Alison Mackay, of St George’s Basin on the NSW South Coast, has won the 2020 Gallipoli Art Prize ($20 000 acquisitive prize funded by the Gallipoli Memorial Club) with her powerful work ‘Breathe’ depicting nine different gas masks, mostly from WW1.

As a NSW south coast resident, Alison began thinking about breathing masks and respirators over the summer period when the bushfires were at their worst. ‘We spent New Year’s Eve dressed in masks and goggles to protect our eyes and lungs from smoke as we stayed to defend our home from potential ember attack. It was a scary time for everyone, but particularly it reminded me what an extraordinary job the RFS were doing day after day to keep us all safe. We owe them a great debt of thanks for their bravery. Their courage and comradeship reminded me of the ANZAC spirit.’

Read the full media release here