Huge donation made to Secret Garden
by Greg Martin
Psst ! You wanna know a secret ? Closer , let me whisper in your ear . However , the secret is out , and it is something which should never remain hush-hush – profits from the esteemed 2021
This munificent donation will enable us to conduct a wide range of free art classes to the community
Hawkesbury Art Prize has been donated to North West Disability Services ( NWDS ).
A whopping $ 25,000 cheque was presented to Deborah Gersbach OAM , the CEO of NWDS , by Dr Robyn Williams , the gallerist at Freemans Reach art gallery , Purple Noon .
The large amount was raised through $ 10,000 from the Pieter Huveneeers Bequest , other sponsorships and the $ 45 entry fee paid by each of the record more than 600 entrants .
Robyn chairs the Hawkesbury Art Prize committee , which does all the hard work in ensuring artists from far and wide submit their works for judging .
A rap here to her fellow committee members who devoted much time and energy in ensuring the Hawkesbury Art Prize remains one of the nation ’ s major art competitions .
Aiding and abetting Robyn were ardent local art enthusiasts , Alex Lister , Tony Meskauskas , Fiona Stokes-Hughes and Margaret Mackisack and highlyrespected artist , Judy Brownlee .
The $ 25,000 donation will be directed by NWDS to art-based activities at the organisation ’ s Secret Garden Community Hub on the University of Western Sydney Richmond campus .
“ This munificent donation will enable us to conduct a wide range of free art classes to the community on a come and try basis and then for a nominal amount to cover materials and resources ,” Deborah said .
“ Classes on drawing , landscape design , clay modelling , sculpture , plant art and scavenger art will be explored with surveys to define other areas of interest .
Delighted to be on hand to witness Robyn Williams present the $ 25,000 cheque to Deborah Gersbach are ( l-r ) Judy Brownlee , Josephine Blue , Tony Meskauskas , Fiona Stokes-Hughes and Margaret Mackisack . Photo : Kathryn Johnston
“ This provides us the opportunity to also run an art fair each year and will be an incentive for local artists to visit the Secret Garden , and to display and sell their art and encourage their engagement here .” The Secret Garden currently offers a wide variety of disability programs , including farmyard animals , mate ’ s shed , coffee shop , candle making , retail garden skills , horticulture therapy , plant propagation . construction and landscaping , recycling project , train care and maintenance and Riding for the Disabled .
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