Fireworks celebrate festival success

A spectacular fireworks show held in Dunsborough last Sunday night (March 1) to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Dunsborough Arts Festival was so successful that Dianne Laurance has promised to sponsor another fireworks presentation for next year’s Festival. Around 7000 people lined the foreshore parks and beaches to see them.

Dunsborough Progress Association President Jacquie Happ said the fireworks were a great success with people of all ages. “It was great to see so many family groups and friends gathering together for the Sunday concert and what was Dunsborough’s first ever Fireworks show. It was a wonderful way to mark the Festival’s 20th year,” Jacquie said. “Diane’s announcement to sponsor the fireworks for a second year is great news for the Festival, and a fabulous treat for Festival goers,” she said.

The Arts Festival and its Sculpture by the Bay exhibition during the Long Weekend attracted its best crowds yet. People poured into Seymour Park, the Christian Fletcher Gallery, and onto the foreshore to view the 84 artworks entered in the Festival’s Sculpture by the Bay competitions.

“There was also a good turnout for our Festival Art Market on Sunday morning, and great crowds for our Saturday and Sunday night Festival concerts on the foreshore,” Jacquie said.

Sculpture coordinator Vicky Small said about $106,000 in sculpture sales had been achieved , going back to the Dunsborough community and artists.

“This is on top of the $14,000 of sponsorship awarded to winners,” Vicky said.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on Social Media about the Festival and Sculpture by the Bay,” she said.

‘Metal Head’ by Richard Jenkin
’ ‘Alone’ by Simon Youngleson

Sculpture Prize winners included:

Small Sculptures:

The NowGen by Nick Goode Small Sculpture Prize Award ‘Pink Salt Lake’ by Vicky Small.
Commendation Prize ‘Are we there yet?’ By Lily Mercer.

Large Sculptures:

Dianne Laurance Excellence Award to ‘Dance of the Dryads’ by Daniel Fisher
Dianne Laurance Award for encouraging future artists to school entry Natures Atelier Early Learning Centre for their Snake Skin.
City of Busselton Acquisitive Prize awarded to ‘Invisible Influence’ by Kane Bluegum.
Braeco Recycled Darn Art awards – first ‘Magpie’s Melody’ by Dennis Wilson and second ‘Seahorse Sentinel’ by Robert Turner.
Happs Emerging Artist award to ‘Metal Head’ by Richard Jenkin
Christian Fletcher Gallery Environmental Message Award to ‘Alone’ by Simon Youngleson.

Christian Fletcher Gallery People’s Choice Award for small sculptures went to King Protea by James Horsley.

The JMW People’s Choice Award winner for larger sculptures was Seagull with Chip by Maurice Rosbotham.

“Seagull with Chip” by Maurice Rosbotham JMW People’s Choice Award winner

Foreshore cafe review and submissions open

Artist’s impression of foreshore cafe

The City of Busselton is engaging with the community over the planned foreshore cafe and kiosk in Dunsborough. The city will be holding information sessions February 20 and 21 at the Naturalist Community Centre (Thursday Feb 20: 4:00pm – 5:00pm, Friday Feb 21: 1.30pm – 2:30pm). Concurrently, submissions can be made to the WA Department of Lands on the development.

The city is negotiating with the Department of Lands, Planning and Heritage to secure a portion of Crown Reserve (Class A Reserve) on Centennial Park Dunsborough for the future commercial lease. The Department of Lands is advertising the proposed area to be excised from the reserve. The public submissions period commenced on the 12th of February 2020 and runs for 30 days (March 12). It will also be advertised in the West Australian Newspaper. For more information on the submission process or to lodge a submission contact Rachel Nelson at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage on Rachel.nelson@dplh.wa.gov.au or telephone (08) 9791 0898.

Location of the proposed cafe

The proposed development is 831sqm in total, and will have a 301sqm footprint for commercial purposes which includes re-purposing the existing public toilets of 101sqm into cafe storage space. The other 530sqm, by far the biggest portion of the excised reserve, will be developed for the community and will provide a great new range of public assets including new ablutions and beach showers, bike stations and improved pathways as well as picnic and decked areas for general recreational use. The rental income from the developer will go towards maintaining the Dunsborough Foreshore and the new community assets provided. The preferred proponent for the future commecial lease is Margaret River Hospitality Group, which owns and operates the White Elephant Beach Café, Morries, The Common, Barefoot Beach Weddings and a catering company.

For more information from the city see https://yoursay.busselton.wa.gov.au/dunsborough-foreshore-cafe-update

Reward your volunteer

It’s time for people in the Dunsborough region to reward their volunteers with a nomination for the Naturaliste Gratitude Awards, announced every January on Australia Day.

Chair of the Dunsborough Progress Association Jacquie Happ said Award nominations were now being accepted to recognise the immense efforts by the volunteer workforce in supporting and enriching the Dunsborough community.

One of this year’s recipients, Kelly Everett, urged people to nominate a volunteer.

Ms Everett said it was very humbling to receive the Award and have her volunteer work acknowledged publicly.

“Sometimes the work undertaken by volunteers is very hidden and unseen. But when you receive an Award it’s like ‘oh, people do know that I’m doing stuff’.

“It gives you that buzz and the energy to keep going when times gets tough volunteering, as sometimes it does, because we’re always short of volunteers,” she said.

Ms Everett received her 2019 Award for her ongoing contribution as a St Johns Ambulance volunteer and committee member, and for her work with WA Scouts.

Jacquie Happ said Dunsborough volunteers like Kelly worked diligently in many areas from sport, the environment, health, the Arts, schools and supporting community services such as the fire brigades and St John’s Ambulance.

“They are often quiet achievers who strengthen and keep the local community group together. Volunteers are constantly there in the background, contributing their time and efforts to fundraisers or working together on projects,” Mrs Happ said.

“They work on diligently and without a fuss. So, these Awards are an opportunity for the community to recognise their efforts and thank them,” she said.

Mrs Happ said achievements this year, past achievements and any ongoing contribution to the community were all considered when choosing Award recipients.

“We also can grant an Award posthumously in recognition of recent achievements.”

Details of the eligibility criteria are available on the Association’s Facebook page. Nomination forms can be obtained by emailing president@dunsboroughprogress.com.au

Nominations close at the end of next month – 30 November. They should be posted to PO Box 63 Dunsborough WA 6281 or emailed to president@dunsboroughprogress.com.au

WanderArt Phase 1 complete

Dunsborough recently got even brighter with the addition of three new artworks in the town centre. Phase One of the Dunsborough Progress Association’s WanderArt project is complete.

Lauren Wilhelm’s work on the Lions Park electrical box has an important conservation message about the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum. Thanks to GeoCatch for funding this artwork.

Andrew Frazer’s awesome polaroid camera on the Western Power electrical kiosk located on the corner of Dunn Bay Rd/Dunsborough Place reminds us how photoworthy our area is.

Anita Revel’s ‘Wings’ murals provide a beautiful interactive photo opportunity next to Occy’s in Lions Park.

Thanks to all of the artists for your amazing talent and contribution, the City of Busselton for funding the project and the DYCCI for their support also.

Phase Two coming soon…!