A Testimony on Canvas

A Gold Coast Artist’s Bicentennial Painting Finds a Home

Jim Turner, an artist from the Lismore Ward in the Gold Coast Australia Stake, has achieved a milestone in his artistic journey. His oil painting The 1988 Bicentennial Naval Review will soon be on permanent display at the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre, the Maritime Museum of the Royal Australian Navy in Sydney. This monumental work, measuring 12 feet (3.6 m) long by 5 feet (1.5 m) high, includes a life-size portrait of Vice Admiral M. W. Hudson, who served as the Chief of Naval Staff in 1988.

A Moment of National Pride: The Bicentennial Naval Review

The Bicentennial Naval Review was a historic event held in 1988 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival in Sydney. This grand occasion saw ships from Australia and around the world gather in Sydney Harbour in a spectacular display of maritime history and tradition. It showcased the nation’s heritage and its connection to the sea.

Born in New South Wales, Brother Turner felt inspired by this event, recognizing its importance to Australian history. He was determined to create a work of art that would capture not only the grandeur of the naval review but also the spirit of unity it evoked.

A Long-Awaited Home

Completed on November 4, 1988, The 1988 Bicentennial Naval Review was publicly exhibited only once, during a week-long exhibition that opened on December 3, 1988, by Senator Bronwyn Bishop. For years afterward, the painting awaited a permanent home where it could be appreciated by the public.

In 2024, Brother Turner was inspired to find a suitable home for his work. Through persistence and prayer, he contacted the Royal Australian Navy Heritage Centre. Although the museum was undergoing renovations, the centre accepted the painting for display in its new facility, which reopened in February 2025.

The museum will include Jim’s painting among its exhibits documenting the history of the Royal Australian Navy, from the First Fleet to the present day. Brother Turner’s painting will enrich the museum’s collection and the public’s understanding of this pivotal moment in Australia’s maritime history.

Brother Turner’s journey with this painting is a testimony of faith, persistence, and divine guidance.

A Spiritual Foundation

Brother Turner’s faith has always been at the heart of his artistic endeavors. His spiritual journey began in 1956 when missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints returned to the Penrith area for the first time in over a century. That year his mother—a devout Christian who had always sought gospel truths—met the missionaries, accepted their teachings and became the first person in the Penrith area to accept the gospel. She later shared that she had long believed key elements of the restored gospel and had even had a vision confirming its truthfulness.

In 1957, when Jim was eight years old, his mother began taking him to Church meetings in the CWA Hall in Blacktown, NSW. These early experiences nurtured his understanding of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, laying a foundation that would influence his life and work. “As a Christian, I know that God created all things and that He knows each one of us individually,” Brother Turner reflects.

Faith in Every Brushstroke

Brother Turner reflects on the role of divine guidance throughout his journey. “I felt prompted to find a suitable home for people to view my painting of the Bicentennial Naval Review,” he said. “I have a firm testimony that if we do all that we possibly can, the Lord will provide the way and the means for us to accomplish whatever He has asked us to do.”

For Brother Turner, this painting is more than a depiction of a national event; it is a manifestation of faith and perseverance. He likens this experience to life’s daily challenges: “Be it a major work, like a 12-foot-long painting, or just completing simple daily tasks, [life is] made easier through the guidance of the Spirit.”

A Testimony Shared Through Art

Brother Turner’s story is a reminder that God can magnify our talents to fulfil His purposes. Whether capturing a historic event on canvas or fulfilling a spiritual prompting to preserve it for others, his journey stands as a powerful example of trusting in the Lord’s timing and guidance. It proves that the Lord’s hand is evident in every aspect of our lives.