to have my art piece hanging [in the Mable Sydney office].”
Shortlisted entries
We love all of the artworks submitted and the meaning behind them- it was so hard to choose just one! Here are the top 10 shortlisted entries and their meaning (in no particular order).
Anna Ceguerra, NSW
"This work is called Beautiful Smiles. Having my support workers from Mable over to my place and doing activities with them, such as art, acting, and writing, brings joy to my life. This work was done by myself with my support worker, Tim."
Kate Underhill, SA
"My daughter Tia created this beautiful artwork about herself and her support worker, Julie. It represents the adventures they go on together. Julie supports Tia with community engagement and fosters her special interests of art, history and different cultures. 'I'm the busy bee and Julie is the butterfly. She takes me to special places'."
Leonie Bonnar, WA
"Life"
"Watercolour showing strength, growth and serenity while adapting to living well with MS. The smaller circles represent many treasured support workers helping me along the way, sourced through Mable."
Maribel Steel, VIC
Artwork: Whispering Dreams
"My artwork is inspired by all the possibilities I achieve with the Mable community. From joining as a participant, to finding support, the Mable community has given me a chance to turn my creative ideas into reality by connecting me to an ‘ocean' of thoughtful people.
As a blind person, I was inspired to create this sensory 3D artwork with the help of my support person. It represents the landscape of my life open to potential, the framework Mable provides by making sure I am properly supported every step of the way.
Each shell represents my independent thoughts for projects that come alive when working with my support person. Every shell is a commitment to collaboration, intertwined with generous acts of kindness. This is what I love most about the Mable community.
My artwork also reflects how it feels to be independent within the Mable community, experiencing harmony and friendship to help me reach my creative goals. As the shells chime gently in the breeze, I am reminded of all we have achieved together, Whispering Dreams of more to come.
Happy 10th Anniversary, Mable!"
Kerrie Kenton, NSW
"I am a proud First Nations Woman, a Wangal & Dhunghutti. What I love about Mable is my support worker. I'm now able to connect with my culture and community. To be able to paint and express my stories, my song lines, my history and my Ancestors. To continue a cultural journey with expression through Art and Weaving is vital in my healing and strength."
Alison Greene, NSW
"I'm excited to share my entry for the competition, inspired by a wonderful suggestion from one of my support workers. I've created a series of four small canvas boards arranged in a windmill formation, each representing one of the key people in my life: my three incredible support workers from Mable and myself (the fourth canvas).
Without their support, my world would be confined by mental health challenges. My Mable workers assist me daily at home, on outings, and in my new art studio mini business. They each play an essential role in helping me overcome the barriers I face—symbolised by a bridge running through the middle of the canvases. This bridge represents their invaluable support in helping me navigate my challenges and move toward a goal of living independently.
Titled 'Crossing Barriers,' my artwork is influenced by the impressionist style, capturing intricate details up close while presenting a unified image from a distance. The windmill formation signifies the evolving nature of my needs—much like a windmill's movement is essential for its function, their ongoing support is vital for my progress. This visual approach highlights how the collective contributions of my support workers are crucial in achieving my goal of independent living despite my disability."
Kerrie Tahere, VIC
"Each painting you see represents things I am able to do with the help from my support worker, Jane. Whether it be painting Christmas cards, growing vegetables, going on drives to the Yarra Valley, or just having a cuppa.
What do I love about Mable? I now have some independence in my life. By using Mable I found Jane, and now have the ability to get out and try new things, go places or just have a talk and laugh. Thanks Mable for making my life so much better! Happy Birthday!"
Kyla Burrows, NSW
"I love flowers and Mable support workers help me create a garden."
Daniella Mghames, NSW
"Growing up in Sydney's Southwest during the 2000s, in a community where all Lebanese females were either unemployed or caring for their own unable family members, the appreciation for work opportunities to foreign females or lack thereof, made me feel as though my future had been decided for me. It wasn't until my first support shift with Mable, when I saw another female worker exploring the world with their participant, that had a hijab and spoke with an accent, just like my cousins and aunties. In that moment, I realised that there were other options for people from the community I grew up in and a future for me beyond fitting in societal/cultural norms. I believe throughout my three years supporting and caring for participants via Mable has opened up horizons for me to truly be who I am, enjoy what I do, whilst building unbreakable bonds with the people I meet along the road. My unconditional love for 2000s cars, ones that are imprinted on all of my childhood memories and others that stay a staple in my life until today, was unexpectedly outweighed by my new inspired love for support work - and I thank Mable for that."
Sanja Belevska, NSW
"It is nice to experience all of the colours, and doing art when you have anxiety can be relaxing. You can find suitable workers with Mable, such as maintenance and other services."Thank you to everyone who entered the artwork competition to celebrate our 10th anniversary.
