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DO IT ONCE – DO IT WELL!

David Sweedman
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DO IT ONCE – DO IT WELL!

Tags: Rotary Club Queensland. Brisbane. Bribie Island.

Rotary’s Pride of Workmanship (PoW) program is a Rotary vocational service project which started in Pennant Hills, Australia in 1975. The program allows managers in local communities to help employees achieve the goal of job satisfaction and publicly recognise them for their efforts. It was Aristotle – some 2400 years ago – who first said “We are what we repeatedly do.

Featured image(above): PDG George Grant, Lisa Wendland and Richard Whetlor
from The Bribie Islander

Excellence then is not an act, but a habit”. Our PoW program provides an ideal medium for organisations who would not normally be in a position to acknowledge and thankworthy employees for this “habit” of excellence. Participating businesses and organisations promote the Pride of Workmanship theme of “do it once – do it well” throughout their organisation and nominate employees worthy of recognition, not only within the organisation, but the wider community.

Nominees for the Pride of Workmanship program are presented with a special plaque, which has their name engraved on it, in recognition of their achievements. This year’s nominations have been sought for some months now via the media and word of mouth and we attracted a record number of 9 nominees. On 2 May 2019, Bribie Rotary held its annual Pride of Workmanship dinner at Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club. The room was packed with the recipients and their colleagues and family members.

Nominators thanked Rotary for providing them with this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of employees who consistently achieve an overall high standard of work performance. These employees also display personal qualities worthy of such a public award. Rewarding these employees in such a public way shows them the high value placed on them by their employers.

It is not just an offhand comment made after work in front of no-one. I feel we all agree with American football coach Bill Walsh (49ers et al) when he said: “Nothing is more effective than sincere, accurate praise, and nothing is lamer than a cookie-cutter compliment”. Master of Ceremonies, Barry Clark, gave an entertaining description of Rotary and our projects and causes. He spoke about how we are known for our End Polio campaign, but perhaps the fact that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributes an extra US$2 for every US$1 Rotary raises, isn’t as well known.

Barry also spoke about Bribie Rotary’s very own William (Bill) Peacock OAM, a polio survivor who is now wheelchair bound due to post-polio syndrome. Bill works tirelessly for the End Polio campaign and has recently been appointed as a representative for the World’s Great Meal (WGM) to End Polio. On 22 April 2019, WGM announced that it had raised US$10 million since its inception in 2013.

The very knowledgeable Mr. Clark also told us about other Club projects such as the cervical cancer vaccination of 28,000 girls in PNG, the origin of the word “grog”, famous usage of the word “pride” and other fascinating snippets. Bribie Rotary considers our Pride of Workmanship night to be our flagship event in our yearly calendar. We congratulate and thank all businesses and recipients of this year’s awards.

This Pride of Workmanship “Class of 2019” were: Joanne Allison-Schouw – Bribie Respite & Support Services Wendy Coker – Bribie Island State School Angela Davis – Bribie Island Hotel Malcolm Hogan – First Avenue Tyre and Mechanical Kate Jeffrey – Banksia Beach State School Kirsty Leishman-Winney – Bribie Island State High School Yasmin Pearce – Bribie Island State School Helen Riley – Bribie Island Community Kindergarten Lisa Wendland – The Bribie Islander.

Representatives of the participating businesses and organisations explained the reasons for and achievement behind each recipient’s nomination. Their words will form part of a printed citation (a certificate), including a photo, which will also be given to the employee as further recognition of their Award. It was Mark Twain who said, ”thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered – either by themselves or by others”. Let us hope – in our small way – we have ensured the light has been shone on some who have been discovered.

EDUCATION EMPOWERS TIARNAH FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE

David Sweedman
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EDUCATION EMPOWERS TIARNAH FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE

A Woorim resident passionate about the power of education to assist communities locally and globally has graduated with a USC Master of International Development. Tiarnah Hamlin, 23, is already adding the skills and knowledge from her latest two-year degree to her previous four-year USC Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts to help others. “I am the first person in my family to attend university and I am grateful for their endless support during my time at USC,” she said.

The manager and educator at an out-of-school-hours care provider can now draw on her postgraduate learning in areas such as community engagement, participatory education practices, and effective leadership. She is also working voluntarily to implement a community fundraiser in Maroochydore for a project to empower refugees in Tijuana, Mexico. “My six years at USC have shown me the value of networking with people in my field and enabled me to take my skills directly to the community,” she said.

