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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Linda Burney MLA Canturbury and Rick Farley at home, Marrickville

2003
Juno Gemes

inkjet print on paper (sheet: 60.7 cm x 50.8 cm, image: 50.6 cm x 41.5 cm)

Hon Linda Burney (b. 1957), the first Aboriginal woman to serve in the House of Representatives, was also the first Aboriginal person elected to the New South Wales parliament and the first Aboriginal person to graduate from the Mitchell College of Advanced Education (now Charles Sturt University). Burney started work as a high school teacher in 1979. Later, she joined the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, of which she was to become director-general. She was Labor member for Canterbury from 2003; in 2016 she resigned from the seat, and the deputy leadership of the NSW Labor party, to take up the federal seat of Barton. Burney’s late partner, Rick Farley (1952- 2006) was a journalist and parliamentary adviser before becoming executive director of the National Farmers’ Federation in 1988. Under his leadership the federation accepted the necessity to commit to land care and conservation and to recognise native title claims. He and Burney served together on the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in the 1990s, and began their relationship at the convention on reconciliation in 1997. Wrapped in a splendid kangaroo-skin cloak, Burney paid tribute to Farley in her affecting maiden speech in federal Parliament in 2016.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Juno Gemes/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Juno Gemes (age 59 in 2003)

Hon. Linda Jean Burney (age 46 in 2003)

Rick Farley (age 51 in 2003)

Donated by

Juno Gemes (22 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency