After the bushfires slammed the Mid Coast of NSW in November last year, South Australian artist Michelle Baxter painted a picture to auction off to raise funds for the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
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The painting, titled Saving Me, was of an iconic image that did the rounds on social media during the bushfires throughout the Eastern states. It depicts the back of a volunteer fireman who is holding a koala while the landscape burns around them.
Wingham's Ron Irwin and his wife Lesley were visiting Port Pirie in SA in November for a family function, and happened upon a small gallery, Art on Alexander. Closing the doors for the day was the same Michelle Baxter. She let the Irwins in for a look around.
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"We loved the work and had a good time," Ron said.
When they returned home to Wingham, Ron popped on Facebook and saw the painting Michelle had up for auction. He put in a silent bid for it, touched that the funds would go to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, so close to home.
"When I saw this from Michelle Baxter, I thought this was a terrific gesture of hers, and that's why I bought it," Ron said.
Ron won't say how much he paid for the painting, except that it was "a very generous bid".
While the painting was in transit from Port Pirie, sadly the bushfires in Kangaroo Island were making the news.
"I think this situation is unique because South Australia got hit really bad with fires at that time and after that, and especially Kangaroo Island which is a huge koala population," Ron said.
Related reading: Koalas in Care rescuing our koala bushfire victims
Ron has also donated locally to Taree-based Koalas in Care and for the koalas on Kangaroo Island.
Ron now has the painting in his possession, sitting amongst all of the paintings he has created himself.
"It's a lovely painting; anyone can take a look at it at any time," Ron said.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
