Arrival

Arrived in Quilpie itself after 14 hours driving over 2 days. Feeling great and ready to head fro Bunginderry - another 80kms - but stopped off first a a new restaurant in town which has been set up by Lou Dowling-Manns. Called Fresh on Brolga. It is fabulous. Great food. Wonderful coffee - not always easy to find in the west. While having lunch, the Camp cook, Dee Crotty came in and saw me. You run into people easily in the outback. She needed some help to load supplies from a local cold room so I packed my vehicle to the hilt. Saw a great local exhibition by Quilpie artists Leah Cameron and Ben Hall. Then set off for Bunginderry. Met by Stephen and Bella, Skye, the nanny and the Tully tribe - Lachlan, Sophia, Harriet, Hugo and Eve. They are pictured above. Lesley Cowper, an artist from Longreach was there and Bella was keen to show us the studio that Stephen is building her. Amazing space about 8m x 8m. Every artist would love it. Stephen is one of those amazing bushies who can do anything, fix anything and invent whatever is needed. The great thing about Stephen is that he does everything so well. have a look at the studio - above. Then, dinner with the family and a few wines and off to bed. Slept well after the long journey.

Something about Annabel

I told you about my friend Annabel who owns Bunginderry near Quilpie. That's about 12 hours drive from Brisbane - if you are Annabel. And about 14 hours for the rest of us.

This is one of her paintings of Bunginderry.

It is called: North Bunginderry

Bunginderry provides endless beautiful subjects for artists and I am always amazed at how each of us sees it differently and interprets it differently. I love Annabels' work. We have travelled around the outback together in the past painting as we go. And she produces wonderful work using found ochres and natural pigments as I do. But I always think her paintings of her homeland are especially beautiful and touched with a love that only she can paint. (By this stage she of course will be making motions as if she is puking, but it is true.)

Before I get to Bunginderry for the Camp next week, I am showing you some of the artists who have painted it. When I am there next week, I am planning to post our progress each day and introduce you to a new group of painters. The excitement is mounting for us. Some of us are going back for the third time (for me the eighth wonderful time) and we have a great cook, Dee who is from the west. I want you to meet her as well. One of those wonderful people that come from the bush. You will meet her next week.

Let me tell you a little about Bella. She is a young mum of five children, all under 8 if my memory serves me, and they are full of life. Bella and Stephen try to make sure they do not miss out on much being in the bush and of course, they have so many skills as kids who have to participate in a full life of a busy sheep and cattle station. Stephen, as a Tully, is related to the Duracks, a famous rural family from early settlement. You can read all about them by searching the name Durack. mary Durack wrote the Australian classic "Kings in Grass Castles". So he has a love of the outback that is all-encompassing. An incredible love that he expresse so well. At night we sometimes sit around and Stephen tells us stories of the area. I will relate some of them next week as well. They are a great couple who love to shae their lives and their home with those of us who love to paint it.

If you would like to see more of Bella's work, you can go to http://www.annabeltully.com/ where you can also buy her work. Annabel has just won second prize at the Waltzing Matilda Art Awards in Winton.