Saturday, 8 November 2025 marked the official opening of the Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards (MHMAA), held at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum (GRAGM).
As a major sponsor of the event, Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) attended the evening and were delighted to recognise the Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award winner, Sharlene Cheetham, for her piece “I’m just here for the fun”.
As the overall awards winner, Ms Cheetham receives $20,000 on behalf of Rio Tinto Yarwun and QAL.
QAL General Manager, Trent Scherer recognised the longstanding history of arts culture in the community and congratulated all entrants into this year’s awards.
“Supporting the Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards is about supporting community wellbeing, creativity and prosperity,” Mr Scherer said.
“Congratulations to our Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award winner, Sharlene Cheetham, and to all the winners across their respective categories,” he said.
The exhibit remains open at the GRAGM until 7 February 2025, welcoming the public to view the spectacular display of artwork and vote for their favourites in the QAL People’s Choice Awards, before 24 January 2026. Introduced in 2014, the QAL People’s Choice Awards invites the public to vote on their favourite artworks across each category (easel works, works on paper, three dimension & fibre works, digital works).
Winning artists of the QAL People’s Choice Awards receive $500 each, with all voters going into the draw to win a $2,000 travel voucher from Helloworld Travel Gladstone.
“Arts culture is a defining characteristic of the community and we’re immensely proud of our long-standing partnership of both the Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards and People’s Choice Awards,” Mr Scherer said.
Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the quality of works on display matched the prestige associated with the 50th anniversary of one of regional Australia’s top art awards.
“We have an amazing and eye-catching display of artworks again this year, that not only reflects the artistic talent we have in the Gladstone Region and beyond, but also demonstrates just how highly respected the Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards are,” Mayor Burnett said.
“Every year the legacy of Martin Hanson grows stronger and it’s been fantastic to see how the Art Awards have evolved since 1976.
“This growth wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Hanson family, countless businesses, artists, sponsors and individuals.
“The contribution of the Gladstone Artists’ Club, who organised the first Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards following Martin’s death in 1976 and Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, who became custodian of the Art Awards in 1993, has also been influential in keeping this legacy burning brightly.
“I’d also like to thank all our sponsors, including major sponsors Rio Tinto Yarwun and QAL, and everyone involved in making this important community event a possibility every year,” he said.
Rio Tinto Yarwun and QAL are proud to be longstanding sponsors of the Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards, now in its 50th year of operation.
Pictured: 2025 Winner of the Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award – “I’m just here for the fun” by Sharlene Cheetham.
Vote in the QAL People’s Choice Awards
Voting in the QAL People’s Choice Awards is open now until 24 January, 2026. Vote for your favourite awards in each of the four categories by visiting the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum.
