Scotch College

The 'Art of Delivering Justice Competition', won by Scotch

The Federal Court of Australia launched a National Art Competition in 2001, sending two and a half thousand secondary schools across Australia, a video and book and poster, detailing its role and function in Australian society. The competition was based on art work in junior and senior categories, with State winners, and a group and individual prize at the National level.

A Scotch College boarder and art student, Bhanuwat Jittivuthikarn completed his entry while in Year Eleven. His painting called "Tampa", won the Victorian State Prize and the National Individual Award in the Senior Category.

"Joe", as he is affectionately known, painted a large canvas depicting the Tampa boat peoples' bid for freedom, using powerful symbolic imagery to capture their plight, and the role the Federal Court played, in hearing their case. The work uses a surrealistic approach to convey its message, and is an outstanding effort by Bhanuwat. It is a mature and sensitive painting that provides a balanced view of a difficult situation. The work will now hang in the Federal Court Building in William Street, Melbourne.

The Chief Justice of Australia, Mr Michael Black presented Bhanuwat with his prestigious award, at a ceremony held on August 1st 2002, in the Federal Court in Melbourne. The prizes were distributed during a live video conferencing link-up across Australia, with students as far away as Broome, Perth and Cairns, able to participate.

Bhanuwat won the Victorian and Federal senior art prize prize, which gave him three thousand dollars for his efforts, and the Art Department, five thousand two hundred dollars, to purchase multimedia computer equipment and software.