I am naturally drawn to using bold colours in my work that I apply to the canvas with quite gestural marks using everything from brushes to my hands to create an image. For me the colour represents passion for all the beauty of nature and the movement of paint on the canvas is like the dance of life. The surrounding bushland of my home is the main focus of my paintings in which I spend a lot of time exploring and absorbing the many nuances of my subject. The work is an expression of the intimate relationship we have with nature, the human narrative we impose upon it and its ability to define us. This work, ‘Time for Clarity’ is about the positive impact COVID-19 has had on the environment, cleaner air, clearer skies and waters. It has opened the door to future possibilities, a glimpse of the ecological value of taking a more thoughtful and measured approach to the way we consume, it's slowed down time and given us a chance to be more introspective.This work was originally commissioned in 2020 by Nillumbik Shire Council for the exhibition 'Art in the time of COVID-19'.

Two unidentified women, possibly at an art show run by Nillumbik Shire Council at the Eltham Community Centreart show, eltham community centre

The house was the subject of a painting by John Wakefield entitled "Vale, Eltham North" in the collection of Nillumbik Shire Council. Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 8 strips and associated 10 x 15 cm colour printKodak Gold 100-5john wakefield, eltham north reserve, wattletree road

Prepared for Nillumbik Shire Council by Samantha Westbrooke Pty Ltd in association with Peter Mills PhD, Architectural Historian27 A4 pages plus two page summary of advice from Samantha Westbrooke regarding proposed landscaping around the cenotaph.cultural heritage significance assessment, eltham war memorial, peter mills, samantha westbrooke pty ltd, shire of nillumbik

Prepared for Nillumbik Shire Council by Samantha Westbrooke Pty Ltd in association with Peter Mills PhD, Architectural Historian27 A4 pages color printcultural heritage significance assessment, eltham war memorial, peter mills, samantha westbrooke pty ltd, shire of nillumbik

A health and condition report for Nillumbik Shire Council on the Batman / Whatmough Apple Tree. Prepared by Homewood Consulting in 2011The Batman Apple tree is said to be over 170 years old, being brought to Greensborough in the 1840s from the Melbourne orchard of John Batman, following Batman's death in 1839.9 page photocopy, text and colour illustrations.batman apple tree, robert whatmough, nillumbik council, plenty river trail

Published for the Nillumbik Artists' Open Studio Program. Text edited by Tony Summers and Elizabeth Vercoe. All images by Tony Summers, Upfront Pictures unless otherwise credited. Contents: Nillumbik Artists' Open Studios, Nillumbik: an historic and artistic meander, Open Studio: a reflection, Open Studios: a historic reflection, the artists, the studios, Linda MacAulay, Chris and Mary-Lou Pittard, Linda De Toma, Peter Accadia, Wendy Hicks, Stephanie Mew, Piers Brown, Jane Annois, The Naughty See Monkey, Ona Henderson and Sydd Tunn, Robina and Tony Summers, Peter Oyston, Elizabeth Vercoe, Judy Racz, Veronia Holland, Shaaron Smith, Margaret Summerton, Kim Tarpey, Judy Trembath, Dena Ashbolt, The Bladessin Press, Rob Hayley. The Nillumbik Artists' Studios Program was created in the 1980s by the Shire of Eltham and continues to operate throughout the Shire of Nillumbik in 2018. The program offers the rare opportunity to visit studios and talk to artists about their work in their own working environment.Softcover bound book. Text with colour photographs. Includes profiles of artists from the Shire of Nillumbik. 95 pagesnillumbik artists' open studios, linda macaulay, chris pittard, mary-lou pittard, linda detoma, peter accadia, wendy hicks,, stephanie mew, piers brown, jane annois, the naughty see monkey, ona henderson, syd tunn, ronina summers, tony summers, peter oyston, elizabeth vercoe, judy racz, veronia holland, shaaron smith, margaret summerton, kim tarpey, ev hales, judy trembath, dena ashbolt, baldessin press, rob hayley

