2011 Wootha Prize judges, Norm Richards, Ashley Sewell and John Whan with last year’s winner, Sandra Skodnik. Her winning entry (inset) is a hardcarved camphor laurel sculpture called Nature’s Design.

THANKS to the support of committed sponsors for the 2012 Wootha Prize, significant cash prize awards will be made to this year’s winners.

Forestry Plantations Queensland, Landcare Queensland and Wasabi Marketing, Maleny, have all committed increased prize monies for the Wootha Prize during this year’s Maleny Wood Expo.

A first prize of $2,500 is generously sponsored by Forestry Plantations Queensland, with Landcare Queensland offering a second prize of $750, and Wasabi Marketing, a third prize of $500.

A $500 People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Forestry Plantations Queensland, will be offered for the first time in 2012.

Judges will also nominate artists to receive the coveted Design Excellence and Craftsmanship Awards.

The Wootha Prize forms the feature exhibition at the annual Maleny Wood Expo, held at the Maleny Showgrounds in early May, and in the past has attracted entries from as far away as Western Australia.

The 2012 competition theme – “One Door” – is open to artistic interpretation, and entries may be contemporary or traditional in design. All works must be constructed of sustainably harvested Australian timbers, or recycled or weed timbers, and may incorporate other mediums.

The Maleny Wood Expo is also accepting applications from woodworkers interested in having a site at the 2012 event.

2012 Wootha Prize Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.malenywoodexpo.org.au

Both Wootha Prize and Exhibitor Application forms can be accessed by contacting Steve McLeish on 0428 674 335 or steve@malenywoodexpo.org.au

Applications for the 2012 Wootha Prize competition are due at the Barung Landcare office in Maleny by Friday 24 February.

Jacques Reymond “Jacques Reymond Melbourne”

MARTIN DUNCAN’S stunning Freestyle Escape outdoor cooking school, near to Dulong on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, has attracted a swag of celebrity chefs for 2012.

Freestyle’s class sizes ensure that each participant’s experience includes valuable one-on- one time with some of Australia’s most talented chefs.

Those chefs attracted by Martin (below right) to this wonderful culinary environment include Martin Boetz of Longrain in Sydney and Melbourne, Dominique Rizzo of Ready Steady Cook, Jacques Reymond of Jacques Reymond, Melbourne and Richard Cotton of Brewbakers, Brisbane.

Dominique Rizzo “Ready Steady Cook”

Martin’s specially designed outdoor undercover kitchen is just over one hour north of Brisbane and is set amidst rainforest where amazing birdsong can be heard throughout the day.

Part of each class involves strolling through the orchard with wonderful glimpses out over the beautiful backdrop of the Sunshine Coast.

Top Sydney chef Martin Boetz of Longrain will be in Queensland for only one day for his Thai food class.

As Martin says, “For lovers of Thai food this really will be an unforgettable culinary experience. You may well lock in Sunday 19 February 2012 as the day you ‘really’ did Thai.”

The Celebrity Chef series at Freestyle Escape was launched in 2010 with French chef Bruno Loubet, and Martin Duncan has since hosted many truly talented chefs -Adriano Zumbo, Matthew Kemp and Matt Wilkinson to name a few.

Martin Boetz “Longrain” - Sydney and Melbourne

Check out the list of chefs and their dates on the Freestyle Escape website: www.freestyleescape.com.au

Richard Cotton “Brewbakers, Brisbane

Although the honour is hotly contested, the most popular chef at Freestyle so far has been patissier extraordinaire Adriano Zumbo.

“I’m not quite sure if it was the lure of dessert or the lure of Adriano himself,” laughs Martin. “Even if we’d asked him to stay with us for a week, there still would’ve been a waiting list as long as my arm!” Freestyle Escape Cooking School presents Martin Boetz on Saturday, 19 February 2012.

Cost: $295 per person for a memorable experience including lunch with wine and morning/afternoon tea.(Tickets are strictly limited).

For bookings call 07 3262 3077 or purchase online at the website: www.freestyleescape.com.au

Tues 10 Jan: 7am Bush Walk – Baroon Pocket to Kondalilla Falls. Medium/Hard walk. 3.5 hrs/11 klms

Tues 17 Jan: 7am Bush Walk – Mapleton National Park – T3 track. Easy walk. 2.5 hrs/7 klms

Tues 24 Jan: 7am Bush Walk – Booloumba Falls to Booloumba Creek Day Use Area. Medium walk. 3 hrs/9 klms

Tues 31 Jan: 7am Bush Walk – North Arm to Eumundi. Easy walk. 2.5 hrs/7 klms

Tues 7 Feb: 7am Bush Walk – Kureelpa Falls. Medium walk. 3 hrs/8 klms

Tues 14 Feb: 7am Bush Walk – Mt Tinbeerwah. Medium walk. 2.5 hrs/7 klms

Tues 21 Feb: 7am Bush Walk – Chambers Gully Circuit. Easy walk. 3 hrs/7.5 klms

Tues 28 Feb: 7am Bush Walk – Baxter Lookout. Easy walk. 2 hrs/6 klms

Tues 6 Mar: 7am Bush Walk – Upper Cedar Creek. Hard walk. 3 hrs/7 klms

If you’d like to join us, free of charge, for any of our walks, just send an email to Mike at bushbeachwalkers@gmail.com for further information. Tuesday walks start by meeting at the Mapleton Tavern Carpark at 7am and finish with a coffee and chat at a local cafe. New walkers are always welcome.

In recent years Tom Keneally has taken to writing history, giving himself the task of producing a three-volume History of the Australian Peoples, entitled simply The Australians. This November sees the launch of the second volume: Australians: Eureka to The Diggers.

The book picks up from the aftermath of the Eureka Stockade in 1854 and follows the story of our nation through to World War One. With a novelist’s keen eye Keneally brings to life the vast range of characters who have formed our national story. During those sixty five years Australia became a nation but retained provincial objectives; it was independent but craftily subservient; built walls against Asia but nevertheless saw Asia kick down its door; made a legend out of bushrangers, industrial fights and brutal wars; honoured anti- authoritarianism, but saw no revolution arise; saw immigrants increase and Aboriginals diminish.

This was the nation of the larrikin and the emergent artist; of the prophetic and the hard- nosed; of radical oratory and ultimate respect for society’s structures. Suffusing it all was the idea that, although provincial, we were a special people; that although distant we were a society the world had much to learn from; that we were better than those who thought us crass, and that unleashed, we could show the world a thing or two.

Tom Keneally is rare amongst highly talented and successful authors. He is a passionate and entertaining speaker; always amusing and always surprising. Outspoken is delighted to be able to bring Tom Keneally to Maleny for a conversation with local author Steven Lang. Maleny Community Centre – 30th November, 6pm. $12/ $8 for students.

Bookings: Maleny Bookshop 5494 3666.

The Market now has a web site which was developed by one of the stall holders, Jenny Law who runs the Little Fair Trade Cafe and Craft stall.

With no budget for web site design it was a case of do-it-themselves. “I must say it was a bit of hit and miss but I think I have managed to create a fair web site at no cost”, says Jenny. There are pages dedicated to food, antiques and collectables and arts & crafts.

The Market also has a Facebook presence (Maleny Art, Craft and Collectables Market) thanks to the talents of another stall holder, Gay Liddington.

The market is small and diverse with some specialised stall holders.

For example, Norm Lewis (right) sells his ivory Scrimshaw carvings at the market every second week. Each of Norm’s pieces is a painstaking work from old ivory piano keys. They are carefully handmade using 150 year old whalers’ tools and techniques, and he is always happy to share his skills and stories.

And where would you find elephant poo? You can find some very beautiful handmade paper, cards and journals made out of elephant poo on the fair trade stall. It is just amazing what small communities can do to create an income.

Many visitors comment on the country town feel of the market and love sitting at tables with chequered table cloths for a coffee or a snack. Many locals meet each Sunday morning to catch up with friends over coffee.

So, the market organisers want all those regular Maleny visitors to note the new website address and let their friends know far and wide of the weird and wonderful curios to be found at the Maleny Markets: www.malenymarkets.weebly.com

Maleny Markets are open every Sunday 8am to 2pm. It is an indoor market so it’s on rain, hail or shine. It’s a great place to get something made locally, or to find something really different as you plan your Christmas shopping this year.

A

Quality artworks straight from their origins will be offered for show and sale by this talented bunch. Many inexpensive and undiscovered gems will be revealed.

“I am in the privileged position of nurturing and watching the development of these women and I am delighted to invite the wider community to see our work,” says Carolyn. “The works are mostly unframed art in the raw,” she added.

The Palmwoods Pastel group has been meeting every Thursday morning at the Girl Guide Hall for three years to share their passion and practice their art.

The doors to the Palmwoods Girl Guide Hall on the Montville Road will be open all day Friday from 9am to 9pm and Saturday from 9am to 12noon.

Contact carolyn@sheatherart.com or 5478 9378 for details.

The Joint is Jumpin - Mel McRae

ROSEBED ST Gallery has been transformed into a treasure trove of miniature masterpieces with their final exhibition for 2011, Small Works/Small Town – Takeaway Art!

Curators Annie & Maya have gathered a collection of stunning small art pieces, guaranteed to please a diverse range of tastes. The work of 37 artists, both emerging and established creates an eclectic and vibrant exhibition. Each small treasure whether it be a print, painting, sculpture, ceramic, or piece of jewellery will inspire and tempt the discerning buyer.

Among the many talented exhibitors are Sunshine Coast artists Kim Schoenberger, Jo Murray and Brian Tisdall. Also exhibiting is Brisbane based artist, Mel McRae, known amongst Brisbane art lovers for his paintings of realism that tell individual stories.

