June, July and August have been busy months with workshops in Cairns, Gladstone and Blackall.

Cairns Art Escape is held annually in “The Tanks” – an amazing venue inside enormous old WW2 oil storage tanks converted to studio and performance spaces.

July we were in Gladstone at Gallery 67 for a 5 day workshop after which we reloaded the truck and headed out to Blackall for the annual artist retreat workshop.

  Blackall – Artists Retreat

Local Blackall drover, Stu Benson, kept us entertained with stories of the area and spoiled us with tea and damper.

Old shearing shed at Dunera Station where we were made welcome and enjoyed smoko and an interesting walk around the property.

Louise and Lexie, who drove out from Currumbin for the workshop, took Dianne and I out to Allendale, where Louise grew up. The old homestead is now abandoned and slowly decaying, it was great to look around at some of the relics remaining from when Louise was a little kid.

Old Allendale Homestead

Blackall Sunset
New Paint

Machinery – Blackall wool scour

We were lucky to be in Blackall for the Camerata of St John’s, Queensland Chamber Orchestra’s performance. It was fantastic – all young, enthusiastic and incredibly well rehearsed players touring through outback regions of Queensland to help raise money for drought relief.