Eileen Brooker’s 90th Birthday

To celebrate our inspirational life member – Eileen Brooker’s 90th Birthday, Southern Beaches Regional Arts helped organise her special day with a party in Eileen’s private Gallery at her home in Midway Point. Approx 90 people attended including Tasmanian sculptor Stephen Walker, Rob Valentine and friends from as far away as Western Australia. Eileen , with the help of Tasmanian Regional Arts representative Chris Cowles doing the slide show, did a thoroughly entertaining presentation of some interesting stories from her past and afterwards there was musical entertainment by Michelle Pears and Jim Beresford. Michelle also wrote a verse especially for Eileen ... (see attached card) Eileen Brooker has lived in the Sorell Municipality since 1973 and you can see her mural depicting the Historical Sorell Saleyards on the side of the Sorell library.

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Author / Artist Bio: Lee-Anne Peters (artist name: L.Willson) 

Holographic I Am – Soft Pastels and charcoal 

 I Am Goddess – The cover of an upcoming book Lee-Anne is writing. This drawing was done with soft pastels and charcoal.

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Artist, Author, Teacher, Mentor and Radio host, Lee-Anne Peters (nee Willson) was born in Tasmania and in 2009 settled back into the Southern Beaches area.

A born entrepreneur Lee-Anne has always been an ‘action girl.’ At the age of 19, Lee-Anne started her short hairdressing career and at the age of 29 she founded her online business: Temple of Balance.

Lee-Anne is the author of three books and two card decks which include: From Lack to Abundance, Aligning with the Speed of Light and Healing Energy Cards.

With a strong spiritual connection, this uniqueness reflects in Lee-Anne’s artwork which is surreal and an expression of her creative imagination. Lee-Anne’s soft pastel and charcoal works are highly sought after and are hanging in homes and businesses around the world. They are full of colour, movement and energy.

Lee-Anne’s ability to draw is a natural talent and the only formal training she had was during art class in high school.

Lee-Anne always signs her work under her artist name: L.Willson as she started drawing well before she was married and wished to keep the Willson name going after her father had four daughters.

You can learn more about Lee-Anne and her work at her website

Implosion – Soft Pastels and charcoal.

Member Blog

The talented, fabulous member of SBRA Liz Francis has a new(ish) blog showing her paintings, and telling us her thoughts. It can be found here

May 22 Show and Tell

One thing often overlooked in theories of art is the fact that is producing art is a pure fun. The fun of problem solving, the fun of making the internal external, the sheer exhilaration of making something out of nothing.

To this end our purple loving president, Michelle Pears, has instituted regular show and tell meetings. The idea is that SBRA members are to meet regularly and have a show and tell session. Members are asked to bring along a plate, and equally importantly to bring along some works they wish to share. These do not need to be their own works, just something they want to share with the group. After the more formal time we have piles of yummy food to allow conversation and discussions and ideas to freely flow.

On May 22 we had a show and tell. This was held at Shambles Bookshop, as it was the site of a travelling exhibit organised by Tasmania Regional Arts. The Birthright Quilt is a community-based initiative to create awareness about the high Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander infant and maternal mortality and to raise funds to support self-determination for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities to reclaim their local birthing services.

Apologies as we do not have pictures of all members and their works shown at this meeting. We will endeavour in the future to have more photographs. Needless to say everyone had a lovely evening.

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A lovely painting of Eileen Brooker

A new art work by Lee-Anne Peters

A drawing by Saakia Itchins

Let's go fishin'...

The household ceased its chatter, and the floor began to beat,
With the urgency of action..and the sound of running feet!
Arguments were stilled mid-stride, while boxes now were filled inside,
...with lures and sinkers neat!
The ute downstairs roared into life, and Dad sang out to his good wife,
“C’mon, don’t bring the flamin’ chairs!”
We piled into the front and back, and everywhere a fishin’ hat,
...most needin’ of repairs!

On and on those country miles, ‘til all of us had lost our smiles,
...then fell at last to slumber!
Well into the night we drove, positions changed and on we dozed,
...snoring in our number!
'Til daylight shone its bright around, and soon began a waking sound,
...the arguments ignited!
“Tighten up the lip you’ve got, or Dad will stop and park you lot,”
...Mum said quite excited!

We reached the spot, and out we got...with breakfast on the menu!
Tho’ work came first, then coffee’d thirst...was quenched at fireside venue!
The motor coughed and started, someone else had ..#!&*..ed,
...and we were on our way!
Here and there we dropped a line, then off again to boating time,
...a fishin’, boatin’ day!

Then Dad’s report, “Me lines gone taught”...the boat erupted roundly!
Lines were cast, to “Hell!” and “Blast!”...as they crossed and twisted soundly!
In it came a barra’...and what a handsome prize!
Tangles cut, and mouths were shut...Bigger! ..caught our eyes!

Pete’s lure caught, a low slung branch...he tugged and jerked frustrated!
Warily we watched his moves...’til danger had abated!
Then back and forth, and to and fro...the rods were casting freely!
Lures and treble's flying past...adding danger to the melee!

In the stern sat Mum’s concern...her flock were in a turmoil!
Instructions sent to some repent...while others missed the good-oil!
Then one line caught, another taught...enthusiasm standing!
Words of praise, and some Amazed...then fish nets for the landing!

Pete’s loud tone then found a home...that danger was upon us!
His line was caught was his report...his presence was no bonus!
Eventually his lure whizzed free...and sizzled in the air!
Mum’s loud shout was all about...and filled with raw despair! “DUCK..!!”

Heads went up, and heads went down...as we found alarms essential!
Those sharpened hooks were bloody crooks...and full of harms potential!
Flying through the air with ease, they had the boat full on our knees...targets everywhere!
Pete’s bad luck had run amok, and when they struck his time was up...bizarre!

From heavens sent, sharp hooks were bent...and found themselves a prize!
Dad’s lament, and cry was vent...brought tears to all our eyes!
“You little shit, I got the hit...your life is not worth living!”
Mum’s report, reprieve of sort..."It will take some time forgiving!”

“Turn your back, and don’t look at...the pain your fathers feeling!”
As she cut the hooks, and closed the books...on the casting and the reeling!
“Don’t snigger in your silence...or cause the hurt to flare!
Your father’s faint, and furious...that Pete’s fishhooks caught him...THERE!”

(c) Author R. J. Bowring

Russell Bowring is the author of 1864 - An adventure novel concerning the early contacts between Europeans and Solomon Islanders. More can be found at his website

Two watercolors

These are some watercolours by SBRA member Liz Francis. She is holidaying at Brunswick Heads, just north of Byron Bay. "One painting is of the view from our camper, and the other
is a more impressionist painting, just of our wonderful country."