Buller sets its stamp on art world 

The Mt Buller Easter Art Prize and Exhibition continues to grow in stature and prize money, as shown over the weekend.

On Good Friday, during prize announcements, Wendy Jagger of Mansfield, won the Mansfield - Mt Buller Regional Painting Prize, a $2500 prize given to a work by a Mansfield resident.

Presenting the award to Wendy, one of the judges Peter Rancie told the assembled guests "It's a pleasure to be here. I am a local and I love Mt Buller. This event only happens because people have passion," he said and when Wendy's painting 'Regeneration' was declared winner, that passion was obvious as an emotional Wendy accepted her prize. With 20 years' experience in painting and ceramics, she said "My husband and I really have a lot of passion for this area. We've had a long held desire to come to this area and now we have."

Simon Klose of the Benalla Art Gallery said "The Mansfield shire artists were the big drivers of the prize. I think that this prize has added substantially to the enjoyment of art in Mansfield." . . .The Best in Show painting prize worth $25,000 was [awarded] to Robert Hollingworth for 'Kirby's Flat'

A strong field of judges included Peter Rancie, The Age newspaper art critic and Monash University professor Robert Nelson, and former head of the National Gallery of Victoria, Patrick McCaughey. Mr McCaughey told guests "you have to come to Mt Buller to see Australian enthusiasm at its best" There are fielding some very good peices," Patrick said and Simon Klose added "We've got a wonderful event and some fantastic people"

Excerpt from an article published in High Country Times, March 26 2008