A young love of art developed into a life-time of dedication for Roseanne McKeand OAM.
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"It's something I always felt confident in doing, I didn't have any hesitation in drawing," she said.
"I was always keen to draw and I didn't ever feel I couldn't.
"That's why I use drawing mainly when I'm working with people, because it's a way in for people to share their ideas and their thinking, to draw through plans, draw through ideas - especially small children, to have their ideas very visible."
Mrs McKeand has been an art teacher and educator for a number of years, working with children through to adults across the state, created art-based programs for foster children, been a lead artist and facilitator across a number of community projects, and was a founding member of the Tasmania Research Network.
"I am an artist working in those sectors but I am not an art therapist," she said.
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"My way of working enables people to tell their stories and I give people skills and a language to support those skills, where they take it is up to them.
"I have no outcomes, the outcomes belong to the people. I'm constantly moved and surprised by what people do."
Her work developing programs for foster care children one of her proudest achievements.
"Children and parents would have difficulty with conversations and talking about things, once you introduce drawing and they start drawing ideas come, and they start to build on concepts and the conversation flows," Mrs McKeand said.
"Those moments are always really special, with really difficult conversations and allowing them to move through them without any input from me, it just happens - those are very special moments for me to stand back, listen and observe, and not be a part of."
Receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through art programs is something that brings her great honour and pride.
"I felt extremely fortunate, especially now I know the process you go through, it's incredibly special that people in the community nominated me," she said.
"I really feel quite emotional about it, I think it's extraordinary because it's something I never thought about ever being awarded.
"Bringing recognition to the arts, I think that's a nice thing to be able to do ... this is going to open up avenues for conversations to be had about the arts, I'm thrilled."
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