Experience Gadigal Cultural Centre

Colin, a member of the Gadigal/Bidjigal people on his mother's side and the Noongi people on his father's side, is part of the extended family of the Ngarabul people. Colin moved to Inverell from Sydney's La Perouse in the early 1980's where he has "evolved into one of the finest Aboriginal Artists Australia has ever produced". A description used by Mr Wesley Noffs National Director of the Life Education Centres. Mr Noffs presented this comment after Colin had produced a mural measuring 28 metres wide by 3 metres high. Colin Isaacs has been at the forefront of change for the benefit of Indigenous peoples his entire life. This has been through a balance of his artistic ventures and community activities which has seen him establish community organisations and cultural businesses for the benefit of the tribes that he has worked with. Colin has completed cultural advisory and consultancy for major universities and is currently a resident elder at UNSW and advises UNE on cultural matters. He is a master with paint, sculpture, wood carving, wood burning and ceramics. He has developed product ranges and businesses surrounding each of these disciplines and seeks to use his sense of entrepreneurship with the marriage of technology to implement approaches to lift the quality of life for his mob around the country. Arawol, the white wallaby is his sacred totem which is deeply personal to him and for the first time is using this publicly. 

Part of the founding group and resident artist for a national monument at the Myall Creek Massacre site where his art is featured on all monument plaques. Uncle Colin created the working board and cultural committee structure that still operates today • Founder father and original chairperson of Armajun Aboriginal Health Services which recently opened its newly developed medical centre. • Chairperson of Ngarabul Aboriginal Corporation • Interacts with Tribal Elders on cultural and placemaking affairs all over Australia • Championed a treaty amongst opposing clans around Inverell that was witnessed by the then federal minister. Surrounding towns had observed this with over 30 additional clans wanting to participate. • Using cultural methods Colin has created a unity amongst many opposing clans and tribes to come together for common purposes • Brought up as a leader by La Perouse Elders from a young age.