MID NORTH COAST
4 SCORE YEARS+ SPOTLIGHT
Our new creative aging feature seeks to shine the spotlight on some of our talented artists and creatives of a certain age. As the title suggests all are aged over 80 but they are still making a significant contribution to the arts landscape of the Mid North Coast and beyond.
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4 SCORE YEARS+ ARTISTS
Nicholas Daunt. Painter
To celebrate his 80th birthday Nicholas ran an exhibition, Four Score Years, at the Art Factory in Coffs Harbour in Aug 2017. He has previously exhibited at the Libby Edwards Gallery in Melbourne, the Traffic Jam Gallery in Sydney and the Regional Gallery in Coffs Harbour.
Mavis Barnes. Events Management
Whether it is taking phone bookings, being on the door, or taking the minutes or executive roles on various committees Mavis remains actively involved in her community today. She represents the many volunteers throughout the towns and villages of the Mid North Coast without whom so many events and arts organizations would simply not happen.
Annie Georgeson. Designer
How many young Mid North Coast designers are brave enough to establish a new company for a release of their designs via an established Australian company under a licensing arrangement for the international market? Well, that is just what Annie Georgeson has done at the age of 82.
Kevin Atkins. Musician
Kevin Atkins has been playing piano and organ since he had his first lesson at nine years of age. But, he says, he was in his 80s before he realised other people might also like what he plays…
Frank Urban. Writer
Drawing on a varied and rich life including since retiring as Director of the Central Mapping Authority in Bathurst to becoming a dairy farmer in Comboyne and Secretary of the Comboyne Agricultural Show and now Port Macquarie retiree, Frank Urban has become a prolific writer.
Rhythm Revue
While many in their audiences are over 80 and some in the group are nudging this amazing group is featured because of its commitment to both dancing and entertaining older audiences.
Geoff Mould. Painter & Poet
This amiable octogenarian sparked a love of the arts during his teaching career, particularly through a passion for painting and poetry which he continues to share with the world. Geoff attended the National Art School in Sydney (1952 – 1956) and subsequently the Sydney Teachers College.
Shirley & Harry Oliver. Dancing Sweethearts
Celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary their shared passion of dancing has been a key to why they believe their marriage has lasted so long. “He was a very good dancing partner, I wasn’t going to let go of him,” Shirley said.
The Savvy Singers
The Savvy Singers is a singing group that performs concerts in Port Macquarie and meets Mondays under the tutelage of well known musical director, choir leader and music educator Robyn Ryan OAM. "This is a group of older people who sing together but who are concerned about losing some of their faculties through ageing," Mrs Ryan said. "So this year I have started to introduce cognitive therapy movement”.
Maureen Cooke. Organiser Extraordinaire
As has been noted by others it is hard to sum up a lifetime of Maureen’s dedication to the arts and the community. A designer and seamstress with her own fashion line, ‘Maureens Models’ in the ‘70s, she is perhaps now more noted for her various and continuing roles with the Port Macquarie Arts Society
Lorraine Francis. Painter & Writer
Lorraine prefers painting with acrylic for its vivid colours and quick drying. She believes acrylic enables spontaneity in her work, an unrestrained freedom of expression, the ability to quickly complete a canvas almost without forethought, without anticipating the final result.
Jan Johnson Furness. Painter
Jan and her husband Bob moved to Tea Gardens in 2015, she then became a member of the not-for-profit art group Galleries in the Gardens (GIG) and now exhibits her works for sale locally. She was bestowed the role of Gallery Manager, holds a Committee position with GIG and does very much more than her fair share (with her husband Bob) of rostered days on reception at The Gallery.
Colleen. At 85 a Film Star
From film projectionist to film star that is the story of Coffs Harbour local, Colleen, an 85-year old transgender woman, transitioning from male to female. Having lived most of her life as Colin – a husband, father, policeman, film-projectionist and self-declared shoe fetishist, Colleen has had to negotiate her gender transition later in life.