The art is takeaway for this exhibition, which means no red dots and no waiting! With Smalls Works/Small Town- Takeaway Art you can buy your mini masterpiece and take it home the very same day. Why not make a start on the Christmas shopping with a one-off treasure as the ultimate gift!

Noosa River - Brian Tisdal

The exhibition runs until January 8, 2012 at Rosebed St Gallery in Eudlo.

“Curramore” a manipulated photograph and a painting by Noela Mills

ASERIES of six classes will explore computer design options using digital cameras and easy photo editing programs at Maleny Arts Retreat from August 30.

The classes are being run by hinterland artist, and jewellery maker, Noela Mills.

You will learn how to manipulate your own photos by cropping, changing colour, distorting and more, to create bold new abstract designs suitable for use in your art and craft practice.

Create a painting, a garment panel, embroider over a photo transfer, print a series of pictures onto small canvases, or just do your own thing.

For more information and enrollments contact Maleny Arts Retreat 5499 9801 admin@malenyartsretreat.com.au

www.malenyartsretreat.com.au

Visit hinterland artists’ creative spaces

MORE than 30 professional artists living in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland will be opening their studios to the public at various times during the month of

August. For more information please go to www.artsconnectinc.com.au

Noela Mills

Creative Spaces – Open Studios is an Arts Connect Inc initiative supported by many community organisations and businesses.

Aligning with the Sunshine Coast Walks Festival, all studios will be open during the weekends of 20 -21 and 28-29 August. The SC Walks Festival is an initiaitive of the Hinterland Tourism Sunshine Coast. The coming together of Hinterland business and community groups in order to complement each others events, illustrates Hinterland co-operation at it’s best.

Enjoy the spectacular views from the Mayfield complex and join internationally renowned blown glass artist, Tina Cooper at the Illume Creations Gallery. Muraay (Peter Mulcahy, a local indigenous artist)

will be painting onto a Tina Cooper “Sunrise” piece and Mapleton artist, Carmel White will be demonstrating bead making. Also featured at Illume Creations is a special performance by local Gubbi Gubbi Tribe member, Lyndon Davis, who will play a Tina Cooper hand blown glass didgeridoo.

Just next door, ArtsConnect will be “In Residence” on the Village Green, a regular feature on the monthly Montville calendar serendipitously coincides with this inaugural Montville Walks Day event.

Just across the road, the Montville Art Gallery will feature oil painter, Ron Cameron who once said, “You don’t need a degree to understand art – the Cave Men did it”.

Ron’s accomplishments include winning the ‘People’s Choice Award’ at the Moomba Art Festival in Melbourne when he was still in his twenties. He also won the prize for the most popular painting in the Redcliffe Art Show soon after.

Meander down to Montville Woods and watch wood-turner, Ken Rays at work.

At the southern end of Montville Main Street Gallery will feature Kim Schoenberger an accomplished local ceramic and mixed-media artist.

“I will demo my ‘Unearthed’ pitchers and bowls,” says Kim “so folk can have an insight to all the work that goes into them. I will have a complete step-by-step presentation (without giving away all my secrets, of course)! on display from lump of clay to finished product.”

Then just a short drive or significant walk (approx. 2.2kms) along picturesque Western Av., Flame Hill Vineyard will be hosting, Kendall Perkins. Kendall herself says “throwing caution to the wind in a blaze of colour and character!”.

Artists in Residence Walk 10am-12 noon. Sunday August 21.

On-line dating agency A Table for Six has come up with a family-friendly walk with great prizes and hopefully a few matches along the way. This is a child friendly environment so feel free to bring the children along to enjoy the walk.

There will be different groups divided into ages and compatability.

Jim Goulton of Maleny Jewellers, who are joint sponsors of the Speed Dating walk, with SEA FM, has expectations of a match or two and will have a range of engagement rings on hand for a quick betrothal. Jim is providing the walk guides.

For those seriously on the look-out for a partner, you should register on the Table for Six website: www.atableforsix.com.au

Organisers will match pairs following some brief information. The 5km easy walk takes you from Maleny’s Tesch Park up to the High School, through the Showgrounds and back to the park. Along the way a whistle will blow and you will change partners. You have five minutes to get to know each other.

Back at Tesch Park is an Apex sausage sizzle and the awarding of prizes. And who knows, there might be a hint of an engagement and a betrothal ceremony.

Prizes include a two course dinner for two with a bottle of bubbly at Pomodoras and B@B night for two at Montville Country Cabins.

What you need: $10 registration. Water bottle, good walking shoes and a smile. Guides provided by Maleny Jewellers. Sausage sizzle in the park. Sponsored by SEA FM, A Table for Six, Maleny Jewellers. 10.00am Saturday August 20 at Tesch Park info@sun.atableforsix.com.au Contact: Tracy 0427 146 142