Honouring a Mother's Care: Cox Family Donates ‘The Family Tree’ Sculpture to Carinity Brownesholme

A local family so impressed by the care their mother receives in a Highfields aged care community has gifted it a unique original artwork. A sculpture called 'The Family Tree' has been donated to Carinity Brownesholme by the family of Margot Cox OAM.

Margot’s son, Cyril Cox, designed the sculpture which honours the family’s connection to the facility and its “wonderful staff."

“The inspiration for this sculpture came from my personal desire to investigate my Cox family history and the ancestry of my mother’s family,” Cyril said.

The sculpture was crafted from recycled materials by Crookwell artist Norm Porter, repurposing stainless-steel balls originally fitted to power stations throughout the Snowy Hydro Scheme in New South Wales. The steel balls were high-voltage arcing horns, installed in the early 1950s used to protect electrical equipment.

“I asked if Norm could create this piece with the arching horns which were in my shed. My son was engaged to remove these horns as technology had changed,” Cyril said.

The Family Tree sculpture also incorporates galvanised steel piping and a farm plough disc, symbolising the heritage of the Cox family and their links to regional Australia.

“The sculpture elements reflect on the rural roots of multi generations of the family with our late father, prior to his marriage, owning a cattle station in the Katherine area,” Cyril said.

“All my siblings and I were raised in the bush and all with agricultural and equestrian roots.”

The 1.5m high sculpture now stands in the Carinity Brownesholme foyer as a ‘thank you’ for the care Margot has received since moving into the aged care community last year

“The Brownesholme facility is spectacular, with beautiful decor and facilities. We are grateful and blessed to have this facility close to where Mum retired,” Cyril said.

“Brownesholme staff are all to be commended for the love and care that they provide to not only our mother but all residents.”

Margot, who was born in Toowoomba, enjoys the sense of community at Carinity Brownesholme. She loves to colour pictures which she gifts to visitors and new residents when they move in.

Community is important to Margot, who was presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of her service to the community of Palmerston, in the Northern Territory, before relocating to Kleinton.

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