As part of the 2022 Reconciliation Week Cultural Inclusion fire camps, Girls on Fire chose Tamworth local Jodie Herden to create art representing the local Gamiliraay culture. Inclusion is the every day at Girls on Fire. We’re proud to work with a multitude of different volunteers and team members to make Girls on Fire ans inclusive and representative as possible.
That’s why we relished the chance to work with Gamiliraay women and talented artist, Jodie Herden.
Jodie Herden is a descendant of the Fields/Kim families. A proud Gamiliraay women born and raised in Tamworth NSW, Jodie’s Grandparents, Thomas and Ella Fields, lived on the camping reserve in Tamworth which is located next to Tamworth Rural referral hospital in the 1950s, now known as Walaay Gaya ( Happy Camp).
Growing up she was strong in spirit and the connection to country and culture that was passed onto her from her father, aunts and uncles and it kept her strong!
Art is her passion! It has saved her from many a dark moment, she now knows it was her ancestors guiding her. With every brush stroke, she feels them, surrounding and guiding her, giving her the images for the artworks and the stories of her culture.
An experienced exhibiting artist with over 30 years’ art making experience Jodie has works on show all around the state. She was invited to have works exhibited overseas and promoted in an ad for Qantas with one of Australia’s largest Arts Network Blue thumb.
Jodie has several commissions hanging throughout NSW and Australia with current work in Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital as a part of the Dharay Mali Project. Jodie also has commissioned pieces for FRNSW, after lengthy community consultation across Gomeroi country as a part of NSWFR Indigenous Partnership Strategy her work can now be viewed on several Fire Tankers across the Gomeroi Nation. She also has completed several large murals in schools across the Armidale Diocese and public sector system.
Jodie is an experienced artist and workshop facilitator presenting many Cultural/Art workshops across the New England North West Region for the past 10 years. She was awarded Aboriginal Artist of the Year in 2016 NSW LALC NAIDOC Awards and was honoured to receive the 2018 Indigenous Women of the Year Award with Zonta International.
Through her art Jodie aims to highlight, educate and share the beauty of her culture. Her canvas is her story book and is the way she shares the narrative of her people and her country!
We are so very honoured to work with you, Jodie.
If you want to see Jodie’s amazing work, head to her Instagram page @jodieherden or you can connect up with Jodie on LinkedIn.
In 2025, Girls on Fire ran its first program inside Reiby Youth Justice Centre, working with girls and boys under 15 to build confidence, connection, and practical emergency skills. The program was made possible through funding from the NSW Government's Investing in Women initiative and the support of Reiby staff and our cultural inclusion mentors.
If you’ve mentored at a Girls on Fire camp, please take 10–15 minutes to share how the experience influenced your approach to working with young people.
Girls on Fire has been invited to send a Girls on Fire camper to speak at Global Youth BOSAI Summit on May 17th 2025! Find out how you can apply now.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. Girls on Fire pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
