Adair Dunsford, The Naracoorte News

The Naracoorte Regional Art Gallery was bursting at its seams with visitors for the announcement of the winners in the 2026 Ibis Rising Art Awards.

With artists and winners ranging in age from four to eighty plus years, the entries were representative of the whole Naracoorte community and friends of the gallery. There were also entries from further afield including Mount Gambier, Nhill, and Robe.

About 130 people packed the building for the annual event with many prize sponsors, newcomers, parents and grandparents of student entrants, as well as the long-time supporters of art at Naracoorte in attendance.

In a first for the Ibis Rising Awards there was an overall winner chosen.

Nicole Johnston was the inaugural recipient to take home the perpetual trophy of an Ibis made by gallery exhibitors, RP Cutters of Tailem Bend. Her entry in the 3D category was a tiny Australian White Ibis which she had crafted with crochet, posed drinking out of a miniature water bowl.

The judges described Nicole’s entry as “a tiny and exquisite piece of art highlighting the environmental plight of Ibis in urban settings.”

“It is skillfully made and its message resonates with the viewer,” the judges said.

Total entry numbers were similar to previous years but the new multi-disciplinary category of Birds of Bool Lagoon drew 27 entries. These included 2D, photography, sculpture, and mixed media works.

Two photographers took out the winning prizes Brenda Mahoney with a superb photo of an Australian Reed Warbler and runner-up was Diana Vine with her picture of the Golden-headed Cisticola, which sold on opening night.

Brenda continued her winning night with the runner-up prize in the photography section with a Superb Fairy Wren caught clasping a wasp in its beak. The category winner was Tony Lees with his work called “Glitch in the Matrix.” The judge said the photo showed a great use of double exposure and was a well-executed technical image.

Nicole Johnston was the winner in the 3D category with her tiny sculpture entitled “What’s Left for Us?” and local metal craftsman, Bruce Willmer came runner-up with a candelabra which appears at first glance to be made of tree branches.

In the 2D section, gallery volunteer and former board member, Anne Emerson won first prize with her collage of kangaroos searching for food in a rocky and barren landscape. Runner-up was Jean Marr with a picture called “Wind Flowers”. Anne Emerson’s picture was described by the judge as showing originality and innovation with good composition which was balanced and harmonious.

Student prizes went to Darcie Beauchamp and Archer Earl in the up to Year 3 section.

Year 4 student Haru Kanchara won the Year 4 to 6 category with a pendant made from acrylic, UV resin and the feathers of a dead pardalote. When collecting the feathers, Haru realised that on the end of them was a small white heart shape. Lexie Jones was runner-up.

In the High School category, Schelden Codera was the winner with an oil painting entitled “The Weeping Black Swan.” It captures a female swan grieving beside her empty nest.

Lucindale Area School students provided a number of found metalwork entries and the runner-up was “Mr Peacock” produced by Archie, Lacey B, and Jackson.

Judges for the event were Elizabeth Newell, Gavin Blacker, Selina Smith, Livio Andreazza, and Kay Hole.

Sponsors were Naracoorte Cultural Trust, Eight at the Gate Wines, Hansen Design and Print, Mandy Curnow Coaching, Smiles All Round, Arts on Ormerod, Wild Game Wine, Craig’s Bakehouse and Cafe, plus several local philanthropists.

Board chairman, Julie Earl thanked everyone involved in the very successful competition and said it had taken six volunteers six hours to hang and display all the entries.

She described all artists as conjurers.

“Artists take something ordinary a tube of paint, a camera lens, a piece of driftwood, rusty metal, ocean litter or scraps of paper and create something new and extraordinary.

“That something can speak to us and change us in some way,” she said.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 29 April 2026.