October 5, 2021
A stunning photographic portrait of Wakka Wakka elder Elgan Leedie at this year’s Anzac Day Dawn Service in Kingaroy will be added to the South Burnett Regional Council’s official art collection.
The photograph, “Black Anzac”, earned photographer John Dalton the $3000 top prize at the South Burnett Acquisitive competition at Wondai Regional Art Gallery on Friday night.
John also earned the $100 People’s Choice prize on the night as well as a $300 second prize for another photograph in the competition, “At The Wondai Roundabout”.
He told the assembled crowd he had been inspired by an RADF-funded workshop held in Kingaroy by well-known photographer Steve Parish.
John said he had learned at the workshop that every work of art or photo had to be strikingly visual, spark emotion, ask a question or hold you up for a while.
He joked his wife had told him to delete the prize-winning photo because it was so dark: “I can’t wait to tell her!”
Gallery curator Elaine Madill said 197 pieces of art – ranging from pottery to photographs – were entered into the Acquisitive competition from 73 participants.
The $3000 winner was chosen from across all categories, and was then not eligible to win any other category.
More than $9000 in prize money was distributed across nine categories, with the main $3000 prize sponsored by the South Burnett Regional Council.
The South Burnett Acquisitive entries will remain on display at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery until the end of the month.
Entry is free.
Next month’s exhibition will be an “under the bed” sale, where local artists will feature their unsold works.
Footnote: Elgan Leedie served with the 2/4 Battalion in Townsville, as a regimental police officer in Darwin and then joined NORFORCE, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. He is a familiar sight at Kingaroy Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services where he plays the bugle and didgeridoo.
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Prize Winners
$3000 SBRC Acquisitive (to be added to Council’s collection)
“Black Anzac” – John Dalton (photograph)
Section 1A: Oil Or Acrylic
Sponsored by Bendigo Bank
1. “Silent Noise” – Kym Connell (acrylic)
2. “Blackall Range” – Keith Blake (oil)
Highly Commended: “Equine Beauty” – Gail Thomas (oil)
Commended: “Gossip Girls” – Sue Draney (acrylic)
Section 1B: Watercolour
Sponsored by Wondai Country Running Festival
1. “Australian Icon” – Graham W. Smith
2. “Bunyas Rainforest Foliage” – Patricia van Kempen
Highly Commended: “Boodjamulla” – Sue Lederhose
Commended: “Bush Magic” – Gail Thomas
Section 1C: Pastel
Sponsored by Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington & Hobbs and Associates
1. “Three’s A Crowd” – Gail Thomas
2. “Iced Tea” – Tiana Justine
Highly Commended: “In Her Footsteps” – Susanne Capewell
Commended: “View From The Top” – Carmel Birchley
Section 1D: Any Other Medium
Sponsored by Senator Gerard Rennick & Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd
1. “Anielle” – Katie Hehlen
2. “Leaf Dance 1” – Christine Williams
Highly Commended: “Laguna Violeta” – Betty Descovich
Commended: “Black-Shouldered Kite” – Carmel Birchley
Section 2: Photography
Sponsored by Parkside Group & Bunnings Kingaroy
1. “Cold Arrival” – Carl Hogg
2. “At The Wondai Roundabout” – John Dalton
Highly Commended: “Casting The Net” – Denise Keelan
Commended: “True Beauty” – Heaven-Leigh Porter
Section 3: Sculpture And Ceramics
Sponsored by Senator James McGrath
1. “Regolith – The Story Of Messmate Park” – Christine Williams
2. “Outback Pub” – Suzanne Flintham
Highly Commended: “Crow” – Robyn Dower
Commended: “Black Summersaurus” – Summer Brook-Jones
Section 4: Indigenous Art of Australia
Sponsored by Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
1. “My Roots” – Pharrell Chapman
2. “Our Wings” – Ayana Murray
Highly Commended: “Homeland” – Trinity Ballin
Commended: “Serpent” – Selwyn Dynevor
Section 5: South Burnett Residents Only (Any Medium)
Sponsored by Wondai Lions Club
1. “Elimbah Creek” – Kerry Herrod
2. “Teelah In Ashes” – Heather Krebs-Daniel
Highly Commended: “Drought Breaking Storm” – Carl Hogg
Commended: “The Ferreters” – Shannus O’Sullivan
Section 6: Open Australian Poetry Theme
Sponsored by Shannus and Evelyn O’Sullivan
1. “The Surface Beneath” – Tiana Justine
2. “Struggle Towards Love” – Cate Verney
Highly Commended: “The White Cockatoo” – Carl Hogg
Commended: “The Cattle Dog’s Death” – Trish Erkens
Packers’ Choice
“Outback Pub” – Suzanne Flintham
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Congratulations John. Your photography is so inspiring and captures more than a backdrop. You capture people and places so powerfully.
I would be curious to know why the photographer chose to “mirror” the “Black Anzac” image. Unfortunately, it appears that Elgan has put his beret on the wrong way and his grand uncle’s medals on the wrong side of his coat.