Colour aerial photograph of Diamond Valley Shire Depot, Yarrambat, now Nillumbik Shire Council Works Depot & Recycling CentreColour aerial photograph. Scale approx. 1:1000shire of diamond valley, yarrambat, nillumbik council

Presented to Nillumbik Shire Council by the Victorian Vietnam Veterans Community in commemmoration of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan - 18th August 2006.Born Digitalworld war 1, war memorials, shire of nillumbik, plaque, vietnam veterans community

Article on proposal to move the Nillumbik Shire Council Offices to the site of the old Shire of Eltham offices on Main Road Eltham, adjacent to the Eltham Library2 p., text, black and white and colour photographs. Extract from Eltham Town Community News, Issue 5, Summer 2007-08nillumbik council, eltham, main road eltham

Plaque commemorating the opening of the Yarra River Footbridge opened by Nillumbik Shire Mayor Cr. Tony Ranuic, Member for Eltham, Mr Steve Herbert MP, and Manningham City Mayor, Cr. Patricia Young on Monday 30 August 2004. Nillumbik Shire Couuncil acknowledges the support of the Victorian State Government and City of Manningham. The footbridge links the Diamond Creek Trail between the Shire of Nillumbik and City of Manningham. It is a shared pathway and also links with the Main Yarra Trail. It affords lovely views over the Yarra River.One of three colour photographsbridges, yarra river, eltham south, eltham lower park, lenister farm, homestead road, plaque, yarra river footbridge, steve herbert, tony ranic, patricia young

Under the doona investigates the creative potential of observing the domestic environment and connecting with the local landscape within the restrictions of COVID-19 in 2020. The global pandemic is explored from a personal domestic and local position on Wurundjeri Country in Nillumbik in my 5km radius.Universally recognisable as a symbol of hygiene, the Chux cloth was discovered discarded and coated in Nillumbik’s infamous clay on my daily walk. Local Indigofera Australis was used to extract ‘Chux blue’ to botanically dye hand spun silk and Polwarth yarn. Not a scratchy synthetic Chux, my handwoven natural fibre soft cloth positions soothing touch as an all-important sense within the physical constraints of social distancing. My masked daughter holds her pet rooster. My son learns new card tricks using crackers. Family and local surrounds provide close and reassuring comfort. The project values intimacy, touch and local connectedness. On a global scale.Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of the Art in the Time of Covid project which invited artists to create artworks that reflect the pandemic and the artists' personal experiences of it

My paintings reflect upon the peculiar state of our existence in the pandemic ravaged world: a microscopic and invisible virus has wreaked havoc and revealed the fragility of the human race regardless of our technological and economic advancements. Overwhelmed by the hostile environment, our once arrogant bodies are depersonalized, suspended, fragmented, perplexed and isolated. Mixed with different races, colours and genders, the new bodily world is an imaginative vision of the post pandemic psyche. The lines and shapes delineate an space with new boundaries and depth, full of aching, longing, order less and distorted bodies forming an assemblage endlessly floating on the blue surface, gasping for air, emerging and submerging, shrinking and extending. COVID-19 is a wakeup call for us to rethink our relationship with technology and environment in order to create new control, purpose and identities, which we need to help future generations to survive. Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of the Art in the Time of Covid project which invited artists to create artworks that reflect the pandemic and the artists' personal experiences of it

Isolation is something I am all too familiar with.In the middle of the last decade, for a period of three years, isolation became my way of living, as due to my health, I physically couldn’t leave the house, or even my bed very often. I would be so desperate to get out of the house at times that it was if I was a prisoner trying to escape the confines of Alcatraz. The isolation experience during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought back many emotions and memories of that time, some of which I would rather not remember.Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of the Art in the Time of Covid project which invited artists to create artworks that reflect the pandemic and the artists' personal experiences of it.

‘Relax, We’re Doing Great’ explores the mixed messages and lottery of language we have been exposed to during COVID19. Sourced from local and global leaders, warning signs and public messages, the text ranges from instructional to in-denial; to even epidemiologically dangerous rhetoric.These works connect into the hand-made, digital and 24/7 news cycles - key coping mechanisms for fears and uncertainty - of this pandemic period. The power and importance of language is highlighted when experienced en masse. The repetition of the layout of these works also allows for the creation of GIFs – mimicking the flickering of LED signage.Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of the Art in the Time of Covid project which invited artists to create artworks that reflect the pandemic and the artists' personal experiences of it.

