Three incredibly skilled and generous lead artists, Gwen Egg, Ailsa Fergusson and Penny Dilger ran a very popular Creators Workshop on the Saturday; the colours and creations were overflowing with workshops in various mediums, collage, lino printing and the ‘fun-damentals’ of paper engineering and pop-up card making. And it was certainly fun!

The second day drew a crowd to a Birds and Islands exhibition followed by a Symposium related to bird life on our islands.

Art works on display showed a wide range of techniques – watercolour, acrylic, pastel, etching on wood, textile sculpture, photography etc

Janet Fenton’s acrylic on canvas Stormy Crossing depicted an Orange-bellied parrot - such tiny birds which migrate each year from the mainland to their home territory at Port Davey. Such a long migration. In autumn and spring, when the Orange-bellied Parrots take to the wing for their long expedition north or south, the weather can be wild. They face wind and rain, flying swiftly over long stretches of sea with few island respites. It’s marvellous how they manage this, year after year, buffeted by wind, facing the cold, with the wild, powerful ocean below them.

Es Janet Fenton Obp (1 of 1) Storrmy Crossing E Xx

As an emerging young artist, Amy Thurling enjoys creating small-scale sculptures in felt and chose to portray an endangered species. Her unique textile sculpture titled Going, going, going, gone, saved? won both the Youth and People’s Choice awards.

02 Es G7 Xiii S2nd Lr 13 Amy Thurling Textile Sculptue Going, Going, Going, Gone, Saved People's Choice & Youth Arttist Award

Vincent Taylor has a close relationship with Tasman Island through his mother who grew up on the island. His entry in the exhibition, Light on the Cliff, utilises laser engraving on wood – a craft which he has developed & now operates as a business - Drawn in Light Designs.

Es G7 Xiii 4 Vincent Taylor LASER Design & Wood Engraving

Based on a photo of a Shy Albatross taken by Els Wakefield, FoTI President Carol Jackson’s artistic skills certainly came to the fore. Her paper collage Shy Albatross off Tasman Island was created by cutting up leftover Lighthouses of Tasmania Artists 2026 calendars.

FoTI member and supporter Lucy Landon-Lane’s Eagle Dance was one out of the box.

Lucy’s life-long passion for all forms of dance as well as birds was certainly evident. Eagle Dance is a moving dedication to the plight of all birds struggling for survival.

00 Es G7 Xiii E S2nd Lr 7 Lucy Eagle Dance E

Background music Uniko by Samuli Kosminen, Kimmo Pohjonen & Kronas Quintet also set the scene.

The symposium focussed on island birds and was led by Sally Bryant with a team of other birding experts – Els Wakefield, Sue Robinson and Mel Wells. A discussion followed on how we can all play our part in the preservation of our unique bird species.

Es G7 Xiii E S2nd Lr 11 Sally Bryant, Els Wakefield, Sue Robinson & Mel Wells

Ornithologist and FoTI volunteer, Els Wakefield, spoke about her 25-year journey to write and publish her wonderful book, A life with the Birds of Tasmania.

After the symposium, a small group joined Jason Graham from the Pacific Black Duck Conservation Group for a bird walk and duck count. Jason spoke about the threat to Tasmania’s Pacific black ducks (PBD) from introduced mallard hybridisation and the group’s efforts in protecting PBDs and urban waterways. The group found a flock of PBD x mallard hybrids at Faggs Gully Creek which generated a discussion about the different ways to differentiate native PBDs, domestic mallards and their hybrids. The walk was effective in helping interested attendees in practicing their duck identification skills and in determining the need for a PBDCG and Clarence Council feral duck removal project at this location. Quack quack.

In the words of our amazing Event Organiser, Georgie Carr

‘We had intra-and inter- state visitors travelling specifically for the event. Eager to meld further into each group's circle.

We had many participants who were not Wildcare members. Extending the reach.

We had artists reflecting, learning about the islands and creating specifically for the event. About half were first time exhibitors braving the public embrace.

We supported a new Wildcare group to reach a new audience.

We sold over 80 tickets

We sat in contemplation of conservation projects and how we can meld ourselves further into future efforts.

We celebrated community.

We brought the islands and wild places to mind, off the island.

Woah. Look at us go.’

Thank you, Georgie, for the terrific amount you put into the weekend. And for the rest of the planning team, a fun project to be working together on and plenty of applause for everyone’s contribution.

All photos taken by FoTI photographer, Erika Shankley

Thumbnail photo: Heidi Krajewskie 1st time exhibitor award

Friends of Melaleuca working bee 8-15 March 2017