April 18th, 2019 Opens the South Coast Pastel Society Inc. “Journey of Survival” Exhibition
Artists taking part in the themed section of our Easter/school holidays exhibition a “Journey of Survival” have composed their pastel art works accompanied by their interpretative short story and will be on display from 12 noon 18th April, 2019 and then 10am till 4pm daily from April 19th until closing date of 27th.
Visitors are welcome at all times and especially to our “meet and greet” the artist whilst enjoying a glass of wine and nibbles on Saturday 20th April from 2 pm – 4pm at Batemans Bay Surf Lifesaving club George Bass Drive, Malua Bay.
Entry is by gold coin donation to the Surf Club. The Society is holding a raffle which will be drawn at the end of the exhibition, prizes being original art works. Visitors will also be able to view our non-themed pastel works. All works framed or unframed are for sale along with cards.
A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS
To wet the viewer’s appetite events which started on November 1796, a then owned Scottish merchant sailing vessel called the “Sydney Cove” set sail from Bengal, India its cargo laden with of all manner of speculative items which they hoped to supply the British Colony of New South Wales. Its experienced captain, officers and crew of Lascars (Bengal Indian seamen) battled horrendous conditions and in February 1797 after such an arduous ocean voyage, a leaking ship they almost made it, but further wild seas and gale force winds found them wrecked on the tiny Preservation Island, part of the Furneaux Archipelago in Bass Strait a 1,000 kms short of their destination of Sydney
Artist Brian Neals “Longboat Wrecking”
Although both crew and cargo were saved there was little hope of rescue from passing ships, in February 1797 a crew comprising of 5 British and 12 Lascars was dispatched by long boat to make the journey to Port Jackson (Sydney)
The long boat was wrecked in a storm off Ninety Mile Beach (Vic) which meant the 17 seamen still had 700 kms to reach Port Jackson (Sydney). On 15th March these 17 men commenced the dangerous & challenging journey on foot of uncharted harsh terrains, beaches, coastlines and rivers. With limited food supply, the extreme elements, starvation claimed its toll of crew Danger from hostile natives and problems with crossing of rivers tested their resolve. What little cargo they carried such as calico and nails they were able to barter or bargain with natives in the early stages of the journey. They were fortunate also in that they sometimes came across friendly indigenous tribes who were curious about these strangely dressed men, and help came in the form of food, shelter and occasional canoe river crossing. They arrived at Batemans Bay shown on their rough map from earlier Cook navigation charts, where it was decided that only the fittest could continue, so after 62 days on foot only three remaining survivors reached Port Jackson. Two rescue schooners were despatched after 4 months to rescue the remaining crew and cargo with only one schooner the “Francis: returning safely.
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New members are always welcome and information about the Society is available from our UPDATED website www.southcoastpastelsociety.com, like us on facebook or email southcoastpastelsociety1@gmail.com Or contact Lyn Woolridge on 024471 3056
