Louise Skačej collaborated with a strong team to create Stasia Dabrowski's sculpture.
07 August 2026
In brief:
- A sculpture has been installed in Garema Place to honour Stasia Dabrowski OAM.
- Artist Louise Skačej was commissioned to create the work.
- Stasia was known as Canberra’s ‘Soup Kitchen Lady’. She fed the hungry from a mobile soup kitchen.
A new public artwork honouring Stasia Dabrowski OAM, Canberra’s ‘Soup Kitchen Lady’ has been installed in Garema Place.
Artist Louise Skačej was commissioned to create the work.
The commission is part of an ongoing ACT Government initiative to celebrate significant Canberra women through public art.
Stasia (1926–2020) ran a mobile soup kitchen from a corner of Garema Place for almost 40 years.
She fed thousands of vulnerable Canberrans and is being recognised for decades of selfless service.
The sculpture is located close to where Stasia’s original soup kitchen once stood.
It will create a permanent tribute to her extraordinary life and work.
A team effort
Louise collaborated with a strong team to create Stasia’s sculpture. This includes:
- her partner, studio manager and technician Dean Colls
- her mentor Peter Corlett OAM, who has several works across Canberra
- studio assistants, Isabeau Colls and Mads Hillam.
With her immigrant background, Louise’s art often explores themes of culture, heritage, and memory.
Canberrans may recognise Louise’s work. She collaborated with Dean to create her thought-provoking artwork the Battle of Kapyong Diorama. This is displayed at the Australian War Memorial.
Stasia’s legacy
Those in need of a good meal – or even just a hug – knew they could rely on Stasia.
Every Friday night between 1982 and 2018, she served homemade soup, bread and drinks to the hungry.
As well as paying for and serving the food, Stasia put in the hours preparing it.
She would babysit and clean houses to earn enough to buy the ingredients. On Thursdays, she would peel and cook 180 kilograms of vegetables to get ready for the next day.
By 2000, Stasia was providing several hundred loaves of bread and at least 100 litres of homemade vegetable soup. She would feed over 300 people each Friday night.
Stasia won numerous awards and accolades for her charity work. These included:
- 1996 Canberra Citizen of the Year
- 1999 ACT Senior Australian of the Year
- 2017 ACT Local Hero of the Year
- carrying the Olympic torch.
Stasia, however, remained humble about the work she was doing.
"I never keep photos because I am not proud... the soup kitchen is a simple thing, people cooking veggies, nothing special," she said at the time.
Stasia continued her work until the age of 92 and passed away two years later in 2020.
A more welcoming Garema Place
Alongside the statue of Stasia Dabrowski OAM in Garema Place, new Ngunnawal Dhawura Artworks have been installed.
These are a series of contemporary cultural pieces celebrating Ngunnawal Country.
They feature four illuminated light poles and a seat with laser-cut totems and stories.
Recent upgrades to Garema Place and City Walk have created a more welcoming, accessible and greener public space.
There are further improvements planned for City Walk and Petrie Plaza.
More information
More information on the public art commissioning process is available from artsACT.
Call 02 6207 2384 or visit the Arts ACT website.
Stasia Dabrowski at the National Portrait Gallery, 2008. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery.
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