George the Legend by Lola Jenkins

My name is Lola Jenkins and I am an artist and high-school student from the Gold Coast, also studying a Certificate III in Visual Art through the TAFE at School program at the Southbank campus. Every Friday, mum and I catch the train to Brisbane from Varsity Lakes so I can attend these lessons and grow in my craft. The sitter, ‘Leslie’ George Anderson, a Gangulu/Wadja Wadja man who lives in Brisbane, maintains multiple weekly gym fitness routines with keenly active RSL mates. We met through family and friends.

Now in his 72nd year, George recalls he was told not to register for service because he was an Aboriginal. But once in Vietnam he says he was treated the same by his fellow soldiers because they all watched each other’s backs. He has proudly defended this country and readily attends schools to talk about ANZAC Day. He is such a legendary character in the Brisbane area and a perfect subject to honour in my work for this competition.