On the Grapevine

I had the pleasure of inspecting the work of many known artists who have entered the prize over the past 100 years while on a recent visit to the charming Cairns Art Gallery. The free exhibition was on loan from the Art Gallery of NSW for a six-week period and received fantastic attention from art lovers in the area and is touring throughout Australia.

Since 1921 the Archibald has featured individual artistic interpretations of people from all walks of life, numerous self-portraits, notable politicians and dignitaries, local heroes and everyday people, painted by prominent and emerging artists.

The exhibition offered a fantastic insight into how art has changed over the years and which began with a prize of £400 after a bequest from J.F. Archibald, an editor of The Bulletin (the newspaper of the day in NSW), who died in 1919. It is administered today by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW and since 2015, the prize money awarded to the winner has climbed to $100,000.

Multiple winners of the Archibald include William Dargie, John Longstaff, W.B. McInnes, Clifton Pugh and Brett Whiteley.

A large oil painting by Wes Walters captured my attention as I had seen it in Melbourne many years earlier. It depicted a young man who possessed an obvious fascination for Egypt and the Middle East. The portrait was of widely recognised Melbourne music identity Ian (Molly) Meldrum and judged a finalist in the 1983 Archibald prize.

English music legend Sir Elton John, a good friend of Meldrum, purchased the painting for an unknown sum and gifted it to him and the portrait remains in his home today.

Four years earlier, Wes Walters took out the 1979 Archibald Prize with his portrait of film producer and writer Phillip Adams.

If you should have an opportunity to view this exhibition, please take it.

ONE FOR THE HISTORY BUFFS

Can anyone recall having heard of St Agnes Roman Catholic School in Yarroweyah?

Discovered recently by enthusiastic historian Peter Sutton in the Numurkah Leader, an article congratulated the school’s head teacher, Miss A Burns, for the scholastic success of her students.

The students took out 70 prizes altogether and a record that gave great pride to both Miss Burns and her students when they submitted their work at local shows. The aggregate could possibly have been higher, however, it was reported that a number of the exhibits went astray with the railways, preventing them from being shown at Nathalia and Numurkah.

Is there anyone who could add to this story of Miss Burns and the St Agnes Roman Catholic School in Yarroweyah?

Footnote: Saint Agnes was a Roman Catholic child martyr who was beheaded in the year 304 AD for refusing to marry.

NOEL STEDMAN AND HIS CORNET SORELY MISSED ON ANZAC DAY

Noel Stedman served his community of Cobram and district in so many ways, but it would undoubtedly be his musical talent on the cornet when he played the haunting sounds of the Last Post for a period of 66 years at the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services in Cobram and Tocumwal that leaves one with a long-standing memory.

Noel learnt the cornet from his father Stuart McKenzie Stedman who was bandmaster of the Cobram Brass Band and being the only trained musician in the band he would hold classes on Sunday mornings in his garage and Noel enthusiastically joined in. Noel quickly developed his skills with the cornet and it was not long before he joined the band and was invited to play the Last Post at the two annual commemorative services. At the age of 14 years he was to begin a lifetime of service to the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Sadly, Mr Stedman passed away on April 14 at the age of 83 years and would have been sorely missed at this year’s event.

He was a gentle caring man who also gave unwavering assistance to many in the district, particularly Cobram/Yarrawonga Legacy and PALS. In 2020 he was awarded Cobram’s Citizen of the Year award for his untiring community involvement.

With a life well lived, Mr Stedman has proved to be a wonderful example to his loving family.

HOMEWOOD BOUND — A MUST SEE

A unique home and lifestyle boutique ‘Homewood Bound’ is now open on the foreshore at Tocumwal much to the delight of locals and visitors!

Opened just seven weeks ago by Jo and Mick Haynes, yet in the planning for perhaps 18 months, the boutique houses an eclectic range of decorative and artistic pieces, many of which are a ‘one-off’ including spectacular natural wood furniture pieces and unique table lamps.

As you enter the store your eyes will focus on something different everywhere, from crockery, pottery and glassware to colourful cushions, wall prints, hanging light fittings, large pots, picture frames, caneware, rugs and rattan furniture.

There is a range of new season’s handmade autumn and winter clothing at the back of the store — gorgeous dresses, tops, linen shirts and pants, tote bags and a range of stylish straw hats including a Panama from Equador.

There are many smaller gift items but too many to mention yet you will find numerous little gems everywhere in ‘Homewood Bound’.

Jo has a great eye for quality and detail. “There is such a huge variety of goods that I can source from the 25 suppliers I am in touch with, some are local and some interstate and actually I just buy what I like and it seems to be working,” said Jo with a smile.

If the first seven weeks of trading are indicative, then Jo is on the road to success with the boutique buzzing over Easter. “The response from visitors and locals has been wonderful and folk from Deniliquin and Jerilderie and Barooga have been coming in too. It’s been great.”

‘Homewood Bound’ can be found at 41 Deniliquin St, Tocumwal, on the foreshore adjacent to the new Tocumwal Information Centre soon to open.

Footnote: Mick ran Haynes Butchery for 33 years and he and Jo worked together in the business until it closed last year.