“The most influential experience of my Master degree was an internship in the Philippines last year, working for the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. “I also gained a lot from a student project where I took on the role of community engagement officer for a farming cooperative pilot project in the Mary Valley,” Tiarnah said it was wonderful to see theory put into action to empower community change.

Tiarnah Hamlin Chloe Blinco was presented as a Nominee in the First National Real Estate Leadership Award by The Honourable Di Farmer, Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, at the 2019 Seven News Young Achiever Awards Presentation ceremony held at Royal on the Park Brisbane on Friday 3rd May.

400 guests were in attendance at the Gala Event. Chloe Blinco of Banksia Beach lives with a paralysed leg and wears a custom made Knee Ankle Foot Orthotic. Chloe came third in the 2017 Australian Stockwhip challenge and is planning slide shows for motivational speaking. The Young Achiever Awards began in 2016, with the purpose of acknowledging, encouraging and most importantly promoting the positive achievements of all young people up to and including 29 years of age. The awards aim to recognise the leadership, dedication, and pursuit of excellence amongst young people throughout Queensland.

WALK WITH US AND DIABETES DASH DAY A HUGE SUCCESS

David Sweedman
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WALK WITH US AND DIABETES DASH DAY A HUGE SUCCESS

Tags: Diabetes Dash. Diabetes Fundraiser. Bribie Island. Brisbane. Queensland

A big thank you to all of our Runners and Walkers from around the community who took part in the third Walk with Us – Diabetes Dash on Sunday 28th April. A beautiful morning for all of our runners to set off at 7.30am – in total more than 60 running in the 10km and 5km events. It was wonderful to see many return from last year and seeing so many new faces was very exciting.

Featured image(above): Finish line of 5km walk 2019

Thank you to Gary Parsons (BIDCA) and Simone Wilson MP Pumicestone for your assistance with the runners. Wonderful support also from Bribie Island Bowls Club Inc. who is now sponsoring our runners with perpetual shields in all of our running events. Great to see our winners with their medals and shields and we will look forward to seeing them back next year to defend their titles. A thank you also to President Linda (BIRRWC) and her team of volunteers who assisted with registration etc. And also competed we appreciate and are very grateful for your continued support.

All of our amazing families and friends who gathered for the walk at 10 am boosted our numbers well over the 100 mark. So many generations being represented all walking together to support those living in our community with diabetes, helping our group to raise awareness of this disease, the work that our diabetes support group does – Kids to Camp program – Insulin Pump and Medical devices – Education and Support for all living with or caring for someone diabetes.

We would also like to thank Victory Press who donated all of the flyers for the event, other community groups who took part and lastly to the hard working diabetes support group committee who have put together another successful and fun day. Our support group is holding its next meeting on Wednesday 15th May with special guest speaker Scott Quigg Exercise Physiologist from Metro North Health Precinct, Scott works closely with people living with diabetes and will be very informative, for more details please call Rhonda on 0418 675 494.

HERE’S A SWEET EVENT

David Sweedman
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HERE’S A SWEET EVENT

The Queensland Beekeepers are holding their annual State Field Day, at Bribie Island State Primary School, 31-63 First Avenue, Bribie Island, on Saturday 1 June 2019. Gates will be open from 9 am to 3 pm. Entry cost is $5 per adult, and children when accompanied by an adult, are free. The event is all about beekeeping. So if you have ever thought about owning a beehive, whether they are Honeybees or Australian Stingless Bees, this is the perfect opportunity to look at getting started.

There will be great deals on all sorts of equipment. Worthy of special mention, is that the co-inventor of the Flowhive, will be on site and talking about his invention that has taken the beekeeping world by storm. It is an Australian invention that is now sold in 130 countries. Its invention has attracted many new Beekeepers, especially women. To get the honey out, you simply turn the handle.

Also at the event, you will meet ‘Bob the Beeman’, who is a Stingless bee expert. He has designed special patented honey frames to put in stingless bee hives and a spinner to get the honey out. If your garden needs some pollination, or you just want to keep a small colony that will delight you and your children, these tiny bees are just perfect. There will be jewelry stalls, healing lotions and polishes made from natural beeswax. Specialised woodworking tool company, Carbatec, will be doing box making demonstrations and selling a range of tools and equipment.

