north east regional extra | April 6 - 12, 2022
nemedia.com.au
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April 6 - 12, 2022
Reconnecting with her first love By BELINDA HARRISON
COURTNEY Young grew up on the far south coast of New South Wales on beautiful Yuin country, her father an oyster farmer and mother a teacher. Although she had been interested in art for as long as she could remember, Courtney’s year 12 art classes provided little joy, replacing previous enjoyment with stress and disappointment and making her wonder how she could possibly make a living as an artist. Instead, she made her way to university in Melbourne where she pursued another of her passions - the environment - receiving a Bachelor of Environments with a major in geography. Courtney couldn’t quite leave behind her passion for art though and minored in art history. Her post graduate studies in agricultural science led her to a career path in environmental restoration and regenerative agriculture. Her art went by the wayside for the most part in her 20s,
with Courtney and her husband starting a family and becoming regenerative farmers and business owners. “My husband and I started Woodstock Flour not long after finishing uni and we mill organic grain grown by his family in Berrigan, NSW,” Courtney said. “We also now grow grain here in Rutherglen where we recently bought a little farm.” In addition to grain, Courtney and her husband also produce lamb and sell direct to the public. With life taking shape for Courtney, she decided to commit to an art practise about five years ago and concentrated on showing up to her studio every day in some capacity. “When I committed to my art again, I really focused on reading as much as I could,” she said. “I also simply look at lots of art, which is important to me because I love it, but also because I can learn so much from it.”
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◆ SOLO SUCCESS: Courtney Young recently held her first solo exhibition at Art Gallery on Ovens in Wangaratta. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
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BOOK NOOK
ANIMAL CARE
WINE NE TALK K
YOUR R HEALTH LTH
TECH & SCIENCE CE
GONE FISHING
THE KELLY HUNTERS
with REX
with ANITA
with DIANA
with CHRIS
with ROB B
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