Artist prefers painting for Stanhope over Sabalenka

She told the crowd the painting represented the community coming together.

It features a meeting place at the centre, with the Murray and Campaspe rivers surrounding it.

She described the cross hatchings around the painting, which represent the different things people may be going through and have to get over to come together as a community.

She said the colours, in shades of blues and greens, were to represent calm and healing, as Stanhope Health was a place of healing.

The young artist said it was an honour to be able to paint for her town and continue the connection she had to the community.

The 20-year-old grew up in Stanhope for half of her life, living with her grandparents, and used painting and art as a vessel to channel her emotions.

Miss Spiby received a job offer at just 17 to become an Aboriginal ranger with the Local Land Services near Deniliquin.

In her next job, she was able to combine her passion for illustrating with her love for the environment when she became an illustrator for the North Central Catchment Management Authority, creating artwork on information cards for a youth program.

To top off her impressive resume, for the past three years she has been working with the Australian Open painting live art.

She even decorated the tennis racquet given to Sabalenka when she won the women’s singles title in 2023.

And while painting at the Australian Open is an incredible opportunity, painting for her community continues to be a highlight.

“My home is always going to be my home,” Miss Spiby said.

“I grew up here; I did my kinder here, I did primary school here, I practically lived in that pool.

“It’s always exciting to be able to give back to my community.”