Barbara Wins $3000 Art Prize

Artist Barbara Stewart was presented with the major $3000 Acquisitive prize for her work “Gumoo Goong” by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff after it was announced by Cr Ros Heit (at rear)

October 11, 2024

Local artist Barbara Stewart has taken out the prestigious $3000 Acquisitive prize at the 2024 South Burnett Regional Council art competition.

The painting, “Gumoo Goong”, depicts platypuses in a stream and will now be added to Council’s permanent collection.

Wondai Regional Art Gallery hosts Council’s acquisitive exhibition every year, which along with the top award also features cash prizes – sponsored by local businesses – for the winners and runners-up in 10 other categories.

The gallery was packed with 245 entries for this year’s event, spilling out for the first time from the regular three display areas into The Studio space at the rear of the complex.

The gallery was also packed with people on opening night, with a record crowd in attendance for the prize announcements.

Gallery patron and compere for the evening Cr Ros Heit said all the artists whose works were on display were winners, whether they had won a prize or not.

The entries were judged by Brisbane artist Jan Lewis, well-known for her “fabulous fakes”, including “Chloe” which hangs in the Wondai Hotel.

Jan had a massive job judging all the works, but still managed to provide feedback for all the category winners.

Her judging notes for Barbara’s prize-winning work noted that it “epitomised fine art”.

“Her design worked well within a circular board with the snake and the platypuses highlighted as subjects, colours working well against the greens. Her fine work is masterful,” the judge wrote.

Art Gallery president Elaine Madill said she particularly wanted to thank the sponsors for the competition, especially the South Burnett Regional Council for the major prize, as well as individual category sponsors including Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, Parkside, Hobbs & Associates, Wondai Pharmacy, Barry and Leanne Krosch, local MPs Deb Frecklington and Colin Boyce, Senator James McGrath and the Wondai Country Running Festival.

Mrs Frecklington, who is recontesting her seat of Nanango at the upcoming State Election, made a surprise announcement on the opening night.

She promised that if the LNP gained power at the October 26 poll, $100,000 would be provided to the Wondai Gallery to fund an extension to the facility.

“This $100,000 will help make the Wondai Art Gallery more accessible for everyone, improving the arts offering across our region and ensuring all can experience our local art,” Mrs Frecklington said.

Wondai Regional Art Gallery president Elaine Madill with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington

Cherbourg artists Venus Rabbitt, Maurice Mickelo, Charlotte Williams and Victor Bond

Betty and Trish Blair, from Murgon, were among the many visitors at the gallery on opening night

Kunj Zala, 10, with his painting of parrots … Kunj didn’t win a prize this time but Wondai also hosts a yearly children’s art competition

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff and Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Bruce Simpson … both councils sponsored prizes

Wondai Art Gallery was packed with the most visitors – and, of course, artworks – that it has ever attracted!

Young members of the Stewart family officially opened the exhibition with a bit of help from Acquisitive winner Barbara Stewart, Cr Ros Heit and Mayor Kathy Duff

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Competition Winners

Overall Acquisitive Winner

($3000 first prize and the work added to Council’s collection)

Barbara Stewart – “Gumoo Goong”

Section 1 (a) – Oil or Acrylic

1. Kerri Haslem – “Helping Ones Self”
2. Robyn Dower – “The Last of the Hay”
HC – Katrina O’Shannessy – “Pink Hibiscus”
HC – Jen Cass – “From the Shadows”
C – Cortney Tyson – “Citrus & Company”

1st prize in the Oils or Acrylics category was presented to Kerri Haslem by Gallery volunteer Marie Rutledge

Oils and Acrylics … commended Cortney Tyson, highly commended Katrina O’Shannessy and 2nd place winner Robyn Dower with Marie Rutledge

Section 1 (b) – Watercolour

1. Colleen Helmore – “In the Beginning”
2. Sue Lederhose – “Bladensberg Sheep Pens”
HC – Katrina O’Shannessy – “Beyond the Depths”
C – Elena Carracher – “I Am Watching You”

