Pro Hart, Bryan & the RFDS - the story
These iconic Pro Hart prints were kindly gifted to RFDS by the family of Bryan Symonds, a businessman in Broken Hill who was passionate about making a difference. According to Bryan Symonds daughter Vanessa, her dad had red dirt running through his veins.
"Dad loved cars and he loved to help people, so he amalgamated the two and took part in multiple outback car rallies to raise money for charities," Vanessa said.
Bryan approached his friend, local Broken Hill artist Kevin Charles "Pro" Hart. Pro Hart is considered the father of the Australian Outback painting movement and his works are widely admired for capturing the true spirit of the outback.
"Dad and Pro Hart were friends. Dad wanted to use Pro’s love of Broken Hill, generosity and fame, so he asked Pro if he would paint the rally cars, and sign prints of the originals," Vanessa said. These prints were then used to raise money for charities.
Bryan Symonds sadly passed away in June 2016. His wife Dawn Symonds wanted the remaining prints returned to the Hart family or donated. "We approached John Hart, Pro’s Son, to return the signed prints to Pro Hart Galleries, who advised us that they were happy for us to donate them to any charity of our choice," Vanessa said.
As the Symonds family was impressed by the exceptional care the Royal Flying Doctor Service team provided to Bryan before his passing, as well as Bryan's wife Dawn has been an ongoing patient of the RFDS Clive Bishop Medical Centre in Broken Hill, the family decided to donate these prints to the RFDS.