The captain of one of the state's smallest high schools has earned the rare distinction of being featured in two of the showcases of Higher School Certificate exceptional achievers.
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Warialda High's Louisa Gilmour will have her HSC artwork hung in the prestigious ARTEXPRESS and will also perform in the acclaimed Encore which brings to the stage some of the HSC's best music performers.
To be chosen in one of these HSC showcases is an outstanding achievement, but to appear on the bill in two defies the odds.
With just over 150 students and 11 graduates in the HSC Class of 2020, it is not every year that Warialda High enjoys HSC showcase honours and now Louisa has brought home two.
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Warialda High Principal, Shelly Way said this is a fitting reward for Louisa's dedication, diligence, resilience and sheer hard work.
She acknowledges that Louisa's challenges go well beyond contending with the uncertainty of COVID-19.
"Louisa lives on a (rural) property almost an hour drive from town," Mrs Way said.
"They have experienced drought over the last three years, including unsuccessful crops this year due to little rain.
"Louisa has always kept a positive attitude and sense of wealth throughout."
Her music teacher, Robyn Conway commended Louisa's boldness in choosing four performance pieces of diverse genre.
"That gave her the opportunity to showcase her technical skill, stylistic understanding and personal expression," Mrs Conway said.
"It enabled her to feature the capabilities of the alto saxophone and many of its expressive techniques."
Ms Conway said the even though Louisa worked consistently throughout the year, she was still focussed on making improvements right up to the performance exam.
"Her regular practice regime and commitment to performing at her personal best level were major factors in her success," she added.
Louisa's mum and her art teacher Sharon Gilmour attributes her selection for ARTEXPRESS to her "endless perseverance, passion and retentive hard work".
Over 400 hours went into the creation of her body of work - Everything that grows holds a little moment of perfection - I am myself alone.
Inspired by a Shakespeare monologue, Louisa describes her work as "a large-scale linoleum carving of my side profile created by a multitude of spirals, mimicking a fingerprint".
"Each work in the series represents a stage of life and reflect the five acts of Shakespeare's comedy; Creation, Naivety, Submersion, Comprehension and Reflection," Louisa said.
"These five stages in life and the experiences associated with them are reflected throughout the use of materials throughout."
For Louisa, having her work exhibited in ARTEXPRESS is a dream come true.
"There has been a lot of energy, time and love that has gone into the works," she said.
"ARTEXPRESS has been a dream of mine for many years.
"I am so excited to present my work in a professional gallery space along with other works of such a high standard."
She is most looking forward to it being hung at NERAM (the New England Regional Art Museum), where ARTEXPRESS is currently scheduled from April 9 to June 6.
Louisa is the fourth Warialda High student to be featured in ARTEXPRESS.
