2025 Winners | Currabubula

AWARDS
2025 WINNERS

PAINTINGS

Supported by: Cascade Poll Herefords & Angus

#38 Kathy Ellem, “Just a Nibble” ($6,000 Prize)

Winsome Busby B.E.M. Memorial Prize ($6,000)

Supported by: Regional Australia Bank and The Lomax Family

First Prize: #59 David Newbridge, “Evening Pastoral" ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: #57 Ross Kurtz, “Granite Ridge” ($100 Prize)

Section 1 – Oils or Acrylic ($1,000)

Supported by: Shaun Hamilton Funerals, Currabubula Pub & Café and Hooks Storage

First Prize: #216, Kim Jenkins, “Don’t Worry Keep Singing” ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: “Linburn Cottage Mudgee” ($100 Prize)

Section 2 – Watercolour ($1,000)

Supported by: Duncan’s Store Currabubula, Jillian Thompson (OT),

Super Wash Taminda and Agripath

First Prize: #308 Anna Henderson, “Bear Hill” (Prize $1,000)

Highly Commended: #323 Sharon Moroney, “The Vanishing #16” ($100 Prize)

Section 3 - Any Other Medium ($1,000)

Supported by: David A B White, Maxi Tankers and Robert and Tammie Clark

First Prize: #427 Madeline Szymanski, “Sunset Supermarket” ($600 Prize)

Highly Commended: Madeline Szymanski, “Eden Apple” ($100 Prize)

Section 4 - Miniature

Barry & Marion White Memorial Prize ($600)

Supported by: The Randclaud Family and The Norman Family, The Norris Family

First Prize: #507 Stephanie Creigh, “Sunset Before Storm” ($1,000 Prize)

The Myra Norris Memorial Prize: #526 Leigh Pritchard, “The Road to Home”

(Prize $100)

Section 5 – Local Artist

The Helen Memorial Prize (Prize $500)
The Myra Norris Memorial Prize (Prize $100)

Supported by: JobLink Plus – Focused on our Community

#83 Blagoj Ristevski, "The Best Mates" ($600 Prize)

People's Choice Award (Prize $600)

CHAMPION

PHOTOGRAPHY

Supported by: Currabubula Station, Dee Bar Stud Werris Creek and Capital Glass Tamworth

First Prize: #621 Jeremee Slattery, "From the Garden" ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: #617 Neville Ritchie, "Morning Mist Over Chaffey"

($100 Prize)

Section One - Colour ($1,000 Prize)

Supported by: Michell Truck Bodies, TB's Backyards and Boral

First Prize: #704 Diane Crowe, "Steam in the Country" ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: #714 Jeremee Slattery, "The Road Home" ($100 Prize)

Section 2 – Monochrome ($1,000 Prize)

“Just a Nibble”

Winsome Busby B.E.M. Memorial Prize

#38 Kathy Ellem

Evening Pastoral

#59 David Newbridge

Don’t Worry Keep Singing

#216, Kim Jenkins

Bear Hill

#308 Anna Henderson

Sunset Before Storm

#507 Stephanie Creigh

The Best Mates

#83 Blagoj Ristevski

From the Garden

#621 Jeremee Slattery

Steam in the Country

#704 Diane Crowe

PAINTINGS

Champion Artwork Prize ($6,000)

Supported by: Karen Arnott

#34 Kathy Ellem, "Breath" ($6,000 Prize)

Section 1 – Oils or Acrylic ($1,000)

Supported by: Shaw Advice | Robert & Tammie Clark | Winsome Busby

First Prize: #82 Blagoj Ristevski, "Rustic Charm" ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: #56 Jenny Johns, "Wattle Glory" ($100 Prize)

Section 2 – Watercolour ($1,000)

Supported by: Mike Lomax – ‘Pam Lomax Memorial Prize | Shaun Hamilton | Winsome Busby

First Prize: #210 Pat Chaffey, "Crashing Waves" ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: #206 Pam Birrell, "Aggie" ($100 Prize)

Section 3 - Any Other Medium ($1,000)

Supported by: Currabubula Pastoral Pty Ltd | Winsome Busby

First Prize: #313 Jenny Johns, "Autumn in the Clarence" (Prize $1,000)

Highly Commended: #312 Kim Jenkins, "Mother & Child" ($100 Prize)

Section 4 - Miniature ($600)

Supported by: Barry & Marion White Memorial | Winsome Busby

First Prize: #420 Madeline Szymannski, "Riverbank" ($600 Prize)

Highly Commended: #417 Pen Shephard, "The Kitchen" ($100 Prize)

Section 5 – Local Artist

Supported by: The Randclaud Family | Winsome Busby | The Norris Family

First Prize: #525 Sophie Lockwood, "Superb Fairywren" ($1,000 Prize)

Highly Commended: #516 Judith Edmunds, "Forest Bounty" (Prize $100)

The Myra Norris Encouragement Award: #507 Lynda Coffey, "Our Mountain View" (Prize $100)

Special Award All Painting Sections 1 to 5 – 'Life on the Land' ($1,000)
This painting should encapsulate ‘Life on the Land’

Supported by: John Riboldi & Family - In memory of farming pioneers and sisters
Margaret & Helen Scott and their farm "Galla".

First Prize: #52 Jenny Johns, "A Moment in Time" ($1,000 Prize)

People's Choice Award (Prize $1,000)

Supported by: JobLink Plus – Focused on our Community

#35 Kathy Ellem, "Holly and Prince" ($1,000 Prize)

CHAMPION ARTWORK

PHOTOGRAPHY

Section Six - Photography Colour 'Australia through your lens' ($500 Prize)

Supported by: Rodger Grant - Koobah Performance Horses Pty Ltd |
Shay Brennan Construction| Robert & Tammie Clarke

First Prize: #601 Digby Brown, "Deja vu" ($500 Prize)

Highly Commended: #605 Margaret Carr, "Fluffles, a Gunnedah local" ($100 Prize)

Section Seven – Photography Monochrome 'Australia through your lens' ($500 Prize)

Supported by: The Thornton Family |Duncan's Store & Fuel| Tamworth Camera Club

First Prize: #717 Sharon Ritchie, "Muster" ($500 Prize)

Highly Commended: #702 Margaret Carr, "Iconic Harbour Lights" ($100 Prize)

2025 Guest Judge: James White

We are honoured to welcome James White, a celebrated artist with deep roots in our region and a long-standing connection to the Currabubula Art Show, as our guest judge for the painting category in 2025.

Born in 1946 and raised on the family farm near Boggabri in northern NSW, James discovered his love for art during his school years, first at the local bush school and later at The Armidale School. Under Fred Roberts' guidance, it was there that his artistic journey began to flourish.

In 1964, just after finishing school, James won the watercolour prize at the Currabubula Art Show – a milestone that encouraged him to continue painting. He went on to win the same prize another six times in the years that followed, becoming a familiar and admired name among art show supporters and entrants alike.

Following several years of travelling and painting overseas, James returned to the family property near Boggabri. Influenced by local artist Rupert Richardson – who would later become a Member of the Australian Watercolour Institute - James embraced watercolour as his preferred medium.

Known for his use of strong, clean colours and luminous light, James draws inspiration from memory, his travels, and the rural landscapes of northern NSW. His work often tells a story – sometimes with a playful or humorous twist – making it both distinctive and deeply engaging.

We are delighted to welcome James White back to Currabubula – not as a competitor this time, but as our esteemed guest judge for 2025.