Like the rich and swirling imagery in her latest artwork, Cindel Richardson’s life is a whirlwind of activity all connected by a strong sense of community and a strong instinct to care for others. The Redlands Coast resident is an Acting Inspector within the Multicultural Affairs Unit of the Queensland Police Service and volunteers for the Redland City SES Unit as Cleveland Group Leader.
Since her days growing up in Rockhampton on Queensland’s middle coastland, Cindel has been involved with the SES for more than two decades. She joined the Queensland Police Service in 2007 and was originally stationed at Rockhampton.
Her interest in painting began several years ago as a meaningful way to connect with her culture.
As an SES volunteer, she has contributed to major disaster responses across the state, including cyclones Larry (2006), Yasi (2011), Marcia (2015), Debbie (2017) and the 2022 Brisbane floods, and Cyclone Alfred (2025) and many more. Her leadership includes mentoring volunteers and supporting member development, developing innovative training programs, and strengthening recruitment and retention of her orange family (SES members).
In 2024, Cindel took home the Suncorp Spirit of the SES Award – a state level award “for the volunteer who exemplifies the qualities of the SES, excels as a leader and is a strong role model to others”.
Last year, she won the Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award at the 2025 Queensland Volunteering Awards, and was a winner in the 2025 SES Australia Day Achievement Awards for her “leadership skills, the ability to bring the best out of members, going above and beyond for the ‘orange family’ (SES members) and using her work life experience for better training of SES members”.
Cindel was announced as one of the Volunteers of the Year 2026 for Redlands (Volunteering Redlands) for her dedicated leadership and commitment to community. In June Cindel was awarded an Emergency Service Medal in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.
In a recent interview with local newspaper Community Leader, Cindel explained she has three families – “My kids, my ‘orange’ SES family and my ‘blue’ police family; they’re my worlds.”
“It can become challenging to balance the three and sometimes there are overlaps, such as police searches for missing persons that may involve the SES,” she told the paper. “So it’s good to be interoperable across the boundaries, guidelines and rules of both organisations – but my main concern will always be for my kids.”
Now she has honoured her ‘orange family’ with a breathtaking piece of Indigenous artwork that is laced by a network of bright orange and yellow circles, emerald bursts of nature, and subtle sunset pinks that bathe a waratah and a mountain range – all scattered like jewels on a stunningly vibrant aqua background.
Her painting, titled 50 Years of Continuous Growth, encapsulates the rich history of the State Emergency Service (SES) within the Brisbane region. It symbolises the collective effort of communities coming together to support one another during times of need, particularly in the face of extreme weather events, and comes as the SES celebrates 50 years of operating in Queensland through story telling.
Cindel says that at the heart of the painting lies a narrative that intertwines the past with the present, represented by a tornado which impacted Brisbane 50 years ago with 50 years on TC Alfred that struck the region.
“It reflects on the origins of civil defence, starting with the devastating natural disasters of the past,” she says, noting that her artwork starts with the devastation brought by Tropical Cyclone Wanda after it crossed the coast near Maryborough in January 1974. The cyclone’s torrential rains moved slowly south and by the end of the month, the Brisbane region had recorded up to 900 millimetres of rain and more than 6700 Brisbane homes were inundated by flood waters.
It reflects on the origins of civil defence, starting with the devastating natural disasters of the past
Severe flooding affected greater Brisbane and regional Queensland in 1974, with the Brisbane River bursting its banks in one of the city’s worst natural disasters. These floods were one of the motivating factors for the establishment of the Queensland State Emergency Service.
Fifty years on from the flood, the Brisbane region faced Tropical Cyclone Alfred at the start of last year. The cyclone moved across the bay islands impact North Stradbroke Island and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) and caused widespread damage across the rest of Redlands Coast and Brisbane Region.
Alfred marked another significant chapter in not only Brisbane’s history, but the history of the State Emergency Service. Queensland SES was founded in 1975 partly in response to the devastating 1974 floods, having evolved from the former Queensland Civil Defence Organisation that had been in operation since 1961.
Cindel says her painting conveys a powerful message – from destruction arises growth, connection and community.
“Trees sprouting from the remnants of the cyclones symbolise the growth and evolution of the SES and the interconnectedness of partner agencies,” she says. “(The painting) is a powerful visual narrative that honours the resilience, unity, and collaborative spirit of the SES and the communities it serves.
“I wanted to invite viewers to reflect on the shared journey of growth and support within the Brisbane region, celebrating both the challenges faced and the triumphs achieved together. The SES was established to educate and prepare the community, and it highlights the importance of resilience and teamwork across diverse local government areas.”
50 Years of Continuous Growth was unveiled by Cindel at the 2026 Brisbane Region SES Awards which were held at the Alexandra Hills Hotel Convention Centre in May – the first time the awards have been hosted on Redlands Coast.
It is now on display at the Emergency Services Complex in Kedron.
For information on the SES visit ses.qld.gov.au
Cindel explains the key elements in 50 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS GROWTH
The centre portrays the historical context of civil defence, illustrating both devastation and resilience and the first meeting place the foundation of the growth, now representing Brisbane region, the maroon colour symbolises Queensland and represents disaster management.
Trees sprouting from the remnants of the cyclones symbolise the evolution of the SES and the interconnectedness of partner agencies. Building from disasters will come growth as we work together to overcome these times of need.
Flooding imagery highlights the severe flooding of 1974, which was pivotal in establishing the SES in response to the community needs.
These orange circles represent the meeting points of SES depots located within the Moreton Bay, Brisbane and Redland City units. They are connected by traveling lines, symbolising the relationships and journeys of those involved in emergency response interoperability between units and the people we meet along the way both new and old.
The painting is segmented into three distinct areas, marked by larger lines that depict traveling paths showing the footsteps we all take forward. The kangaroo prints symbolise progress and forward movement (kangaroos only travel forward), representing the SES’s commitment to building and development.
Flowing gracefully through the centre, the Rainbow Serpent mirrors the Brisbane River (famously known as the brown snake) a key landmark across our region. Its vibrant colours interchanging as it moves through the SES units represents the councils’ colours that support the SES, illustrating the collaborative spirit that drives their mission.
Serving as a guardian across the district, the mountain in the top left symbolises strength and oversight, representing the places where communities gather to support one another.
Native gum trees depicted throughout the painting are emblematic of the natural environment in the Brisbane region, further emphasising the connection between the land and its people.
The sand goanna found in the bottom left corner represents the cultural connection to the totem for the Yuggera (or Jagera) people. The goanna is a central figure in Aboriginal Dreamtime stories, representing a creator spirit, ancestral guardian, and a symbol of resilience and adaptability.
The sea turtle positioned in the bottom right symbolises the connection to land and water and symbolises wisdom and protection.
The dugong located in the top right represents the rich biodiversity of the Moreton Bay region and the connection its seas linking to the Quandamooka people.
