A Huge Thank You for Making This Year’s Art Exhibition a Success!
- Creative Connections Whitsunday Inc
- Aug 8, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 25
Celebrating Art and Community
A huge thank you to everyone who made this year’s Art Exhibition such a success! Set against the stunning backdrop of the Whitsunday Sailing Club, the exhibition welcomed more than 1,200 visitors through the doors. Art lovers came from across Australia and even overseas.
From the moment we opened, the response was incredible. Visitors quickly praised the quality of the work on display and how beautifully the space was curated. It’s always uplifting to hear people genuinely connect with the art and the stories behind it.
The Judging Process
Our Judge, Irene Mengel, had her work cut out for her. With 79 entries across multiple categories, she noted just how tough it was to choose winners from such a strong field. The level of talent this year was truly impressive. If you couldn’t make it, you can visit our online Gallery to see all the Finalist artworks.
Opening night was absolutely buzzing. With a full house, the evening was officially opened by Mayor Ry Collins. A special thanks goes to our MC for the night, Julia Evans.
Congratulations to the Winners for 2025
Best in Show
Sponsored by Whitsunday Regional Council
Winner: Sharon Wootton - Where the Land Meets the Sea
2D Award Winner
Sponsored by Tassal - Our Community
Winner: Trudy Hastings - ……In a While
2D Award Highly Commended
Lenny Pennell - River to Reef
Patsy Harris - Stone Curlews
3D Award Winner
Sponsored by Vision Surveys QLD - Surveyors & Town Planners & Mosaic Consultants
Winner: Barry Smith - Nature’s Wonderland
3D Award Highly Commended
Kate Schuler - Riding The Tide
Photography Winner
Sponsored by Ray White Whitsunday
Winner: Andrea Fabian - Langford Reef
Photography Highly Commended
Lucy Seddon-Brown - The Capture
Cathy Knezevic Local Artist Award
Winner: Joe Faust - Bommies
Theme Award
Winner: Brigitte Peel - Unity Comes From The Moon & The Sea
Framing Award
R & K Kenyon Picture Framing
Winner: Jahla Thompson - In Our Hands
People's Choice Award
Sponsored by Community Bank Cannonvale-Proserpine
Winner: Brigitte Peel - Unity Comes From The Moon & The Sea
Behind the Scenes: A Huge Thank You
Events like this don’t come together on their own. We’re incredibly grateful to the dedicated team who made the exhibition happen. A heartfelt thanks goes to our wonderful members and volunteers who helped staff the event. Your time and energy were so appreciated.
We also want to give a shoutout to our talented event photographers, Shirley Wodson and Merewyn Wright, for capturing the atmosphere and the artwork so beautifully.
A very special thank you goes to our incredible exhibition setup crew: Linda Forrester, Grace McDonald, Gemma Louise Pap, and Carol Bell. This year’s exhibition had to be installed in just one day—no small feat. This team pulled it off with skill and confidence. Grace can fix just about anything, and Gemma’s tireless good humour kept everyone going. They made what could have been a stressful day a whole lot easier.
To everyone who visited, exhibited, or helped bring it all together, including our generous sponsors: thank you for being part of something special. We couldn’t have done it without you. A heartfelt thank you to Glenda Brown, Coordinator of this exhibition, for her tireless effort and unwavering dedication.
Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets. The draw will take place on the 4th of September, so there is still time to purchase tickets. Proceeds from this raffle will help us furnish and fit out the community gallery in Proserpine.
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