There was an air of excitement as the first banner for the centenary year was proudly unwrapped in the Frontier Services National Office.

Rosemary Young, Richard Stewart and Kate Higginbotham with the banner made by Libby StewartThe call went out to supporters all around the country to create a banner which encapsulates the hope, spirit and resilience of remote Australia, which will be used to decorate the Dallas Brooks Hall during centenary celebrations to take place on 26 September in Melbourne.

Libby Stewart’s banner, the first to arrive, depicts a landscape of browns and reds underneath a blue sky and scorching yellow sun.

“The advertisement for banners caught my eye,” said Libby, happy that her gift was so well received.

“If you are not a sewer, the process definitely takes longer – it was lucky that I was already attending a patchwork group.”

“Every patch worker has what they call a ‘stash’ which is the material that you must buy, but don’t yet know what you will do with it. I generally don’t work in the colours of the outback, those rich reds, but when I told my patchwork group they all delved into their stashes and chose the colours.”

Libby said that the project has not only stretched her creativity and technique of quilting, but was also a fantastic opportunity to spread the word about Frontier Services and the work it does for the people of the outback.

“The banner took me about two months to complete but I loved every minute of it,” said Libby.

“It was also such a good way to tell people about Frontier Services and what they do.”

Libby states that she is looking forward to seeing all the other interpretations of the message of hope, spirit and resilience brightening up the hall at the centenary celebration in September.