October 12, 2025
Wondai artist Katrina O’Shannessy has taken out the prestigious $3000 South Burnett Regional Council Acquisitive Art competition.
Her painting, “Free Spirit” – which is done in pencil – will now become part of Council’s permanent collection.
The announcement – plus the category winners – was made at the opening of the Wondai Regional Art Gallery’s October exhibition on October 3.
The exhibition was judged by Brisbane artist Febe Zylstra who said she was impressed by the diversity and standard of the works across all 10 categories.
“I can appreciate how each artist put in an incredible amount of time, heart and skill into their entries,” she said.
“It was a joy to spend time with each one.
“Judging, of course, is never easy and every artwork had something to offer, whether it was technique, originality or the emotion it stirred.
“In the end, I had to make some tough decisions.”
Febe said the winning artwork, “Free Spirit”, not only demonstrated great skill but kept on revealing more the longer she looked at it.
“It is intricate, detailed and beautifully executed,” she said.
“The composition represented the poem by Banjo Patterson, ‘Brumby’s Run’.”
She said the closer she looked at the artwork, the more she could appreciate the immense work and precision involved.
Febe said the large drawing was both “technically masterful and full of life”.
The Acquisitive Exhibition will remain on show at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery from 10:00am to 3:00pm daily until November 1.
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Category Winners
Section 1: Oil Or Acrylic (sponsored by Heath & Rowena Sander)
1st. Karol Oakley – “Guardian”
2nd. Monya Grisini – “Echoes Of Pompeii”
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Section 2: Watercolour (sponsored by Deb Frecklington MP)
1st. Elizabeth Greensill – “An English Iris Garden”
2nd. Ina Patterson – “Port Of Hobart”
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Section 3: Pastel (sponsored by Hobbs & Associates)
1st: Gail Thomas – “Night Fleurs”
2nd: Lyn Felsman – ” ’tis Spring”
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Section 4: Any Other Medium (sponsored by Barry & Leanne Krosch)
1st: Barbara Stewart – “Kangaroo”
2nd: Marjie Zimmerman – “Sisters”
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Section 5: Photography (sponsored by Senator James McGrath)
1st: Liz Barratt – “Tomato Soup”
2nd: Paul Newman – “Nurture 1, 2, 3”
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Section 6: Sculpture & Ceramics (sponsored by Parkside)
1st: Jeanette Newman – “Dust Bowls”
2nd: Alan James McPhee – “Perentie”
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Section 7: Indigenous Art Of Australia (sponsored by Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council)
1st: Aunty Jannine Taabinga Smith – “Gurr”
2nd: Uncle Les Stewart – “Cockatoo Sunrise”
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Section 8 – South Burnett Residents Only (sponsored by Wondai Lions)
1st: Tiana Justine – “Lost Track Of Time”
2nd: John Dalton – “Who Will Win”
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Section 9 – Australian Poetry Theme (sponsored by Wondai Pharmacy)
1st: Kathryn Steinhardt – “Condamine Bells”
2nd: Amy Wood – “Smoko”
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Section 10 – Fantastic Fakes (sponsored by Wondai Country Running Festival)
1st: Robyn Dower – “Spring Frost”
2nd: A.K. O’Sullivan – “Spirit Of The Plains”
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Packers’ Prize
Sandy Hoffmann – “Humanity’s Dwellings”
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People’s Choice
Katrina O’Shannessy – “Free Spirit”
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Opening Night Gallery