Fresh honey will be on sale, direct from the Beekeepers. Your local community organisations will be there selling hot food and a dedicated coffee van will be brewing up great coffee. Tickets will be on sale for over 20 raffle prizes. There will be a separate special raffle of a Stingless Bee hive valued at $450. They, as well as a lucky gate prize (a wheelbarrow packed with goodies), will be all drawn in the afternoon.

Gloss Magazine Bribie Islander 11th Edition May 24 2019 Issue 88

The Editor Cherrie Wilson
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Gloss Magazine Bribie Islander 11th Edition May 24 2019 Issue 88

The Bribie Islander Magazine

Get all your community news and information Bribie’s only community gloss magazine NOW EVERY TWO WEEKS! – Articles on boating, camping, fishing, life, drama, travel destinations, sports and what to see and do on Bribie Island. Covering charities, organisations, places, children’s activities, arts and crafts, tourist destinations, heritage parks, technology, science, music, gardening and much more.

You can now download the Bribie Islander digital edition by clicking here.

Bribie Island BEACH REPORT – April-May

David Sweedman
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Bribie Island BEACH REPORT – April-May

Tags: Beach report Bribie Island. Bellara. Banksia Beach. Bongaree. Moreton Bay.

As winter approaches the beach sand will erode making a rough rollercoaster-like ride, so be careful, unsecured objects become airborne. Beach passing road rules are the same as for any other road. Stick to the left, indicate when overtaking and slow down on approach. If you need to change tracks your wheels may get stuck in the track causing your vehicle not steer out or to move erratically, you must allow time to regain control when passing. After the recent rain, Norfolk lagoon is one lagoon again, having been previously cut in two by dropping water levels.

Watch your speed, kids are on the beach, observe the 30km and 50km speed zones, speeding is treated the same as on any other road. Drive carefully on the inland track the soft sand has now become mud in places, don’t venture off into side tracks. If you get bogged there, no one will know where to find you, except our rangers who won’t be happy. While I’m on that subject, please leave your dog at home as there are plenty of signs and fines are hefty. Fort Bribie (RAN2) is well worth a visit. It was built to play a major roll in the Defence of Australia.

Built only 18 months after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, in expectation of a northern invasion, the 6” guns at Fort Bribie came off the HMAS Sydney (ex WW1). Fort Bribie formed part of the Brisbane Line that went across to Adelaide. It protected the Port of Brisbane that housed the Newstead reach submarine base. The Navy controlled Fort Bribie included mine control huts that boasted a Detector Loop to identify ship movements. Used in conjunction with a string of sea mines, deployed across the shipping channel at Fort Bribie, it was ready, willing and able.

The sea mines were the same as the mine on display outside the “Gateway Bribie Adventures bait n tackle shop at Ningi. The question for locals that has been the cause of spirited debate over the years, was there a field hospital on Bribie or a POW interrogation centre? Is the jury still out? In front of the Fort Bribie 150 meters of beach dune has eroded in 77 years since 1942 is a section is still one kilometre wide.

Last Issue’s Reader Question:

How did our lagoons get named?

Was it Matthew Flinders who landed on Bribie in 1799, 220 years ago this year, he named the township of Bongaree/ Bungaree after Flinders’ Aboriginal companion?

Was it John Oxley who landed on Bribie in 1823 meeting shipwrecked convict Thomas Pamphlett?

Was it a convict from the Moreton Bay Penal Colony named “Bribie” who earned his freedom via graft and corruption, catching mud crabs, a free feed for the Penal Colony officers, who set him free, he later married his aboriginal sweet heart.

So who named them? Norfolk and Mermaid were after ships, whilst Welsby was after Thomas Welsby MLA a member of the Legislative Assembly and last Freshwater creek was a location where freshwater was available.

This Issue’s Reader Question:

Did you know Bribie was the site of an Atomic Clock during the cold war, from which nuclear Submarines took their navigational bearings, do you know where it was? Observe a few things and enjoy our wonderful National Park.

Bribie Island – Fishing report, tide times – April-May 2019

David Sweedman
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Bribie Island – Fishing report, tide times – April-May 2019

Tags: Fishing report Bribie Island. Tide Times. Moreton Bay. Caboolture. Beachmere. Sandstone Point. Bellara. Bongaree. Woorim. Banksia Beach

As the weather gets cooler over the next few months expect to see more winter species getting caught throughout the passage and Moreton Bay area. Jew, snapper, bream, tailor and winter whiting will be on the increase. Whiting, flathead, jacks, cod and muddies still on the chew throughout the passage at the moment.

