THERE was a special addition to this year’s Australia Day afternoon tea at the Leongatha Rotary Art and Photography Show, with Vermont South’s Indie Challis winning the inaugural Luciblooms Memorial Youth Award for junior artists.
The Award was created by artist Anne Forbes of Mirboo North in memory of her daughter Lucia Berghella.
Indie’s winning painting is titled ‘Budgie’.
“It’s a good legacy for my daughter and her love of art,” Anne said after the presentation of the award and two honourable mentions.
Leongatha’s Niya Manavalan, with her work ‘The Camouflaged Muse’ and Ruby’s Amber Verboon, with ‘Sunset Beach’, received those acknowledgements.
“I find painting a great way to express myself and to practise mindfulness,” Anne told her audience at Leongatha Memorial Hall during a moving presentation ceremony.
She spoke of Lucia, who passed away in her sleep aged just 13 due to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP), having not been formally diagnosed with epilepsy.
“Lucia is remembered as being a fun, energetic, intelligent and cheeky bright spark who loved to paint and listen to music and being around her friends,” Anne said.
Mother and daughter enjoyed painting together.
Anne approached Leongatha Rotarian and Koonwarra-based artist Bob Hickman about establishing the Luciblooms Award and he was taken with the idea.
“I was overjoyed and I said, ‘Yes please’,” Bob said of his reaction when asked about the prospect of establishing the award in Lucia’s honour to promote the creativity of young artists.
He highlighted the increased effort Leongatha Rotary has put into encouraging young artists over recent years by providing free canvases to local schools, something that has boosted junior entries in the Art and Photography Show.
“Arts education is critical for helping students develop creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities,” Bob said.
Anne expressed her appreciation to those at Leongatha Rotary Club for agreeing to the new award.
She said about 200,000 people in Australia currently live with epilepsy, with a third of them not responding to the medications they are given.
“SUDEP occurs in approximately one in 1000 people and we don’t know what causes it, so there really is a greater need for research and promotion of it because a lot of people with epilepsy don’t know this can occur,” Anne said.
The Luciblooms Memorial Youth Award is open to those from primary school age through to 18 years, ensuring Anne had plenty of works to consider when selecting her winners at the Memorial Hall.
Indie received a $200 prize for her winning painting, with Niya and Amber awarded $100 each, and Anne hopes the trio will be encouraged to continue with their art.
