Outback icon teaches art to help others through depression

Kylee Tindale-Smith runs rural art workshops to put the spotlight on mental health support and turn her tiny Queensland town into a travel destination.

Wired up: Kylee Tindale-Smith with wire artwork, a skill she teaches at workshops in Morven, Queensland. Picture: Olivia Johnson

KYLEE Tindale-Smith has built a brand synonymous with outback Queensland’s Chanel Country and put the tiny town of Morven on the map.

She runs Gidgee Smith bag manufacturing company, which has grown to encompass a bush camp and wire art classes.

In conjunction with Lifeline, Kylee uses her passion for teaching art to draw visitors to the region, but more importantly support those struggling with mental health issues, including depression and give them “a day out”.

“I think people come for many different reasons. I’ve had really sad cases like people with depression, domestic violence or very bad health issues and it just gives them something to enjoy for the day,” Kylee said.

“I actually talk about my journey with depression during the workshops. Every opportunity I get I advocate for rural mental health and talk about changes that need to be made out here.”

She found solace in producing wire art pieces and wanted to share her “happy place” with others, as a way of giving to her community, who are dealing with isolation and the effects of the drought.

“Growing up at events we always got in and helped out no matter what it was,” she said. “I’ve always been a giving person and I think that’s what I get out of teaching the wire art.”

Her love of giving back to the community is not likely to slow down, with more workshops and other events in the works.

“People give me crazy ideas and they shouldn’t because they should know I follow through on them,” she said.

The first of these ideas came through the need to diversify because of drought, so she could stay in her outback home. She started making and selling bags, which have become iconic in the region.

“People say if you don’t have a Gidgee Smith bag in the back of your ute you’re not from Channel Country,” Kylee said.