Anne Carne will continue her support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service with a new $50,000 art prize in memory of her late sons. Photo: Supplied.
A mother’s enduring love for her late sons is behind a new $50,000 art prize in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) (RFDS).
Queensland artists of all levels, skills and backgrounds are now invited to reflect on what it means to be a Queenslander, and to contribute to a broader sense of connection, understanding, and community through their own unique creative expression.
The John D. Bowe Art Prize, established by Anne Carne as a lasting tribute to her son, a passionate painter, will be awarded to the artwork that most powerfully expresses the character, resilience and connection of the state, its spirit and its people.
The prize continues Ms Carne’s enduring support for the RFDS — a decision made in memory of her two sons, John and Rod.
Rod was a pilot, and though he never flew for the RFDS, Ms Carne saw the powerful connection between aviation and healthcare as a meaningful way to honour his memory and love of flying. The John D. Bowe Art Prize extends her contribution through the medium John loved most — bringing both of her sons into a single, enduring legacy that continues to give back to those who live, work and play across every corner of Queensland – the place she and her sons called home.
Her involvement has since been recognised with an RFDS aircraft bearing the family’s name: the Roderick J. Bowe, John D. Bowe and Anne J. Carne.
Ms Carne said the prize was an act of love, and a way of turning grief into something generous and lasting that honoured her son’s passion for art, life and connection.
“This prize began with John, but it isn’t only about him – this is an invitation to artists everywhere in Queensland to share in the landscapes, the communities, the stories, the resilience, the everyday moments and the shared experiences that bind people across this great state,” she said.
“The RFDS became part of our family’s story in a way I could never have anticipated, and their care for Queenslanders has stayed with me ever since.
“Honouring John through this prize, in support of the Flying Doctor, feels like the most authentic show of our family’s appreciation. It’s a way of carrying on the memory of both of my boys into something that gives back to the state they loved.”
In a deliberate design choice, all entries for the John D. Bowe Art Prize will be submitted and assessed digitally – ensuring that every artist, up to the farthest corner of the state, can take part on equal footing.
RFDS (Queensland Section) general manager – major relationships Heather Stott said the organisation was honoured to be the beneficiary of Ms Carne’s extraordinary gesture.
“Anne’s support of the Flying Doctor is something we treasure, and the John D. Bowe Art Prize is a beautiful continuation of that relationship – and through it, art is now saving lives,” she said.
“The prize isn’t ours – it belongs to Anne, to John’s memory, and to the artists who take part – but we’re honoured that it has been built in support of the work we do across regional and remote Queensland.
“Anne is providing a remarkable gift that not only celebrates her sons’ legacy, but also helps the Flying Doctor support Queenslanders in their hardest moments.”
Submissions for the John D. Bowe Art Prize will close at 11:59 pm on 12 July.
Anne Carne brings together two passions that defined her boys’ lives in her generous support of the RFDS. Photo: Supplied.