There’s been some quality muddies and sandies getting caught after the recent rain. Although not huge rainfall totals definitely enough to push a few crabs out of there holes. All the creeks in the passage worth a look and once again good quality pro pots with fresh baits and a 24 hour soak the best bet. I’ve had quite a few crab pots stolen over the last 25 years or so and it gets very frustrating when you lose a couple.

When you have 11 pots stolen out of 12 we put out its no wonder why I go back to sinking the pots these days. I’ve also heard that professional crabbers around Brisbane and the Queensland north coast having a lot of pots stolen also. The weed in the passage of late has been absolutely shocking and it’s almost not worth going sand crabbing. Although The sand crabs are thick as hell at the moment. From out in the bay to well up the passage all crabbing well. There have been some nice jacks getting caught from the passage creeks. Plastics, hardbodys and top water lures working well.

Along with the jacks are estuary cod, Queensland grouper, trevally, javelin fish and flattys. The summer whiting are still firing around the mouths of the passage creeks, the ocean beach and the Sandstone Point flats. Good squire and the odd little cobia at Cooks Rocks and Sunkens. Out off Woorim beach, the longtail tuna and mack tuna have been going off. We are finding once you go over 20 gram slugs, basically getting no fish. Ten to 20 gram slugs with upgraded trebles or singles the go.

It’s amazing to watch a 15kg plus tuna eat your lure at the boat. Over off the cape still producing some great pelagics on trolled baits and lures. The shallow reefs all producing some great mixed bags of sweetlip, cod, moses perch, snapper, pigfish, tuskies and jew. Also hanging around are big trevally, yellowtail and black kingfish, amberjack and samson fish. Floatlinings baits, working plastics or bottom bouncing all producing some quality fish.

When fishing these areas always have a floatline out for a Spanish mackerel and usually, we also have a small spin stick slug combo ready for any schools of feeding fish we come across. As the weather cools down we should hopefully see some consistent good weather patterns throughout the next few months. Anyways hope all you guys out there had a great Easter break and enjoyed your time off. Tight lines and remember “don’t destroy what you come to enjoy “

Tide Times

Click here to see Bribie Island Tide Times

Movie reviews – STEPMOM

David Sweedman
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Movie reviews – STEPMOM

Tags: Movie reviews. Stepmom. Movies. Films. Latest releases. Netflix

Are you looking for an “enjoy-at-home” film? One that is worth recommending is “Stepmom” currently featuring on Netflix. Premiered many years ago, it is as relevant today as it was when released. With a stellar cast, the film movingly depicts the challenges faced by adults and children after family breakdown. Susan Sarandon plays the mother, Jackie, opposite Ed Harris, her ex-husband, Luke.

Movie reviews. Stepmom. Movies. Films. Latest releases. NetflixJulia Roberts is Luke’s new and live-in love interest, Isabel. Jackie’s hurt and anger over being “replaced” as a parent by Isabel are as palpable as the rejection and stonewalling Isabel feels by Jackie while trying to find her place in the children’s lives. The film belongs as much to Sarandon and Roberts as it does to the children, Anna and Ben, played by Jena Malone and Liam Aiken.

Anna, particularly, gives the viewers a compelling portrayal of the anguish and hurt caused by her parents’ separation while Ben looks for assurances as he tries to navigate the tricky waters of divided loyalties. Although a critical set of circumstances bring the adults together, the film’s message is that, in the best interests of children, the adults need to “make it right.”

Unsurprisingly, Sarandon was nominated for a Golden Globe Best Actress Award for this film and Roberts won its Blockbuster Entertainment Favourite Actress Award. Have your tissues ready and enjoy this film.

BRIBIE ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB NEWS

David Sweedman
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BRIBIE ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB NEWS

The Photography Club members have been busy this month with several activities on the go. Some of our members contributed to an exhibition of their framed photographs which is on display at the Evolve Café. These photos are for sale till the 5th of May. Three of our members Gordon, Ron and Gaby volunteered to photograph the Wearable Art parade at the Arts Centre where artists modelled their works of art.

Featured image(above): BIPC Display at Evolve Cafe. Photo Credit: Gordon Bentzen

There were some striking photos taken on the day. These photos were made available free of charge to the artists/ models and the centre. Our members were fortunate to be invited to have our April Location Shoot at the Buick Car Club meeting at the lovely home of Christina van Haarlam at White Patch. There were seven beautifully restored and maintained Buick cars to photograph including an Oldsmobile, a 1956 Road Master, a Riviera, an Electra 225 and a Buick Eight.

