Coast artist wants to see his life’s work exhibited

Ralph Podolski of Killcare Heights has been drawing and painting for almost 90 years and is now on the lookout for someone to catalogue his huge body of work.

Born in Poland, Podolski, now 95, lived through the nightmare of World War II, experiencing the bombing of Warsaw in 1939, joining the Polish resistance and being incarcerated in multiple concentration camps as a young man.

“I was only12 and had just started high school when the war began and it was brutal,” he said.

“At 14 I joined the Polish resistance and was eventually arrested, along with my family, when I was 16.

“My mother survived and was liberated by the Russians and returned to Poland after the war but my father died in one of those camps.

“He and I were together for a month or so but then I was sent to seven different work camps and weighed 29 kilos when I was finally freed from Belsen by the British in 1944.”

Throughout his horrific war experiences, Podolski retained his love of art, born during his very early years growing up in the picturesque countryside of Poland.

After the war he reactivated his passion and received a scholarship to the Academy of Arts in Brussels, which he lost when he refused to join the new post-war regime in Poland.

Penniless, he migrated to Australia in 1950.

“I worked as a labourer wherever I was sent by the Commonwealth Employment Office,” he said.

“I worked as a cleaner and kitchen hand at Geelong Grammar School for a year and I also worked in the printing business, doing re-touches and commercial artwork for several years.”

He married a girl from Tasmania and in 1959 they headed for Ontario, Canada, where he studied at the College of Art in Toronto before working on cinema poster design and furthering his art studies in Paris for a time and eventually returning to Australia in 1964.

“When we moved back to Australia we went to Sydney and I started trying to find employment,” he said.

“I worked as a graphic artist for various companies and even worked on an avocado farm at Toowoomba before securing a job as a visual aids officer at the NSW Institute of Technology.”

During those years, Podolski produced a huge volume of artwork, twice being named a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize.

A widower for 16 years, he still lives in his own home and would love to see his work exhibited and catalogued.

Dozens of impressive paintings reflect strong themes of war, race, religion and family with Podolski’s distinctive and striking style shining through.

“I would love the opportunity to show what I am most satisfied with,” he said.

“That is the artist’s mission – to communicate his vision of reality.”

Friend and neighbour David Barnett is attempting to

, organise a showing of Podolski’s work at Gosford Regional Gallery and is keen to hear from anyone interested in helping to catalogue his work at killcare100@gmail.com.

Terry Collins

hut TALKS

Our Exclusive hut TALKS give you the opportunity to hear from and talk with our selected travel partners. Enabling you to make informed travel decisions for your next holiday. Book your place today.

JOURNEY BEYOND - Rail

Indian Pacific - The Ghan Wednesday 22 March - 10.30 am

Garreth from Journey Beyond will join us in the Travellers Hut to discuss Australian Rail travel in 2024

New 2024 Indian Pacific & The Ghan brochure now available !

Use the QR code to visit our Travellers Hut Selections website

Website: travellershutselections.com.au

5A 39 Avoca Drive Kincumber

43 63 1699

The Central Coast bee industry has been struck another devastating blow with five new areas infested with Varroa Mite and an expansion of the Central Coast Eradication Zone further south.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries Varroa Mite Response team has issued a new Emergency Order for the expanded zone, effective from Monday, March 13.

Varroa Mite has been detected in new areas at Yarramalong, Woy Woy, Koolewong, Umina Beach and Horsfield Bay.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will commence euthanising all managed beehives and equipment on the infested premises in the Eradication (red) Zone, with the assistance of owners.

Treatment of wild bee