Joan Child

Joan Child made history as the first woman to take on the role of Speaker, overseeing the proceedings of the House of Representatives.

Governing a turbulent, adversarial parliament required balancing rigid institutional control with a warm, deeply human perspective.

Applied over the heavily textured ground, Undersea Green separates into a complex organic range: deep, murky shadows and unexpectedly warm, gold-toned olive highlights.

In the top right corner the pigment thins into an almost golden canopy; on her hand and hair it settles into an intense dark olive.

The colour split encapsulates the duality of the Speakership. Golden olive light for poise and warmth; murky green shadows for the institutional currents of the chamber she was the first woman to hold.