Leaving Isolation is play on words; a pun. It is a joke shared with new imaginary friends found while living alone, in isolation. Processing emotions, sanitising theories, engaging in shadow play; these works show individual native leaves that resemble expressive faces collected on permitted daily walks. 30 small, 15 x 21 cm still life studies in ink and watercolour are hung to reference a calendar month during COVID-19. The work considers the nature of ecology in the anthropocene while confronting emergent psychological myth-scapes during Lockdown.Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of the Art in the Time of Covid project which invited artists to create artworks that reflect the pandemic and the artists' personal experiences of it.

Score for Multi-Species Partnerships is a participatory performance and moving image assemblage. The score offers a guided framework to become reacquainted with the everyday, queering notions of community and care through meditative movement practice. Inter-species collaborators partake in a series of propositions which facilitate a ‘becoming-with’, deepening their sense of place and comfort with one another and their environment.Seeking alternative forms of connection during isolation, this global project uses embodied praxis and visualisation to bring together artists and non-artists, humans and non-humans, to consider how we co-exist and affect one another through material and energetic transference. Initiated in April 2020 following the COVID-19 outbreak, participants chose whether to practise anonymously or document their experience and contribute to the visual archive. The private becomes public as intimate encounters in domestic settings are shared, speaking to cultures of performativity and voyeurism in the digital age. Artist/Director: Luigi Vescio. Performers: Adina Kraus, Anna McDermott, Claudia Lomoschitz, Josh Freedman, Luigi Vescio, Martin Lee, Maximilian Bishop, Melanie Cobham, Nathan Dubber, Niharika Senapati, Omar Felix Faber, Pia Lauritz, Rachel Jessie-Rae O’Connor, Shamira Stone, Will Hall, Yuiko Masukawa.Many thanks also to those who chose to participate in private.This project was also supported by Creative Victoria through the Sustaining Creative Workers initiative.Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council as part of the Art in the Time of Covid project which invited artists to create artworks that reflect the pandemic and the artists' personal experiences of it. Video

Copy of Council brochure "The Townships of Nillumbik" with correspondence from H.G. noting inaccurate information and providing correction. This was an early Nillumbik Shire publication endorsed by the Commissioner Kevin Abbott.5 pagestownships, nillumbik

A photograph of the Eltham Community Centre. The Eltham Community Reception Centre is owned and operated by Nillumbik Shire. It retains the unique character of the original iconic mudbrick building, it was refurbished in 2017.1 colour photograph.peter graham, eltham, eltham community reception centre

The Lasting Memories Mosaic Group Seat is part of Nillumbik Shire Council's Public Art. Following the Black Saturday Bushfire of February 7, 2009, which ravaged St Andrews and surrounding district, a group of bushfire affected women formed the Lasting Memories Mosaic group and created this concrete seat covered in mosaic as part of their healing process. It was completed in 2012. For more information see Nillumbik Shire Council's link Public Art: Lasting Memories Mosaic GROUP, Lasting Memories Mosaic Seat - https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/58536395d0ce201b746561c6fay bridge collection, fay bridge, mosaics, st andrews, lasting memories mosaic group seat, st andrews hall

27 colour snapshots taken on the occasion of the presentation of awards. The ceremony was conducted in the new Eltham Library. This was the final Shire of Eltham Alan Marshall Short Story Award. The presentation was held during the Nillumbik Shire Council period.shire of eltham archives, series listing

Newsletter of the Nillumbik Historical Society (formed in 1973). Contains news items, oral histories and other material relevant to the Nillumbik area.A record of neighbouring historical societiesNewsletter copied on white A4 paper. Varying number of pages.nillumbik historical society, shire of nillumbik