Liz Nicholson, from sponsors the Wondai Country Running Festival, presented 1st prize in the Watercolour category to Colleen Helmore

Gallery volunteer Karen Chambers with Watercolours commended winner Elena Carracher

Gallery volunteer Joy Thompson with Watercolours highly commended Katrina O’Shannessy

Section 1 (c) – Pastel

1. Tiana Justine – “Kilcoy Hills: Burnoff”
2. Helen Richards – “Moss Garden, Carnarvon Gorge”
HC – Lyn Felsman – “All In A Day’s Work”

Sponsor Deb Frecklington presented the 1st prize in the Pastels category to Tiana Justine

Gallery vice-president Linda Staines presented highly commended in Pastels to Lyn Felsman

Linda presented the 2nd prize in Pastels to Lockyer Valley artist Helen Richards

Section 1 (d) – Any Other Medium

1. Danelle Finckh – “Gwennie”
2. Dale Staines – “Sewing Tray”
HC – Katrina O’Shannessy – “Gum Trees by a Dam”
C – Maurice Mickelo – “Emu Charlotte”

Linda Staines presented 2nd prize in the Any Other Medium category to Dale Staines (collected by his father Jim Staines)

Commended in Any Other Medium … Maurice Mickelo with Elaine Madill

Linda with Katrina O’Shannessy who was highly commended in Any Other Medium

Section 2 – Photography

1. John Dalton – “Portrait on Anzac Day”
2. Kathryn Steinhardt – “Boo”
HC – Richard Henderson – “Urban Wildlife”
C – Sabrina-Joy Hodges – “Bees Hard At Work”

Daniel Bleys, from sponsors Parkside, presented 1st prize in the Photography category to John Dalton

From left, commended Sabrina-Joy Hodges (collected by her mother Dianne Hodges from Elaine Madill); highly commended Richard Henderson, and 2nd prize winner Kathryn Steinhardt (presented by Linda Staines and collected by David Steinhardt) in the Photography category

Section 3 – Sculpture and Ceramics

1. Rosemary Anderson – “Mother”
2. Carol Forster – “Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Sketch”

Section 4 – Indigenous Art of Australia

1. Venus Rabbitt – “Animals & Birds”
2. Jeannine “Taabinga” Smith – “9 Ancestors”
HC – Maurice Mickelo – “Mopoke”
HC – Ann Bond – “Yarn Kookaburra”
C – Garry Carter – “Snakes Guarding Eggs”

Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson presented 1st prize in the Indigenous Art of Australia category to Venus Rabbitt

Indigenous category … 2nd place Jeannine Smith and highly commended Maurice Mickelo and Ann Bond

Section 5 – South Burnett Residents Only

1. Marion Lees – “A Wonder”
2. Karol Oakley – “Sunbaked Bank”
HC – Rosemarie Matthews-Frederick – “Daintree”
HC – Karen Klimm-Richardson – “Star Tracker”

Karen Chambers, from sponsors Wondai Lions, presented 1st prize in the South Burnett Residents category to Marion Lees

Gallery volunteer Joy Thompson presented Karol Oakley with 2nd prize in the South Burnett Residents category

Karen Klimm-Richardson was highly commended in the South Burnett Residents category

Section 6 – Australian Poetry Theme

1. Amy Wood – “Under The Big Blue Gum”
2. Shannus O’Sullivan – “A Mountain Station”
HC – Trevor Goodwin – “Billabong”
HC – Penny Dodman (McGuire) – “Up ‘Long the Billabong”

Gallery volunteer Karen Chambers with Australian Poetry winner Amy Wood

From left, Brett Hill collected 2nd prize in the Australian Poetry section on behalf of Shannus O’Sullivan; highly commended winners Penny Dodman (McGuire) and Trevor Goodwin

Section 7 – Fantastic Fakes

1. Helen Richards – “Ballerinas Resting”
2. Penny Dodman (McGuire) – “The Hawkesbury River”
HC – Robyn Dower – “The Young Shepherdess”
HC – Carmel Birchley – “My Inspiration”