When photojournalist Jessica Hromas visited Moree to capture elders' stories, she was most excited about those by Polly Cutmore.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains the name of a person who has died.
It was raining that day in 2021, and the two decided to take the portrait at Ms Cutmore's house in town.
"She works tirelessly, Polly. She's always working on something for her community and her house is very much her little base of industry. She's taking a call from someone, writing an email about this. She's a very busy woman," Hromas said.
What resulted from that day is now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
When Gomeroi and Anaiwan woman Maria "Polly" Cutmore looks at the photo, she says it tells the story of her family.
"It reminds me of all my ancestors. It reminds me of my mother. It reminds me of my grandmothers, my grandfathers, I even see my father in that," she said.
"I can see all of them coming through in that picture, and their struggles, and their hopes," Ms Cutmore said.
Ms Cutmore was sharing with Hromas her history growing up in Moree under the town's segregation laws during the 1950s and 60s, for a project with The Guardian Australia.
For the photojournalist, the story is embedded in the portrait.
"I look at it and I'm charmed because I know Polly and she's energetic, she's exciting, she's very witty — but it also has this full history that is our history."
It is the second portrait of Ms Cutmore to hang in the National Portrait Gallery. The first, titled Maria, was taken by her cousin, Michael Riley in 1986 when Polly was in her 20s.
"We were trying to find our way into the world after leaving Moree as teenagers," Ms Cutmore said.
"I look quite serious, but you know, it was also a journey of learning who we were as adults.
"And the second [portrait], I think it shows the journey I've been on. And it has been a struggle, but I can say it's been a wonderful struggle.
"It also shows the beauty of the life that we had — that we can come through strong-looking, and as survivors."
