THIS time last year, local pilots Greg Ball and Michael Taylor were keenly looking forward to their fourth Outback Air Race that was to take off in August.
They arrived back safely and are already thinking about the next round-Australia air race in 2021 that will again raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
In a Woolorama sponsorship deal the pair adopted the new team flying name Wagin Woolorama Cockies and tried their hardest to promote Wagin and its iconic Woolorama.
Every step (or should that be flight) of the way over the 10 days was followed on Woolorama’s Facebook page as the 100 or so contestants in 41 light aircraft made their way across Australia’s top end.
By the end of the race almost $500,000 had been raised including $10,000 contributed by Woolorama Flying Cockies (which included $2000 from the Woolorama committee.)
Along the way they noted the extreme dryness of the eastern Australian countryside and the complete lack of water in the cotton farm dams.
Another indelible impression forged as they crossed through outback regions was the number of people they met who had been blessed by RFDS services.
At the Mt Isa RFDS centre they were also surprised to find that only about 15 per cent of RFDS work is patient retrieval, with remote clinics and health services making up the rest.
To raise money the men worked hard soliciting generous donations from the community but for next time they have welcomed the flying start art section head steward Fiona Dawson has given them.
Last year Ms Dawson instigated an artist-in-residence to add extra interest to the section with Busselton painter Jenny Taylor spending two days demonstrating, talking to and encouraging aspiring artists who sought her advice and opinions to help them.
Ms Dawson commissioned a painting from this quirky artist to capture her impression of the air race and the result is a painting that will be raffled off during Woolorama.
The original painting will be first prize, second will be a full-size print and third will be a small print.
Tickets are $15 each and limited to 250 tickets sold.
Tickets will be on sale from mid-February and the raffle draw will be held at 2:30pm on Saturday in the Art Section.
Ms Taylor will be returning to the 2019 Make Smoking Wagin Woolorama in her capacity as judge and artist-in-residence and expects to find the same high standard of work she found last year.
Looking ahead she will most likely be judging in 2020, with Ms Dawson saying there is a benefit in having the same judge for several years so exhibitors can get feedback on their work.
She expects more than 100 entries in the section with artists limited to four pieces of artwork.
The display also will feature an exhibition of Ms Taylor’s art and will include hand-painted products, such as cushions and glassware.
In keeping with Woolorama’s youth, vitality and innovation theme Ms Dawson has instigated a youth fine art award with the support of local schools.
