The Old Gum was inspired by a black-and-white photo taken near the river in Mount Isa during my father's childhood. Trees like these provided shade and were a place of enjoyment during long summer days.The photo captured a landscape that has since changed. Rather than recreating the photograph literally, I have reimagined the scene through colour and imagination. The painting celebrates both the beauty of these remarkable trees and the memories they hold for those who spent time beneath them.