AGRA
Council
Since its formation in 1974
AGRA has had 9 Presidents and many councillors who have all shared their
expertise
and commitment.
Present and Past Presidents
 |
Paul Fitzgerald A.G.R.A. |
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Charles McCubbin |
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Colin Johnson A.G.R.A. |
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Neil Straub A.G.R.A. |
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Carole Milton |
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Thelma Cardwell A.G.R.A. |
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Lyn Mellady A.G.R.A.F. |
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Alan Rawady |
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Rob La Nauze |
All
councillors act in an honorary capacity to support the ideals of AGRA and
represent the needs
of the members.
They are artists themselves who give freely of their time and appreciate
any assistance or feedback from the members.
Past
and
present Councillors
(in
approximate chronological order)
Life Members are listed
in maroon.
The present council are
listed in blue and introduced below.
Our Founders
 |
 |
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| Paul Fitzgerald |
Kenneth Jack |
Kathlyn Ballard |
Paul
Fitzgerald AGRA, Kenneth Jack AGRA (dec),
Kathlyn
Ballard AGRA,
Donald Cameron, Reshid Muspygade(Dec),
Shirley Bourne(Dec), Sir
William Dargie,(DEC)
Bruce Fletcher, Allan Martrin (Dec),
Graham Moore, Charles McCubbin,
Lance McNeill,
Donald Nelson, Arnold
Riches,(Dec), Clifford
Wood, Malcolm Cameron, John Borrack, Harold Farey,
Robert Miller(Dec), Van
Balmain, Bill
Beavan(DEC), Cromwell Beggs,
Ramon Horsfield, Colin
Johnson AGRA,
Bill
Walls,
John Duncan Firth, Carol Harrison A.G.R.A(life
member)
Alfred Shaw, Richard
Weatherly,
Marie Weeks, Billi Ward (Dec),
Kim Balmain, Barbara Beasely-Southgate, Terry
Collins,(Dec),
Edward J BerryAGRA, Thelma
Cardwell A.G.R.A(life
member),
Audrey Sharp, Neil
Straub AGRA, Muriel
Balmain, Gil Brooks(Dec),
Carole Milton, Allan
Salisbury, Don Bladier,
David Dearn,
Warren Curry, Paul
Margocsy, Ern Trembath, Ron
Russell Fletcher, Di King AGRA, Herman
Pekel,
Kevin Taylor ,(DEC),
Carl Anderson, Janet
Matthews AGRA,,
Margaret Cromb, Lyn
Mellady AGRAF, John Mutsaers, Elizabeth
East, Noreen Lubeck, Mark Thorpe, Barbara Wood,
Andrew MacKenzie, John Baker, Ted
Wynter A.G.R.A
, Patricia Delanty A.G.R.A,
Victoria
Cook,
John Thomas,
Don James, Diana
Edwards AGRA,
Joel Magpayo,AGRA, Do
Noble, David Chen, Lorraine
Davies,
Sandra Harvie,
Anna De Jonk,
Ross Wenn, Lia Williams,
Loyus Aikman, Brenda
Innes, Ivan Dinsdale, Lesley
McKenna, Bette
Franke, Christine Cafarella Pearce AGRA,
Helen Edwards AGRA,
Velda Palazzi,
Judy Dean,
David Mellows, Lorraine
Wigraft AGRA, Guy Cawton,
Bill Berryman, Maree
Holt AGRA, Evelyn
Hales A.G.R.A.F. Malcolm
Webster,AGRA,
Betty Burns, Alan Rawady(vice
president),Raelene Sharp
AGRA,
Ronald
Jones, Clive
Sinclair,
KerryAnne Sullivan, Pam Adams, Peter
Foster, Craig
Penny, Maxine Wade, Regina
Hona.AGRA. Jan
Lowe, Radmilla Hardi, Krystina Foyster, Margaret
Keogh, Rodger Scott, Rob La Nauze(
president) Raymond
Kenyon and Pamella Pretty
The
AGRA Council 2008
 |
President :
Rob
La Nauze
The Guild has
been a critical factor in Rob’s
artistic journey of discovery as it has provided
him with the professional grounding and the
companionship of like travellers.
He paints in watercolour and oil, usually scenes
that have been sketched and photographed during
holidays to the countryside and coastline of
Australia. Rob has had 2 successful joint exhibitions
at the AGRA Galleries.
As he now paints more-or-less full-time, hopes to bring some of his
previous business experience to his term as president of AGRA.
Given the talent and breadth of experience on the Council, 2008 is
likely to be an exciting and rewarding year for the Guild. |
 |
Vice
President:
Alan
Rawady
Studied at: RMIT, Swinburne, M.S.P.G.A. and Melbourne School of Painting.
Alan is an award winning artist and watercolour tutor who was professionally
employed in Graphic & exhibition design, illustration and advertising
art from 1956. He has worked in Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Germany.
In 1989 he won an international graphic design competition. Since retiring
in 1992 he has concentrated on teaching, demonstrations and workshops.
