Art patrons viewing the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize 'Finalists'
Jill Liepertz's art work 'Abandoned Settlers Cottage' has won the 2017 Basil Sellers $2000 Art Prize held at the Point Tavern over the weekend – the 2017 theme was 'the outback'. This is the 3rd time Jill Liepertz has won this prestigious rural art prize – 2013, 2016 and again this year from 16 finalists, and judged by different Proserpine artists.
This art prize was developed by Well-Being Australia as part of its rural-boost program into rural and regional Australia. The Whitsundays' Midge Point is 20 minutes south of Proserpine on the mainland right next door to the Laguna Quays Resort. Laguna Quays / Midge Point is also the location of the Laguna Quays Respite missionary cottage.
Jill Liepetrz winning entry 'Abandoned Settlers Cottage'
Seven finalists
The judge nominated seven finalists, two with high commendations. These finalists received an African Violet and a letter from the judge. The Proserpine judge written remarks included her 6 months around Australia trip - where she saw many such abandoned cottages.
The art works were delivered to The Point Tavern last Thursday, judged on Friday with the opening and winner announcement on Saturday.
Well-Being Australia's Dr Mark Tronson welcomed everyone and handed over the proceedings to Inas Jackson the local organiser of the art prize who read a prepared statement - the 5th art prize, thanking the sponsors, the Point Tavern, the helpers, and the artists.
The Point Tavern's Neil Brooks then proceeded to announce the finalists with a presentation of the violets and finally the winner.
Awarding the winner – Betty Moxham and Inas Jackson either end, the organisers with Neil Brooks handing the cheque to Jill Liepertz
Midge Point Arts
Jill Liepertz is a member of the Midge Point Arts Group which meets each Thursday at the Bloomsbury Soldiers Club Hall and they not only go art together, they also get in arts people from both Mackay and Proserpine for instructional tuition.
When the Basil Sellers Art Prize was offered to the art community in 2013, they jumped at it with Inas Jackson taking the lead and putting it together each year. Three local artists have now won the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize -
2013 - Jill Liepertz
2014 - Gina Passfield
2015 - Margaret Pearce
2016 - Jill Liepertz
2017 - Jill Liepertz
Winners – Gina Passfield, Jill Liepertz, Margaret Pearce
This 2017 Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Exhibition will be on display for the month of August at The Point Tavern. The art works are for sale except for the winner which is then sent to Mr Basil Sellers AM – it is acquisitive.
This is one of several rural-boost projects Well-Being Australia is engaged in with the Midge Point community.
In May each year there is a fancy dress and a business lunch. July is the art prize, and November a high tea or equivalent for the art community and an on-line weekly news.
In 2012 Kim Hanson closed the hard copy monthly news sheet, 8 pages of A4 stapled together. It was way too costly. Dr Mark Tronson sought out one of the young writers in his literary program who ran IT on the side. Josh Hinds put together this online news for Kim Hanson to continue local news on a weekly basis 'without cost'.
This is a welcome model of how Christian ministry can connect to rural and regional communities by giving and not taking.
Jenny Petroni – high commendation – 'The long dusty road'
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at