Wondai Gallery
Hannah Depper, from St Mary’s Catholic College, entered these works in the Senior 2D section, but wound up winning first prize in the Senior 3D section of this year’s South Burnett High School Art Competition

August 5, 2014

South Burnett high school students are getting the chance to display their artworks to the public in Wondai this month.

For many, it’s their first exposure in a public art gallery.

The Wondai Regional Art Gallery opened their annual South Burnett High School Art Competition on Friday night, showcasing artworks entered by students from nearly all the region’s high schools.

Gallery curator Elaine Madill, speaking at the official opening, said she was very impressed by the talent of the region’s young artists, and hoped that next year the competition might attract a 100 per cent participation rate.

“I think it’s important for our young artists to be seen,” she said.

“We have a lot of talented young people in our region, and exhibiting in a gallery is one of the best ways for any artist to gain a new perspective on their work and grow.”

Mrs Madill thanked the South Burnett’s high school art teachers for lending their support to the competition, which offered cash prizes of $50 for first place, $30 for second and $20 for third in each of the sections.

The prizes were paid for by the Wondai Regional Art Gallery through funds raised by their monthly Wondai Markets.

The exhibition was officially opened by the South Burnett Regional Council’s new Arts Portfolio chair, Cr Ros Heit, who said she was equally impressed with the range of works on show, and congratulated the students who had entered.

Cr Heit assisted in the presentation of this year’s awards to prize-winners, which were given in senior and junior categories in the areas of 2D art (paintings) and 3D art (sculpture, pottery and papier mache).

This year’s winners were:

Junior 2D

  • 1st: Rebekah Kapernick – Murgon SHS
  • 2nd: Lucy Frecklington – St Mary’s
  • 3rd: Teagan Wyles – Kingaroy SHS
  • H/C: Kyara Lillico – St Mary’s
  • H/C: Jocelyn Dolan – St Mary’s

Junior 3D

  • 1st: Emily Farrer – Murgon SHS
  • 2nd: Aleesha Sanewski – Murgon SHS

Senior 2D

  • 1st: Darian Woods – Kingaroy SHS
  • 2nd: Bridget Barkle – St Mary’s
  • 3rd: Chantice Trennery – Kingaroy SHS
  • H/C: Emaily Faulkner – St Mary’s
  • H/C: Giorgia Dowling – St Mary’s

Senior 3D

  • 1st: Hannah Depper – Saint Mary’s
  • 2nd: Racquel Toomey – Murgon SHS
  • 3rd: Daniel Weldon – Kingaroy SHS
  • H/C: Chloe Sims – Kingaroy SHS
Wondai Gallery
Rebekah Kapernick, from Murgon State High, with her prize-winning Junior 2D entry “Portrait”, which also took out the People’s Choice award on opening night

Wondai Gallery
Twin sisters Cherry and Minnie Martoo, 7, from Kingaroy dressed up for opening night

Wondai Gallery
Glenn Kelly, Toowoomba, and Deidre Amos, Kingaroy, admiring one of this year’s entries
Wondai Gallery
Alex Duke, from Brisbane’s Nudgee College, escorted Caitlin Kapernick, from Murgon, to the opening; Caitlin came to support her sister Rebekah in the competition
Wondai Gallery
Newly appointed SBRC Arts Portfolio chair Cr Ros Heit admires Kingaroy State High School student Daniel Weldon’s prize-winning sculpture “School Life”