Regional art throughout Australia is flourishing with a mammoth number of local community, bush and regional art prizes. Two of these bush art prizes are sponsored by Mr Basil Sellers AM, both initiated through Well-Being Australia's art ministry.
The first of these two was initiated in 2004 in Moruya on the NSW south coast after the Basil Sellers Art Gallery was opened the year before. Commenced at $10,000, it has increased to $15,000 and now includes not one, but five regional Shire Councils.
The second was launched in 2013 at Midge Point a tiny community on the Whitsundays mainland and this is a $2000 art prize given by Mr Basil Sellers.
Laguna Quays – Midge Point is where the Well-Being Australia missionary respite cottage is located – it is a beach house – and was opened in 2011 for missionaries to take rest and recuperation. My wife Delma and I come up to the missionary cottage to do any maintenance as required, and by 2013 we had developed a network of helpers.
I approached Basil Sellers about a small art prize as there was a very keen arts community in Midge Point and Bloomsbury and he saw merit in the idea and this was initiated in 2013.
Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize winners
2013 – Jill Liepertz
2014 – Gina Passfield
2015 – Margaret Pearce
2016 – Jill Liepertz
The last Saturday of July each year is the opening of the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize and winner naming, then some 5-6 weeks later a lunch is held for all eight finalists with Basil Sellers himself.
2016 Art Lunch
This year (yesterday) Mr Basil Sellers was unable to make it so Delma and I deputised for the annual art lunch celebration at The Point Tavern. Basil Sellers and I chatted on Saturday, he asked me to ensure them of his encouragement and wished to be remembered to them.
Again there was spirited conviviality as the artists met over a meal and out of it has come two separate future events for the local arts community.
Two events
Thursday 3 November, Kevin Garner who finished in 2nd place in July and who does brilliant air brushing, has invited the art group to his home and workshop in Midge Point for a demonstration of 'air brushing'. Delma and I look forward to this as we have never seen it done or how it works.
Tuesday 8 November, Delma is again hosting the art ladies their annual high tea at The Point Tavern. Last year it was a smashing success and everyone is very keen to enjoy this remarkable occasion again.
This Well-Being Australia art ministry one of several endeavours in this small regional rural community of Midge Point, Bloomsbury and Laguna Quays.
In 2012 the local hard copy weekly newspaper closed and one of our bright young writers (Josh Hinds) put together for them an online version. Bloomsbury's Kim Hanson the local editor simply transferred from hard copy to online. In 2014 an annual business luncheon was established and it is held each May. July the art prize, September the art lunch and November the art ladies high tea.
Special guests
For Delma and me, this Christmas our four adult children and their families – the turn of their 'in-laws' for Christmas.
A few of these local artists at Midge Point - Bloomsbury have an annual Christmas lunch for the orphans (this refers to widow/ers, those alone, single mums/dads) in one of their homes – and we too have an invitation for Christmas lunch as 'honorary orphans' this year.
This means a quick trip from Tweed Heads to Proserpine and have Christmas 2016 at the missionary cottage before returning for the New Year when our 4 families invade our home in Tweed Heads. Life as missionaries (40 years in February) – the word 'dull' – no, rather at the other end of the spectrum.
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.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html