BUNDANON= ARTHUR BOYD = ART

Arthur Boyd, one of Australia’s pre-eminent artist, (1920-1999) was part of a unique artistic family. Across many generations the Boyd family includes painters, sculptors, architects, ceramic artists and musicians. Arthur, generously left his two properties and much of his art collection at Bundanon, inland from Nowra, to the Australian Government to be kept in trust for the Australian people.

Thankfully, the grant was accepted, and the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre was constructed at the Riversdale Property over-looking the Shaolhaven River. The annual excursion/experience for our Year 11 art students to this wonderful resource has been the highlight of our senior art students endeavours for the past decade.

A visit to Bundanon produces such a diversity art making in many forms and mediums. The setting is so conducive to creative energy being transformed through challenging workshops into beautiful works of art. Ali Sutton and Tara McCarthy, as our Year 11 art teachers, worked so well with the Bundanon education officers to present our 21 talented students with challenging and engaging activities that kept them working  late each night, even through the State of Origin match.

Having been to Bundanon a number of times I’m continually impressed by the quality and diversity of work produced by our students. Such an experience can often provide the stimulus for our senior students to strive towards producing high quality artworks as part of their ‘major works’ for the HSC. I would like to commend this years’ cohort for their thoughtful conduct towards each other, their teachers and the beautiful facilities we used.

Congratulations to Ali and Tara who work so well with their charges and who were not phased when things went awry, i.e. the bus breaking down on Cambewarra Mountain.

A great trip and I am looking forward to the artworks being displayed at school.

Yours in art,

Pete Gaffney |

Academic Care & Wellbeing Coordinator