Moruya is a small coastal rural community four hours by car south of Sydney and two hours from Canberra. The town hosts 'Basil Sellers Moruya' the Respite facility for Australian Institute of Sport athletes, a ministry of Well-Being Australia.
The ministry's chairman, Baptist minister and Australian cricket chaplain Mark Tronson fell ill with stress in 1999 and Heads of Churches released Mark and his wife Delma after eighteen years of pioneering the Sports and Leisure Ministry to establish a new work, Well-Being Australia focusing on athletes respite and cricket ministry.
So as to alleviate stress and his stint in the Moruya hospital's intensive care heart ward, he turned to art and his proclivity for art soon found a welcome audience and as Moruya at that time had no art gallery, he sought out Basil Sellers' assistance.
Mr Basil Sellers a recognised art collector and connoisseur of the arts found the proposal to his liking and over a three year period with the assistance of the Eurobodalla Shire Council, the Basil Sellers Art Centre was constructed.
The building was built entirely from the Ironbark timbers from the 10 acre block, an allotment that was also a Well-Being Australia tourism ministry with bush walks under the sound of birdsong (Bell Minors) aptly named 'Australia's Bush Orchestra'.
The Basil Sellers Art Gallery was nestled neatly within this setting with two galleries and a wide broad verandah with a magnificent view of the Ironbark and the Australian bush.
The Moruya community made ready for the big day with an afternoon tea, and the opening was promoted by a local PR business, Graham Scobie Entertainment, with guests of honour, international artist W John Hackwell and Mr Basil Sellers. It was the largest arts gathering from memory that Moruya had seen.
Mr Basil Sellers and John Hackwell officially opened the facility and Basil Sellers announced the bi-annual $10,000 Art Prize.
