The opening night of Gunnedah Show's art and photography exhibition is always a social affair and this year was no different.
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There was a buzz in the pavilion on Friday night as locals took in the talents of the region's artists and photographers and enjoyed drinks and hors d'oeuvres served up by six showgirl entrants.
The night was emceed by the ever-entertaining Geoff Dawson who announced the winners from 159 entries in in the art section and 578 entries in the photography section.
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Photographer and former NVI employee Alyssa Barwick won the prestigious Chris Burgess Memorial Grand Champion prize with a photo of her daughter Sophie titled Slumber. Mr Burgess was a long-time convenor of the photography section and the award was created following his death in 2017. Family members Chris and Janice Mammen presented the award.
Judge Paul Mathews said he was sure everyone would agree with him that it was a "beautiful picture".
In the art section, Geoff Norris' watercolour painting, Landscape, won Grand Champion.
On Friday, judge Alison Goodwin from Bendemeer said her task "hasn't been easy", with a number of paintings vying for the top spot. However, she "kept returning" to Mr Norris' work because of its "quiet strength", "very fluid and very confident" mark-making.
"It really draws you into a scene that is sympathetic and empathetic," Ms Goodwin said.
"There's a sense of atmosphere of dust and heat but a gentle haze through this.
"It's a work that I think is very enduring."
Art Results
- Grand Champion: Geoff Norris (Landscape)
- Painting: Gloria Jean Van Weel (Jan Lowing (Kelpie Breeder) 1, Fonda Shae (Sunshine & Memories) 2, Anne Pickett (Namoi River) and Warren Thomson (Happy Bear With Grumpy Child) HC
- Drawing: Eileen Mair (Looking At You) 1, Tara Jones 2, Ray Farmilo (Winter) and Jennifer Mitchell (O.McKenna) HC
- Print Making: Shirley Urquhart (Parched Panorama) 1, Kristie Farquhar (Even Keel) 2, Eileen Mair (Fashionable Bird) and Natalie Walters (Just Like Papa) HC
- Sculpture: Julie Laurie (Balance) 1, Darcy Kelly (We Shall Sleep, Though Poppies Grow) 2, Christiane Birkett (Wave) and Elizabeth Emmerson HC
- Our Place: Ronald Long (Frog Dreaming) 1, Sharon Tailby (History) 2, Anthony Conlin (Hand-painted Didgeridoo) and Robert Cull (Home) HC
- Creative Pottery: Geoff Dawson (large Jomon rope pot) 1, Anne Pickett (raku slab) 2, Pat Tobin and Louise Chad (magenta vase) HC
- Novice: Christiane Birkett (Birches in Winter Snow) 1, Philippa Murray (Through the Canopy) 2, Tony Blake (Kermit's Kousin) and Fiona MacDougall (Surprise in Teacup)
- Under 18 Years: Lauren Miller (Honey) 1, Thomas Snape (Two Point with Hills) 2, Jeffrey Byron (BMW) and Janaya McGarry (Grandad's Tree) HC
Photography Results
- Themed Section (night time): Sharon Ritchie
- Best Photo Taken at a previous Gunnedah Show: Stuart Dolbel
- Most Successful Novice: Erin Formann
- Most Successful Junior Exhibitor: Harry Knowles
- Most Successful Exhibitor: Sharon Ritchie
- Best Junior Entry: Sarah Hargraves
- Best Koala Image: Debbie Thompson
- Best Local Event/Scene: Stuart Dolbel
- Best colour: Stuart Dolbel
- Best Black & White: Marg Carr
- Reserve Champion Entry: Fay Renton
- Chris Burgess Memorial Grand Champion: Alyssa Barwick
- Themed Topic (night): Sharon Ritchie 1, 2, 3, Stuart Dolbel and Jenny Norris HC.
- Photo of the Previous Show: Stuart Dolbel 1
Black and White
- People: Alyssa Barwick 1, Neville Ritchie 2, Pat Timmins 3, Jodi Dolbel and Robert Dunn HC
- All creatures great and small: Alyssa Barwick 1, Marg Carr 2, Neville Ritchie 3, Robert Dunn HC.
- Landscape/Waterscape: Neville Ritchie 1, Jodi Dolbel 2, Jenny Norris 3, Harry's Knowles HC
- Any Other Subject: Sharon Ritchie 1, Debbie Thompson 2, Jodi Dolbel 3, Stuart Dolbel HC
- Rural: Hayley Hausfeld 1 and 3, Jodi Dolbel 2, Marg Carr HC
Colour
- People Single and Group: Hayley Hausfeld 1, Marg Carr 2, Sharon Ritchie 3, Hayley Hausfeld HC
- Rural: Sharon Ritchie 1, Sharon Tydd 2, Alisha Reading 3, Jodi Dolbel HC
- Action: Alisha Reading 1, Jodi Dolbel 2 and 3, Hayley Hausfeld HC
- Sunrise / Sunset / Clouds: Neville Ritchie 1, Sharon Ritchie 2, Hayley Hausfeld 3 and HC, Robert Dunn HC
- Landscape / Waterscape: Fay Renton 1, Sharon Ritchie 2, 3 and HC, Alisha Reading and Jodi Dolbel HC
- Any Other Subject: Neville Ritchie 1, Stuart Dolbel 2, Harry Knowles 3, Neville Ritchie and Robert Dunn HC
Novice
- People: Genevieve Gittoes 1, Sharon Tydd 2, Jess Shorter 3
- All Creatures Great and Small: Shane Attwell 1, Rachael Guest 2
- Flora: Shirley Palmer 1, Katrina Doyle 2
- Action: Erin Formann 1
- Sunrise / Sunset / Clouds: Aran Clift 1, Claudia Hamilton 2, Shane Attwell 3, Genevieve Gittoes HC
- Landscape/ Waterscape: Sam Riley 1, Harry Knowles 2, Brendan James 3
- Black and White: Erin Formann 1, Sharon Tydd 2
- Any other subject: Erin Mc Cathy 1, Claudia Hamilton 2, Genevieve Gittoes 3, Sharon Tydd HC'
JUNIOR / Intermediate
- My Pet: Harry Knowles 1, Hayley Smith 2, Emma Doyle 3
- Landscape / Waterscape: Sarah Hargraves 1, Claudia Hamilton 2, Harry Knowles 3,
- Sunrise / Sunset / Clouds: Jason Welsh 1, Harry Knowles 2
- Plants and Flowers: Claudia Hamilton 1, Harry Knowles 2, Sarah Hargraves 3
- People: Pomeline Hoddle 1, Mackenzie Mulherin 2, Claudia Hamilton 3
Other
- Local Identity: Marg Carr 1, Jodi Dolbel 2 and 3, Stuart Dolbel HC
- Koala: Debbie Thompson 1, Brendan James 2, Robert Dunn 3, Marg Carr HC
- Local event/scene: Stuart Dolbel 1, Marg Carr 2 and 3
- Silhouette: Alisha Reading 1, Robert Dunn 2, Kerrie Hargraves 3, Jennifer Welsh HC
- Pets: Alyssa Barwick 1,Hayley Hausfeld 2, Robert Dunn 3
- Reflections: Fay Renton 1, Debbie Thompson 2, Robert Dunn 3, Aran Dunn HC
- All creatures great and small: Fay Renton 1, Marg Carr 2 and 3, Robert Dunn, Brendan James and Neville Ritchie HC
- Patterns and Texures: Marg Carr 1, Isabella Jaeger Bergamo 2, Robert Dunn 3 and HC