After a delightful session of photography, Christina and Sally Anne Chandon provided a delicious morning tea for the crew. The Bribie Island Photography Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 pm in the boardroom at the back of the Arts Centre on Sunderland Drive. New members are always welcome. The first two meetings are free. If you wish to come along ring Gordon at 3408 2649 or Gail at 3408 9850 or just turn up on the night. www.sites.google.com/site/bribiephotographyclub e:[email protected]

Coming events – Portrait Workshop with John Lomas in July and a weekend photography outing at Tin Can Bay in October.

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS – Lesson 6

David Sweedman
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PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS – Lesson 6

Tags – Photography lessons. Tutorials.

Back to photography lesson 5

Even though photography is an ART, besides knowing your DSLR camera (and, sometimes, besides knowing your compact one, or, even, your smartphone) you might need some technical know-how. This tutorial has no aim other than to help the beginners. For deeper learning, please consult the Internet.

LESSON 6: EDITING PHOTOS IMAGE FORMATS

Before talking about editing photos, we must talk about the image formats. Roughly, there are two types of format: RAW and JPEG. Nowadays, almost all digital cameras -including compact ones- can provide RAW and JPEG formats. Normally, when you take a photo with an SLR camera, you can choose the format.

RAW format

RAW format is an uncompressed file which contains undeveloped or unprocessed data stored by the image sensor (CCD). This means that to obtain a final image you need to edit it. RAW format is mainly used by professionals and by advanced photographers who need or wish to obtain the best results from their pictures by using all the information captured by the CCD. The sharpness and the contrast on a final RAW picture should be much more enhanced than on a JPEG picture, but it requires some time and a minimum of knowledge to obtain it.

We must know that RAW files can’t be open with every operative system or every computer. In case you decide to use RAW, you must find first if you can edit it on your computer. Something you must know too is that RAW files need much more memory from your card than JPEG files. This means that if you can take, for instance, a couple of thousands of shots on JPEG with your card memory, you will only be able to take a few hundred on RAW.

JPEG format

The JPEG format is an already developed picture that normally doesn’t need to be edited if you selected the correct settings on your camera and if your composition is correct. JPEG files are easy to use, convenient and instantaneous. Normally, a JPEG file shouldn’t need to be edited. Therefore, I highly recommend the beginners to use JPEG.

The editing gives, in this case, a soft pastel look to the picture. The original is unsigned while the edited photo is with the signature.

GRAPHICS EDITORS

Graphics editors are computer programs which allow us to edit our digital photos. The most popular -and complete- are Photoshop and Lightroom but there are some others often provided freely by Microsoft or other software companies. Generally, graphics editors supply many digital tools to achieve RAW pictures or to improve the JPEG ones. If you have the skills, from a simple photo you can do a real work of art, with the only limit being your good taste… One of the most delicate points of a photo being the right balance of the colours, you must be sure that the White Balance (WB) is perfect.

If you didn’t set it correctly on your camera, you can correct it during the editing, even on a JPEG file. The brightest point of the picture will become then white and the darkest, black. With a graphics editor you can modify or correct several parameters of your picture as, for example, the brightness or the darkness, you can enhance or soften the colours, you can convert a colour photo in a BW picture, you can trim the frame, you can straighten a falling horizon, or you can even superimpose several pictures to make a photomontage (further to this point, in my opinion, you shouldn’t trick the people by not saying that your picture is a photomontage…).

Therefore, editing can be an important step in photography: it’s the final step before you show or print your picture.

SOME OTHER TIPS

Read the user manual of your camera. Always use the largest file (picture) your camera allows you to. Suppress the date and hour from the file (you always have it in its data). Besides shooting on full manual, accordingly to the circumstances you can shoot on Tv (shutter priority) or on Av (aperture priority). Tv is convenient, for instance, for sports events and wildlife running or flying: you choose the speed and the camera decides the aperture. Av is recommended for quiet scenes like, for instance, people walking and town or landscapes: you chose the aperture and the camera decides the shutter speed. This is the final Photography Tutorial in the series. If you would like to contact Victor directly please email him at [email protected].

Artist of the month – CAROL OYSTON’S ELEMENTS OF BLUE

David Sweedman
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Artist of the month – CAROL OYSTON’S ELEMENTS OF BLUE

Tags: Bribie Island artist.

