ART has been a prominent theme through most of Shirley Eckford’s adult life, from clay sculpturing to educating on its history in her later years.
Today, her 30-plus years of promoting art, culture and history throughout the Julia Creek region has been rewarded with an ABC Rural Women of the Award for Carpentaria (1995) and an Order of Australian Medal (OAM, 2010).
Born in Hughenden in 1926 to Ron and Ellen Collins, Shirley grew up on ‘Isabel Downs’, a property located 48 kilometres from Julia Creek.
Her mother Ellen, formerly educated in Sydney, taught Shirley and her two siblings to grade six before being sent to boarding school in Charters Towers.
Shirley and sister Mary attended Saint Mary’s College until 1942 following the Japanese bombing of Darwin, World War II.
“All boarders from Charters Towers colleges were sent home by train for twelve months,” Shirley said.
“During this time my sister taught me through correspondence papers to a sub junior level.”
In 1943, Shirley returned to Saint Mary’s to complete her schooling up to a commercial junior level.
At the age of 22, she married James Joseph Eckford, brother to her Saint Mary’s classmate Imelda.
“Our wedding was postponed until three years after peace was declared,” Shirley said.
“Jim’s World War service was with the Australian Military forces from 1939 and was sent overseas to Borneo and Papua New Guinea where he served in the 41st Australian Landing Craft Company.”
The Eckford Family including Jim owned the local Movie Theatre and the Dance Hall in Burke Street, Julia Creek.
“His family and my family were very good friends,” Shirley said.
“Until war broke out and Jim enlisted he always operated the films three times a week, needles to say this is how I knew Jim very well.”
In 1949, Shirley and Jim moved to Brisbane so Jim could complete his electrical apprenticeship, which had been interrupted by war.
“We lived there for four years at a beautiful spot on the Redcliffe Peninsula,” she said.
“But my father was battling a very bad drought, which knocked him around a fair bit.”
“He decided he couldn’t do it anymore, asking if Jim and I wished to move home.”
The couple returned to live at ‘Isabel Downs’ in 1953, where they raised their four children; Teresa, Ronald, Janette and Lynn.
“Isabel Downs was the perfect place to raise the children,” Shirley said.
“From growing up on the land they were all good riders and still are to this day.”
Shirley taught all four of her children via correspondence up until grade seven when they attended the Julia Creek Convent School run by the sisters.
The children were later sent to boarding school in Brisbane to complete high school.
“Back when I attended boarding school there were no planes in this region meaning I had to attend Charters Towers because it was accessible by train,” Shirley said.
“My children were fortunate enough to attend Stuart Home and Nudgee College in Brisbane.”
“They loved boarding school as it allowed them to meet people from other walks of life.”
On July 22, 1973 Shirley, Jim and family lost their middle daughter Janette, at the age of 18, in a car accident.
“I find it difficult even now to put into words how we coped with that terrible loss,” Shirley said.
“Jan was the daughter whose personality drew people to herself in so many ways.”
“The one who encouraged this family with her talents with art and pottery, everyone one including myself.”
Inspired by Jan’s legacy and passion for art Shirley obtained funding from a Schools Commission Grant to open the ‘Jan Eckford Memorial Centre’.
“At that time it was suggested that the building be titled after Jan because of her talents in art and pottery,” Shirley said.
The Jan Eckford gallery and centre was officially opened in 1978 by Robert Katter SNR.
In the following years Shirley devoted her time to art and pottery raising $54,000 to build a new workshop.
Today the workshop is used for pottery, glass cutting, mosaics and children’s workshops with Shirley having taught pottery there for the last 36 years.
“Each year we commence classes after Easter and work until the second week in December,” she said.
“Over the years I have brought talented potters such as Greg Daley and others to give weekend workshops in pottery and art.”
“Townsville artist Lynn Mott has also been to Julia Creek to give art workshops as well as Tasmania-based Maxine Thompson who is a recognised pastel artist.”
“Many qualified artists over the years have also come to us through the Flying Art School.”
Following the opening of the Jan Eckford Memorial Centre in 1978, Shirley began Cultural Capers in Julia Creek.
“Cultural Capers is an association I formed with its purpose to show people the cultural work and art work done in this shire,” she said.
“In 1978, I took on the presidency of the cultural association and pottery group which have today merged with the historical society.”
In 1997, Shirley travelled to Canberra with husband Jim to accept the ABC Rural Woman Award for the Carpentaria area.
The Eckford couple then retired into a modest and comfortable home in Julia Creek to be closer to the hospital as Jim became unwell.
After Jim’s passing in 2002, Shirley continued her presidency roles and involvement within the Julia Creek community earning herself an Order of Australia Medal in 2010.
“It was a great honour,” she said.
“I revelled to Brisbane for the presentation by her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley AO the Governor of Queensland.”
“My daughter Lynn Slack-Smith and Rebecca Hewitt my granddaughter came with me for the presentation.”
Today, Shirley still dons her Akubra going out to ‘Isabel Downs’ once or twice per week to lend a hand.
“My grandson Michael Eckford currently manages the property and like I say to him – he manages the outside, I manage the inside,” she said.
“The only difference today is the livestock, we have switched from sheep to cattle.”
But most of Shirley’s time is still today taken up with community projects, and for her age she has plenty of get-up-and-go.
