Everyone who met Nicki Laws was touched by her warmth and intelligence. She was a vet, author, textile artist, farmer, scientist, activist and lecturer. Nicki died in September 2018 from metastatic ocular melanoma. She was aged just 58.
Nicki and her friend and photographer Ann Alcock co-authored the book, “Frocks, Country Halls and Deb Balls” which documented a collection of 60 frocks and the role of country dances and community halls in the north-eastern Darling Downs.
She and Ann collaborated to establish Place, Art & Design, producing Home Décor soft furnishings. Their designs reflected their love of the Australian landscape and its flora and fauna.
Nicki was a spokesperson for Oakey Coal Action Alliance and the battle to prevent Stage 3 of the New Hope coal mine. Its encroachment on strategic cropping land, its effects on farming communities and post-mining rehabilitation were major issues which she championed for her community. That battle continues.
Nicki participated in joint and solo exhibitions at local art galleries. Her concern about species decline and habitat loss was reflected in her mixed-media art. She stitched, drew and sculpted a variety of subjects but birds featured regularly. She said of her sculpted birds “These slowly wrought, wrapped and embellished birds show my attempts at repair and restoration. I have used wire, eco-dyed threads and fabrics as well as industrial waste and many “found” plastic bags. I wrap and bind, striving to hide the detritus within. There is a faded grandeur left…and also hope and survival.”
Nicki was president of Gomaren & Doctors Creek Catchment Landcare group (GDCC) based at Goombungee on the Darling Downs. She hosted field days on her property near Kingsthorpe to demonstrate Landcare principles. With a grant from Landcare, she planted 1000 koala-friendly trees on their property. She and her husband Glen sowed six varieties of summer grasses in an old cultivation paddock into which they then planted oats, aiming to achieve 100% ground cover. This improved soil health, ground cover and water retention and helped reduce erosion and sediment run-off into local creeks.
Nicki planted DeKoch and Eyre’s Green saltbush seedlings in a paddock and along a creek bank where soil stability was at risk. Cattle were excluded until the saltbush had been established successfully. Planting the saltbush encouraged the White-winged Fairy-wrens to come to the farm, a bird which had rarely been seen in the area and which nests in saltbush.
In 2016 Nicki inaugurated the annual GDCC Landcare “Focus on Farms” Photographic Competition. The categories embrace the Landcare ethos and encourage community participation, with entries being displayed in the mobile library and at community events. In 2019 at the Presentation Evening, a Perpetual Trophy for “The Best Photographic Presentation Showcasing a Landcare Project.” was launched in honour of Nicki. The competition promotes the importance of caring for land by people from all walks of life and is a testament to Nicki’s community spirit.
Nicki’s quiet passion for caring for the environment inspires us to carry on her legacy.
Photos and story are derived from a tribute to Nicky which was presented by her friend and business partner, Ann Alcock, at our 2019 Presentation Evening in Kingsthorpe Memorial Hall.