14/10/2025
Celebrity spotting at a recent careers expo, we were lucky enough to catch up with Kariyarra/Yindjibarndi artist Jenna Halden from Wickham.
What’s really cool about this chance meeting is that Jenna designed this Rio Tinto NAIDOC shirt in 2021!
‘I entered my painting into the 2021 Colours Of Our Country Exhibition in Perth and Rio Tinto purchased the painting and emailed me asking if they could use it on their 2021 NAIDOC shirts. I was over the moon excited and happy for this opportunity and proud of myself’, Jenna shared.
‘Being able to submit artwork into Colours of Our Country is a great experience for everyone in the community to share their culture and tell their stories and I love to hear feedback on what people feel most about my paintings.’
‘This piece from 2021 is called “Pilbara Wildflowers Out On The Country”. When wildflower season comes, you see all the different colours cover the whole countryside. And mixed with the red dirt makes the wildflowers look beautiful and mesmerising.’
Once upon a FeNaClNG Festival, Jenna and her sisters stumbled across the Australian Army Reserves, Pilbara Regiment stall which caught their interest.
‘After yarning with them, we were inspired to learn more. We toured the Karratha Barracks and from there we definitely wanted to join. Today, I‘m a Patrolman which is a Regional Force Soldier in the Pilbara Regiment. I enjoy being in the Army Reserves because it gives me the confidence and courage to do things that I would have hesitated to do before. It's building me up to be a stronger person and role model for my family and community.’
During the day you can find Jenna at Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation in Roebourne, in her role as Employment Pathway Advisor. ‘I enjoy working with community members to find employment - it’s rewarding!’.
Always deadly to catch up with community role models doing amazing things! Say G’day to Jenna if you see her in the community 🙂