Former Eltham Courthouse, 730 Main Road immediately prior to major restoration works undertaken by Nillumbik Shire Council. The Courthouse is the oldest public building in the shire. It was built in 1860 and ceased operations as part of the Court of Petty Sessions in 1985.Tomorrow's history documented todayeltham, jim connor collection, main road, eltham gateway, eltham courthouse, eltham justice precinct, avenue of honour

Series consists of 25 colour negatives taken on the occasion of the presentation of awards. The ceremony was conducted in the new Eltham Library. This was the final Shire of Eltham Alan Marshall Short Story Award. The presentation was held during the Nillumbik Shire Council period.shire of eltham archives, series listing

Former Shire of Eltham Art Collection now Nillumbik Shire Council Art Collection, 'Beautiful Eltham' by Joh Ebeli showing Shillinglaw Cottage and Railway Trestle Bridge. Bicentennial/Heritage Week Display, "The Eltham Tradition", Eltham Shire Office, 17-22 April 1988 Colour photographactivities, eltham shire office, heritage display, heritage week, beautiful eltham, joh ebeli, shillinglaw cottage, trestle bridge

Members of the Eltham District Historical Society transfer collection items from storage into their new home. Previously occupied by the Parks and Environment Department of Nillumbik Shire Council (L-R: Mark Gillham, Margaret Ball Vice President, Sue Law Immediate Past President, Harry Gilham President) Nillumbik Shire Council Commissioner Vin Heffernan (1996-97) worked with Harry Gilham to obtain use of the former Eltham Shire Parks and Gardens office at 728 Main Road for use by the Society. Harry as a younger man had played in the scrum for Heidelberg Football Club along with Vin's brother who was on the wing. Apparently Heffernan was able to access $30K to spend on the site to fix it up for occupation.Colour photo print 12.5 x 19 cmLeaser Newspaper Groupmargaret ball, mark gilham, police residence, sue law, 728 main road, activities, eltham, eltham district historical society, harry gilham, justice precinct, local history centre

Members of the Eltham District Historical Society transfer collection items from storage into their new home. Previously occupied by the Parks and Environment Department of Nillumbik Shire Council (L-R: Mark Gillham, Margaret Ball Vice President, Sue Law Immediate Past President, Harry Gilham President) Nillumbik Shire Council Commissioner Vin Heffernan (1996-97) worked with Harry Gilham to obtain use of the former Eltham Shire Parks and Gardens office at 728 Main Road for use by the Society. Harry as a younger man had played in the scrum for Heidelberg Football Club along with Vin's brother who was on the wing. Apparently Heffernan was able to access $30K to spend on the site to fix it up for occupation.Colour photographeltham district historical society, harry gilham, margaret ball, mark gilham, sue law, local history centre, 728 main road, activities, eltham, justice precinct, police residence

Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council - 1997 The selection panel in the commissioning process to this 'extraordinary acquisition' was Rhonda Noble, Director of La Trobe University Museum of Art, Jeph Neale, Eltham Roundabout Advisory Group, Chris Marks, NSC Curator of Collections, Geoff Glynn, NSC Manager of Infrastructure Development.'Nest' highlights the indigenous flora and fauna of the Shire. The stiff, coarse grass used to create the nest is indigenous to the area and the eggs are like those of the spotted quail thrush, a ground-nesting bird of the Shire. The circular flow or placement of the eggs recalls the revolution of the seasons and nesting cycles. There is a tall light pole above the eggs, shining down at night. The effect is of a giant incubator. Enrichment and nurturing of the larger environment can be associated with this sculpture. This work resembles a large bird's nest, with three egg-like forms of fibreglass covered in a pebble render, set on sand. The nest is positioned within the paved boundary of the roundabout. The nest shape has been created out of stiff, coarse indigenous grass, periodically trimmed so the view is not obstructed. The eggs are a brown-speckled, creamy yellow colour. The three eggs are arranged in a ring, with the narrow end of each pointing to the large end of the next, in a circle that mimics the flow of traffic. N/Apublic art, nest, eggs, eltham, ekphrasis2017, mosaic, pebbles, roundabout, spotted quail thrush