Where there is an artist, there is a wombat

Above: QER’s Lyndell Fontaine

Gaetane Chiffoleau and Tracey Smith, event coordinators for the Wombat Factor 2, were overwhelmed with the turnout at last Saturday’s official opening held at the Tondoon Botanic Gardens.

Twelve local artists involved in the project displayed artwork produced from their immersion weekend at the Mt Larcom Australian Animals Care and Education (AACE) facility earlier this year.

Gladstone Regional Council mayor Gail Sellers was on-hand to peruse the huge collection of works, which included her own decorated wombat. Cr Sellers, along with other local entities such as Member for Gladstone Liz Cunningham, was invited to be involved with the Wombat Factor project.

AACE representatives were in attendance, along with some of the facility’s wombats. Tracey said this was an additional thrill for the 90 or so people who attended the opening.

“And we were pleased to see quite a few pieces sold on the day,” Tracey said. One piece of artwork from each artist is to be auctioned in conjunction with the Ecofest sponsors night this weekend. Pre-auction bidding forms are available from Elders Real Estate in Tank Street. The exhibition will remain on display at the Tondoon Botanic Gardens until Thursday, June 27.

Ecofest will be held June 2 at the Tondoon Botanic Gardens from 9am to 3pm.