Leura 2005
For those who couldn’t make it, those who wouldn’t make it and those who did make it but can’t remember much, LINDSAY FOYLE gives his annual rundown ofthe ACA’s big weekend.
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Peter Broelman
J
ust on 100 kilometres west of Sydney is the Blue Mountains town of Leura, which was the home for the 2005 Stanley Awards over the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6. For many the 11:00am train from Central Station was the start of the weekend. After booking in at the Fairmont Resort there was just enough time for a quick drink before the coach departed for the Stop Laughing Gallery in Blackheath. Ian and Elizabeth Dalkin host many exhibitions of cartoons there and on this occasion it was a presentation on animation by Mark Trounce. There was also refreshment for anyone needing sustenance as it had been over an hour since lunch. After everyone was suitably informed on animation and revitalized, the coach headed back to the Fairmont after a stopover at the Katoomba scenic railway. By six that evening it was off to the Norman Lindsay Gallery in Springwood for the welcome cocktail party and cartoon exhibition. Drinks and finger food stopped most feeling faint from hunger. Dinner followed at the Alexander Hotel in Leura - for those with fading stamina - before everyone headed back to the Fairmont for a good night’s rest. There were those who didn’t have the
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strength to make it back to their rooms and were forced to stop off in the bar for a drink or two just to keep their energy levels up. The AGM kicked off on time at 9:00am on Saturday - just after breakfast - and the conference got underway at 10:20am after morning tea. Over the past 11 years the conference has been growing in popularity and this year about 60 people attended. Chad Corley from Viscopy got proceedings underway talking about Money Matters followed by David Spencer from Wacom and Richard Dodd from Corel. Unfortunately, Spencer’s and Dodd’s talks proved so popular that few wanted to move into the next room where Chris Kelly was demonstrating how to use the equipment they were talking about. When everyone realised what they were missing it was hard to prize them away from Kelly to listen to Ben Morgan and Catherine Anselmi giving an overview on Mac courses. Order was eventually restored when starving delegates dragged themselves into lunch. With energy restored and tummies full everyone then copped an ear full when the Inky Ladies, Jo Brooker, Alex Hallatt, Fiona Katauskas, Kerry Millard and Judy Nadin explained they would rather be known as cartoonists than female cartoonists. This was followed by a panel discussion by Helen Glad, Lin Bloomfield, Norman Hetherington and Allan Donnelly on Norman Lindsay. Afternoon tea gave everyone a chance to reflect on the day so far and Bill Leak and Mark Knight set up shop in the foyer to sign copies of their books. Rolf Heimann then gave a well-presented talk on the negative side of cartooning. The conference came to an end when Allan Salisbury gave everyone an insight into his life and the success of his reptilian creation Snake. Delegates had just enough time for drink in the bar before changing for the Stanley Awards which were due to kick off at 7:00pm. After pre-dinner drinks and an “a cappella” performance from Dog Walking Backwards, Warren Brown took charge as MC for the night. A glass or two of wine, accompanied by Rikki Organ impersonating some of Australia’s best entertainers, got the evening off to a great start. After the food started to arrive Mikey Robins gave everyone an understanding of why he’s one of Australia’s top comedians. The first trophy of the night went to Jason Chatfield who picked up The Australian’s Bill Mitchell Memorial Award. Tony Lopes collected the Rural Press Comic Strip award, which he’d also picked up in 2003. Matt Golding put his hand around the Thomson Education Direct Single Gag Cartoonist award to keep company with his 2001 trophy. David Pope had won Corel Humorous Illustrator award in 2001, 2003 and 2004 but didn’t complain when he collected a fourth. Tom Jellett was a first-time winner with the Viscopy General Illustrator award. The Wacom Digital Illustrator award went to John Shakespeare as it did in 2004 and Brett Lethbridge collected his third Apple Centre Taylor Square Caricaturist trophy. Last year’s winner of the The Daily Telegraph Editorial /Political Cartoonist award, Peter Broelman, was very happy to be back on stage to make it two in a row. If that wasn’t enough, he backed it up with The Australian Cartoonist of the Year. Bill Leak became the evening’s auctioneer and Allan Salisbury, who was busy celebrating 30 years of drawing Snake, managed to collect The Jim Russell Award for his contribution to Australian cartooning. To teach him a lesson for all his hard work for the ACA Jason Chatfield was smocked for his trouble after the formal part of the night. All the excitement proved too much for some and they retreated to the bar. Well, nobody ever confused a cartoonist with a camel did they? There is no truth to the rumour that several cartoonists were still in the bar as breakfast was being served on Sunday. But one or two didn’t look good as they boarded the coach at 10:00am for Blackheath Oval, the Mayor’s Farewell Barbecue, a game of cricket and a drink or two.