He is also taking tours with painters.
Member of AGRA, VAS, MAS, Hon. Member of BAS and Mentone—Mordialloc Art
group and Past president of Watercolouur Society of Victoria.
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Hues
Editor & Vice President
Jan
Lowe : 2007
was Jan’s first year as Editor and working with members of
the Guild, attending some
wonderful studios and talking to some of “the best” . Painting & drawing
has been her passion since a very young child—it was
her escape! Although her professional responsibilities are demanding,
she is looking forward to art projects in ‘08. The winning of
a minor award for her oil—Storms over Phillip
Island—was an absolute thrill and is an inspiration to do more! She
is now preparing for her second exhibition in July ‘08. Having met some
wonderful artists and watched their work evolve over the year
has
been an honour and is looking forward to new challenges and working
with everyone in 2008. As Editor, her aim is to give all
members a bipartisan view and encourage their participation in exhibitions
and entice their continued involvement & being aware of the
Guild’s role to foster and support realist artists.
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Treasurer:
Carol
Harrison A.G.R.A.
Hard working and elusive, Carol is always
there when needed, but rarely conspicuous as she goes about the task
of keeping us solvent. Carol was awarded life membership many years
ago for her consistent involvement with this group.
Roles as Councillor, Secretary/ Treasurer for 12 years before holding her current
role as Treasurer is indicative of her commitment to our group. A Gil Brooks
winner (awarded for service to AGRA) and member for 30 years she is invaluable
to this group for her knowledge of our Guild. Her job as Treasurer just keeps
getting bigger as the Guild extends its role
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Company
Secretary / Gallery Manager:
Brenda
Innes BA
Dip Ed
Brenda has a BA
Dip Ed. Her working life includes 5 yrs in market research, 15 very
rewarding years as a Year 7—12 School Teacher and 8 years involvement
with AGRA. During this time she has been a passionate advocate for
Realist Art and Artists. She has gained much from meeting, mentoring
and
making professional connections for AGRA members. Brenda managers the gallery
and is a true ambassador for AGRA.
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Australia
at Large/Web site maintenance
Lyn Mellady A.G.R.A.F
Lyn is a past President of AGRA
and a member of the Pastel Society of Vic. and Fusion Six. While her
personal painting is her highest priority, she is constantly asked
to teach, judge art shows and give professional art demonstrations.
As an AGRA Councillor Lyn is a consistent worker always thinking of
new ways to bring AGRA to more prominence. Lyn
loves painting with pastel and her work is in 5 Government collections,
featured in 5 art books and International Pastel Artist. She has limited
edition drawings, prints and many awards. Lyn is also represented in
NSW and Victorian Galleries. Lyn looks after the AGRA web site and
is also responsible for the Australia at Large competitions and collates
awards and certificates . She is a very active member of AGRA council
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e-Newsletter/Publicity
Ev
Hales A.G.R.A.F.,
B Ed. Dip SAC
I started my artistic journey as a
printmaker training to teach art and Craft at Secondary level.
I discovered a passion for mentoring people in their own artistic
development and enjoy immensely the interaction with other artists
and those involved in creative fields. It was later in my life
that I developed a need to develop my own personal vision as an
artist. Winning many awards gave me confidence to pursue my own
ideas. Involvement with an artistic group gives me a sense of belonging
in the isolated world of an srtist. There is a need to give back
for all the wonderful friends and inputs this life style has brought
to me.
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Publicity
Craig
Penny:
Craig should need little introduction
to members as he has featured in many issues of Hues. He has already
proven his worth as he designed our Hues cover and his skills are appreciated
by Council. His involvement and drive makes him ideal as an AGRA Councilor,
a person whose talent and interested personality are a real benefit
to us all. Finding time between painting, teaching and designing he
really shows that a busy person is a time effective person.
Multi skilled in the traditional methods and also Digital graphics make Craig
an artist who has a huge arsenal at his finger tips. He works in both watercolour
and acrylics.
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Awards and Medallion Exhibitions
Regina
Hona A.G.R.A.
Regina believes there comes a time in
every artist’s lifewhere it is good to be able to give
something back to a
group or community that helps us! AGRA for her is one
of these groups and she considers it an honour tobe
asked and to be able to be a part of AGRA's future
and contribute. Regina,has the advantage of living
fairly close to AGRA, which makes it easier to attend meetings and be more actively
involved at this stage in her life. Regina is a past President of the Pastel
Society
of Victoria &has won major awards since 1999 and has held 4 solo & several
group exhibitions. Regina is represented in collections on 4 continents and
is an
ctive
participant
with a variety of groups including Fusion six.
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Awards and Medallion Exhibitions
Radmilla Hardi :
Radmila
studied drawing, watercolour, pastel and oil
painting with a number of Melbourne and overseas
artists. Having found a preference for pastels she
explored the ways of using them for six years and her
first solo exhibition was of pastels only. She is now
working in oils as well and experimenting with
gouache. As an AGRA Councillor, is part of belonging to an art community.