Artist of the Month for May at the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre, Carol Oyston uses the many destinations to which she travels, and places she has lived as subjects for her paintings. Her exhibition, therefore, features, among others, pictures of water boats at South Mission Beach, a sunset at the town of 1770, wheat fields, bushfires in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns.

In these Artist of the Month works are found a preponderance of blue: in seascapes, boats, beach and sky, attesting to her love of painting them. Hence why Carol has called her exhibition Elements of Blue. Before moving to Ningi 18 months ago, Carol lived in Crows Nest where she was involved in textile art. Her love of fabrics and stitching produced dyed silks, clothing, and other beautiful lace, fibre-based and painted works. With the women in her textile mixed media art group, she held an exhibition called Elements of Red in Toowoomba.

There were also Out of the Box in Crows Nest with friend Gail Grunske, who will be doing a workshop at BICAC in May, and Women on the Edge exhibitions. While caring for a husband dying of cancer some years ago, Carol found her art and position as Vice President of the Crows Nest Arts Council gave her the alternate focus she needed to cope with the extreme stress in her life at the time. Today she continues creating for the satisfaction it brings her finding it improves her life in an abundance of ways.

Her message, as she will share in greater detail at her Artist of the Month Talk on Tuesday 14 May, is ‘Everyone is an artist. It’s not important,’ she emphasises, ‘where you come from; you don’t have to be a university graduate to practise art.’ While interviewing Carol for this article, she told me about some of the countries to which she and partner, Yves, have recently travelled, along with their intended destinations in the near future: Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, America and Antarctica.

I was left wondering if we will be seeing an element of multi-colour in her art and exhibitions to come. Carol Oyston’s Artist of the Month Exhibition will be held throughout May at the Arts Centre on Sunderland Drive, Banksia Beach. The Centre opens at Tues-Sun 10 am – 4 pm. Ring 3408 9288 for more info, and to let us know if you are attending Carol’s Artist Talk.

REDCLIFFE VIEWS A BRIBIE PERSPECTIVE

David Sweedman
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REDCLIFFE VIEWS A BRIBIE PERSPECTIVE

Tags: Art gallery. Bribie Island. Artist. Artwork

Pelicans, pandanus, paperbarks, banksia forests, fish and turtles – these were some of the ‘Bribie Perspective’ art subjects showing at the Old Fire Station Gallery Redcliffe by the Bribie CAP artists, based at the Community Arts Centre. Co-ordinators Kay Koina and Tina Galloway liaised with the RAS team to show off the versatility and skill of CAP’s painters, printers, glass blowers, wood carvers, and jewelry makers during April. ‘We needed to branch out and make ourselves known in other areas’ said Kay.

FEATURED IMAGE(ABOVE): Tina Galloway ‘Banksia Habitat’

We hope they’ll be interested enough to visit our gallery here too’. Bribie’s natural environment was the main theme plus a concern for preserving its natural state. Turtles were sensitively treated by water colourist and U3A tutor Gail Greening in Cruising the Passage, a complete contrast to Tineke Berghofer’s monumental Turtle Menu, a comment on the amount of plastic ingested by marine life. Clear blues and emerald greens gave a soft fresh look to the show and Deidre Nelson’s screen-printed Seaweed triptych showed clean elegant symbols against white.

Bev Stegeman found a use for fallen gum leaves in her eco-dying pursuits and used them to dramatic effect on tie-dyed calico in Seascape 2. Husband John used his printing skills in Tranquil Reflections, a hand coloured linocut. Glassblower Lyn Storey crafted highly tactile and beautifully coloured sea jewelry with her major piece Antipatharia (black coral) an exquisite sculpture of small extruded pieces of charcoal glass. The Contemporary arts Practices group also has exhibitions lined up in May at Vianta coffee shop Beerwah and in June their annual Eclectica will feature at the Matthew Flinders Gallery Bribie.

THE ART OF HEROES

David Sweedman
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THE ART OF HEROES

Tags: Bribie Island Art Gallery. Art. Artwork. Artist. Brisbane. Queensland. Military. War

Congratulations CRAIG ROHSE and sponsors Deception Bay RSL with the other Veterans’-owned or operated businesses for bringing together 19 Defence Force Vets in their magnificent Inaugural Veterans Art Exhibition. Bribie Island Community Arts Centre was honoured to showcase the works of these military heroes. Some of the 19 weren’t able to attend the Opening on Tuesday 9 April.

