For the O'Chins, family is everything. When Aunty Nellie O'Chin joined the community at Carinity Brookfield Green, her large family banded together to create a visiting roster to ensure the beloved grandmother had a steady stream of visitors to help her feel at home.
With 12 children - five boys and seven girls - Aunty Nellie, a Gubbi Gubbi and Wakka Wakka woman, has spent her life surrounded by family and friends. Faith has played a significant role in Aunty Nellie's life, and her journey to Carinity, through her involvement with what is now known as the Australian Indigenous Ministries (AIM).
Through her work, she connected with an enormous range of people and travelled throughout Queensland, sharing her wisdom, guidance and spirituality with those she met.
It was through her work with AIM that Nellie met Audrey and Harold Kleinschmidt. Their friendship endured, and when the Kleinschmidts moved to Carinity Brookfield Green during their later years, Aunty Nellie became a regular visitor.
While Aunty Nellie travelled between Brisbane and Coffs Harbour, spending time with family members, she always made time to visit Harold and Audrey. Her visits left her with a positive impression of Brookfield Green, a sentiment that she shared with her family.
While the O'Chin family did their best to care for Aunty Nellie as her health declined, when the time came to consider a shift to residential aged care, Brookfield Green was the first place they looked.
"We looked around at a couple of places, but always felt welcome at Brookfield Green, and had a good feeling about it," said Aunty Nellie's son, Craig. "We're very happy with our decision. Everyone seems to know her and the staff are always helpful. It gives me peace of mind."
This wasn't the family's only connection to Carinity. Aunty Nellie's granddaughter, Stevie O'Chin attended Carinity Education Southside, graduating in 2016. Now recognised as an accomplished artist, a pivotal moment in Stevie's career came when she sold her first piece at a school art show, with the auction hammer falling at $900.
Stevie said her art teacher at the school, Bec Mennen, encouraged her to see her potential as a professional artist.
"I didn't think I could really make a career out of my art until Bec really encouraged me and pushed me to keep going," she said.
Since school, Stevie's career has flourished and she has joined a list of family members that are accomplished artists – Jack O'Chin, Aunty Nellie's late husband and Stevie's grandfather; as well as a number of her Aunties, including Dr Hope O'Chin (Aunty Hope) and Robin O'Chin.
Artwork created by her family over the years, including cultural artefacts held by the Queensland Museum and pottery from the renowned Barambah Pottery, are widely recognised and respected by the broader art community.
Most recently, Stevie has completed Birrunga Gallery's Cultural Creative Development Program, a three-year program designed to guide and mentor young First Nations artists. Her artwork also features on a Carinity polo shirt, celebrating Indigenous cultures and their influence on the organisation.
Family and Indigenous heritage is something Stevie celebrates and explores in her work.
"My family history is something that I want to carry on, so it's not forgotten. Most of my artworks are based on Indigenous themes and I do a lot of dots and symbols," she said.
Her involvement in the Birrunga Gallery program pushed Stevie's creative boundaries, leading her to try her hand at portraiture, with great success. After placing as a finalist in 2021, Stevie won the 2024 Performing Arts and Music Award in this year's prestigious Brisbane Portrait Prize with her portrait of Shannon Ruska, a recognised cultural leader in Meanjin/Brisbane.
However, her favourite portrait subject has been her beloved grandmother. Stevie's portrait of Aunty Nellie takes pride of place on her wall at Brookfield Green. The portrait evokes deep memories and connects Stevie to culture.
"My best memories of Nan are visiting her at her house. She would always play with my hair. I have strong memories of her singing to us in language and telling stories as little children."
Stevie's latest focus is incorporating Aunty Nellie's Gubbi Gubbi and Wakka Wakka language into her artwork, as well as featuring it on clothing designs.
"My nephew wanted to wear something unique that had language on it," she explained.
For Aunty Nellie and Stevie, their time with Carinity has offered kindness, shelter and support when they needed it most.
"I was really lost with where I was going to go after school but being at Southside guided me towards what I'm doing now. I think I've come pretty far from where I started," Stevie concluded.
