“The Rose of Clermont’ – Lyn Laver-Ahmat
Thank you, Isaac Regional Council, for supporting my project with an “INSPIRE” grant in 2025 from Isaac’s Regional Arts Development Fund. The Regional Arts Development Fund is a partnership between Arts Queensland and Isaac Regional Queensland.
I am responding to the life of Rose Harris – ‘The Rose of Clermont’
Throughout my residency at Clermont in April, I have been reimagining through research and being on location, the life of Rose by making artworks to exhibit later in the year.
I have been curious and astounded by Rose’s life of sheer grit in the face of very harsh conditions in remote and regional Central Queensland. I imagine what her life was like, her deeds of bravery, and her venture into male professions, contrary of what may have been expected of a woman of her day.
Women of her era were unfortunately largely generalized and overlooked, and I wish to champion Rose as a woman of strength in the face of adversity.
Rose Harris (1885-1977) was one of the first female commercial saddlers in Australia. During the infamous 1916 Clermont flood, Rose went back into the flooded saddlery to gather tools to help rescue people from the floodwaters. Rose was an accomplished polymath, excelling at leatherwork, violin, church organ, photography, tennis, horse riding, boxing, swimming, and golf. Rose is remembered fondly, and many local people claim close connection to her, though she had no children and never married.
– exert from Claire Griffiths, Coordinator – Museums (former) at Isaac Regional Council
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