Featured image(above): Brenton Bailey

Western Australian BRENTON BAILEY for instance, though this ex-Air Force Engineer’s brilliant charcoal drawings of aircraft stirring up the dust and drama of daily military life had us in awe. My expectation was that the members who did attend would be ten feet tall like Craig, metaphorically speaking, but no, they were just normal. So I had to find them among the crowd, which had been welcomed into the Matthew Flinders Gallery by a troop of enthusiastic cadets marching to the lilt of bagpipes.

First to be found was ex- Diver, Driver, Parachute Rigger and Medic CRAIG MCCARTHY who took up photography as therapy after being medically discharged from the Army. Craig only snapped and mounted his two jawdropping seascapes of Fingal Head after deciding to participate in the exhibition. Poet KERRY CHAPMAN is soon off to East Timor with her husband Wayne, who takes Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affected veterans there to witness the Timorese people’s recovery from the war to facilitate the vets’ own recovery. Kerry’s lyrics picture Black Dogs, Butterfly Wings, Breathing and simply being alive.

Melbournian JOHN RHODEN served for 22 years in the Regular Australian Army in places as far afield as New Guinea, Borneo, Labuan Island, Philippines, and Vietnam. He now works in charcoal, graphite, and acrylic pouring. On point on the wall, ex-Able Seaman Cook and Army Rifleman JACK SMITH is now a street photographer, exhibiting a series of photos called Five States of Being. Down the wall is the work of ex- Driver, Combat Engineer and Psychology Examiner SALLY WITT who took up painting and leatherwork as therapy after being medically discharged in 2016.

Sally joined the military at the tender age of 17. Next to her, capturing the essence of rural life are the paintings of self-taught Australian War Artist, Toowoomba based AMBER MARTIN. Ex-Warrant Officer GORDON TRAILL bought a camera to take photos in Iraq to show his family what Baghdad looked like, then picked it up again after his discharge with PTSD. These days Gordon contributes to books such as The Victoria Cross: Australia Remembers. Ex RAAF Cook, PETER HEIDERICH also started art as therapy, first using coloured pencils than other media.

Peter is self-taught and likes experimenting. CLARE RANDALL takes us into the tiny colourful world of butterflies and bugs through her media of photography and drawing. Clare was a Navy-Marine Engineer on several big ships with HMAS in front of their names. After serving 20 years in the Australian Army, conceptual artist MICHAEL ARMSTRONG now works in a variety of media out of his Canberra studio. Exhibiting regularly, Michael has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and is undertaking a Master of Arts. Former RAAF member, now photographer PETER GLANVILL has won travel awards for his photographs. He runs ‘Portraits by Pete’ in Ipswich.

SEAN BURTON was a British and Australian soldier who served worldwide. For ten years he has been a street artist in order to maintain his health. Sean uses aerosol paint and handcut stencils to depict his military-themed artworks. GLEN GANTE served for 11 years in the Royal Australian Navy. With the unusual motto, ‘Visualize, Creep, Inspire’ he now practices photography focused on human emotions and everyday life. Glen runs ‘Mister G Photography’ and has been published in national and international books and magazines. Exsailor on warships in Perth and Sydney, SARAH EBSWORTH has a passion for photographic and video imagery.

She currently works as a Multimedia Producer for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Discharged in 2014, MICHAEL GLASS was an Army Signalman for 23 years. He now works as a Defence contractor training soldiers for future deployments. Photography filled a gap in his life post discharge. Landscapes and cityscapes are Michael’s loves, often using drones to take photos. KATH CALLOW is a Gold Coast artist following a 21-year military career.

This gypsy started Chinese brush painting in Malaysia, is drawn to water and vibrant colours, paints cafe walls on commission and is lately experimenting with resin. Twenty-five-year vet Paratrooper TIM CUMING, aka ‘Stomps’ brought up the rear of the Exhibition going clockwise around the wall. Just to be different, Tim is a cartoonist who took up the medium to make light of dark situations he encountered whilst stationed overseas. Today he runs SF (Stomps Fitness) Training in Shorncliffe.

As we pause to remember those whom age will not weary, say a prayer for our very much alive ex-military heroes whose art has not only lifted them from the trauma of war but enthralled the rest of us. And don’t miss their next exhibition around ANZAC Day 2020 at the Arts Centre.

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