Radmila is a Signatory Member of VAS and a member of
PSV. Radmila is a very active member of AGRA council.
Assistant Editor: |
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Assistant Editor:
Rodger
Scott:
Rodger
has always loved wildlife and has been paintingnothing else now
since 1990. Still learning how to utilisethe various aspects
of watercolour and gouache. He has attended many wildlife art
workshops both here and
in the US which has helped him enormously and hiswork has improved as a result.
Those trips also allowedhim to collect quite a lot of reference material of
North American animals
and birds, plus their habitat, which is something you can't get froma zoo.
Having all that material led Rodger to submit some work to the prestigiousArts
for the Parks show in Wyoming. He managed to get acceptedin ‘05 and ‘06. His
believes that his future challenges are to get betterand push the boundaries
a little bit further in his preferred medium.
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Sponsorship and Grants
Margaret Keogh
Through the years I have divided my
interests between sport & Art. Until 5 years ago, heavily involved
with netball in Victoria, all aspects of the sport—active participating
to development & policy making while on the Board of Netball
Victoria, where I served as President for 2 yrs.
Art has played an important part in my life. I began with porcelain painting,
member of APAT (Australian Porcelain Art Teachers), taught for 15 yrs. 9 yrs
ago took up watercolour. Have worked with excellent tutors such as Ev Hales,
Ron Muller & Joseph Zbukvic. I have been impressed with the unique quality
of the Guild, from its professionalism to its friendliness and encouragement
to all realist artists, professional & aspiring. It is an honour to be
a councillor, and I look forward to contributing where I can.
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Days
of 100 Painting/Publicity
Kristina
Foyster
Kristina
always wanted to paint in oils. Returned to Melbourne 4 years ago
after 25 years away and joined AGRA. Lessons with Angela Abbott,
Ivan Dinsdale & continuing lessons with Paul McDonald
Smith. She has been an active member of the Executive for the Tweed
Banana
Festival (Australia’s longest running festival), the Real Estate Institute of Queensland - Gold Coast Branch, Clayton, Murwillumbah, Coolangatta,
and Southern Gold Coast Chambers of Commerce and the nursing coordinator
for the SES Murwillumbah.
Kristina enjoys the challenge of arranging the various venues for the Days
of 100 Paintings and being involved with AGRA and working with fellow artists.
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Seasonal
Exhibitions:
Pamela Pretty
Painting and drawing have always
been an integral part of Pamela’s life growing up in a family where
both parents were watercolour artists. Love of animals drew her to
paint birds and animals during her teen years. Pamela paints pastel
landscapes and portraits and has worked as an acrylic tutor in Decorative
Art for 15 yrs. Pamela has been encouraged by receiving several awards in 2007
including the MEC 1st prize for general pastellists
(Pastel Society of Vic) and other awards. As a member of AGRA, she finds the
encouragement and professional advice invaluable viewing the work of the diverse
and highly talented realist artists of AGRA.
Pamela will be having a Joint Exhibition in July with Jan Lowe. |
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Artscapade
Thel
Cardwell
A.G.R.A.Thel
has been a very able and constant member of the AGRA Council.
She has had several terms as President and is always a willing helper. Thel
started painting in oils in 1978 with Alan Martin, a tonal painter from the
Max Meldrum School and later began working in pastels with John Duncan-Firth.
She likes working in both mediums and paints whatever she is enthused about
at the time but particularly likes still life and landscapes. She has won many
awards, run regular workshops in NSW, judges art shows and teaches weekly classes at home.
Thel’s aim as an artist is to keep painting, hoping to make the next painting
the best she has done and to be successful at what she likes doing best. Thel
works tiresly with the organising and arrangements of the Artscapade for our members of AGRA.
Awards & Medallion:
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Professional
Development
Raymond
Kenyon
Ray, an architect from Camberwell.
A member of AGRA since ‘02. Initially self-taught artist, has attended
the Camberwell Community Centre Watercolour Group run by AGRA Vice
President Alan Rawady. Exhibiting his automotive paintings at the Melbourne
International Motor Show and the F1 Experience, Ray has won numerous
commendations at the AGRA seasonal shows including a Certificate of
Recognition in 2006.
Shared exhibition at AGRA with fellow architect Geoff Sargeant in October ‘06.
In ‘05 his painting of architect Glenn Murcutt was selected as a finalist in
the Archibald Prize. Ray paints people, still life and vehicles. He feels honoured
to be asked to join the AGRA Council for 2008 and brings his professional and
business experience to the task. Ray hopes to make a valuable and creative
contribution to the Guild.
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AGRA
1993 Council celebrating the opening of AGRA'S Guild House
(pictured) Di
King, Warren Curry, Thelma Cardwell, Neil Straub, Carl
Anderson, Edward Berry, Carole Milton, Lyn Mellady, R.
Russell Fletcher, Kevin Taylor (DEC)
AAL Gallery
AAL Back
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The Australian Guild of Realist Artists Ltd