President’s report August 2025
Denise Keele-bedford
I begin with sad news. Vale Graeme Carter, husband of Life Member Helen Carter. A celebration of his life was held on 29 July at Le Pine Funerals.
We also acknowledge the passing of Noel Waite AO, who was a valued MSWPS member for several years until 2021.
The annual exhibition will include a Tribute Exhibition to honour Susan O’Brien, who passed away earlier in 2025.
By the time you read this report, entry submissions for the annual exhibition will be open.
Please submit via your portal on the website: https://www.mswps.com.au
If you're interested in learning how we process and install artworks for a major exhibition, you're most welcome to register your interest and be placed on our volunteer list.
Send a message with the subject heading VOLUNTEERING to: info@mswps.com.au
Exciting news! You can now register your attendance for MSWPS events online. Events that require payment can now be paid for through the website.
Check out the event page for Paint & Sip with Lucy Fekete, coming up in August. Click on Register Your Attendance, fill out the form, and pay online.
For the Geelong Art Gallery Train Trip, simply register your attendance by completing the form — no payment is required, as it’s a pay-as-you-go event. Members from the Women’s Art Register have also been invited to join MSWPS for this activity.
A variety of our member events have encouraged broader geographic participation, bringing together members from different regions. MSWPS members are not strictly Melbourne metropolitan based — they live and create across Victoria and interstate.
If you meet a member you don’t know, introduce yourself, start a conversation and you never know where it might lead. In many ways, our members are seeking a similar connection within the society.
The Winter Solstice Lunch was a fun event, with five new members joining in. Angela Abbott read from one of Ola Cohn’s publications, recently gifted to the society.
A group also attended the Australian Tapestry Workshop, enjoying a most informative introduction from our host, Esse. We then climbed to a mezzanine platform to silently observe the workroom activities.
The first MSWPS casual meet-up at McClelland Gallery was a great success. Artists came with partners and friends. While admiring the stunning glassworks, introductions and conversations led to new connections — and a delightful, impromptu lunch invitation at Lisa O’Keefe’s home extended the camaraderie. What a treat it was to see her studio — a true bonus!
Donation to our society. Christopher Cobb made contact to say that his mother Lois Ainsley Watson want to gift her art materials to female artists. Lois was an amateur painter living in Doncaster and died two weeks short of her 108th birthday. I collected the supplies and am happy to say that Lucy Fekete will make use of some for the Paint & Sip Event on 17 August.
When we sort through the rest, committee will decide what will be done with the donation.
It was wonderful to be told that Lois was still in her home, with Christopher up until her passing.
To all our members born in August – Happy Birthday!
Image: ATW Artist in Residence: Sophie Honess (Gamiloroi Yinarr)
