Pupils subject of teacher’s exhibition

his teaching career at Dubbo South High School in 1974 after completing his studies at the National Art School and Sydney Teachers College.

His frst Year 12 was in 1975 when three students were selected for the prestigious Art Express followed by four in 1977, one in 1978 and two in 1979.

He was then posted to Maclean High School in 1981 but chose to play league cricket in England and spent the following year at Fairfeld High School in Sydney as penance.

He returned to Maclean High School in 1983 where he taught until he left in 1997, when he took up the job of head coach of the Gold Coast District Cricket Club. In 2001 Graham moved back to Yamba and then bought a property in 2003 where he set up Coombadjha Art Studio and Gallery on the picturesque Mann River above the Clarence Valley Gorge where he now breeds Wagyu cattle and paints in his studio.

These former students showcase a rich tapestry of talent with a diverse range of artistic abilities in such areas as graphic design, painting, photography, fashion, flm making and sculpture.

Artists exhibiting include from Dubbo: Terry Shaw, Fiona Shanley, Mike Lincoln, Bizzi Mason, Andrew Engel, Jack Randell, Leanne Medcalf, Sandi Thatcher, Grant Hunt, Phil Limon.

Fairfeld: Mariella Gussoni.

Maclean: Leigh McGrath, Chantal Kirby, Michelle Fleming, Micheal Muggleton, Gareth Charlton, Shannon Doyle, Adrian Wiseman, Marcus Greig, John Howland, Ben Ross, Karen Harvey, Deb Breckenridge,

Graham Mackie at work at his Coombadjha Art Studio and Galley in the Clarence Valley above the Mann River. He is preparing to launch and exhibition of artwork done by students he taught over three decades at the Old Kirk Gallery in Yamba later this month.

Frances Belle Parker, Jason Anderson, Kahlua Charlton, Al Stark, Nathan Lipscombe, Tanya Edgerton, Kate Collingburn, Jacqui Hinshaw, Danielle Young, Nicky Fletcher, Tashi Dawa.

Mr Mackie said this sort of collective concept had probably never been attempted before in the world of art education and should provide a sense of achievement for students in those classes and to see their development fourish over the last 50 years. It will be opened by the director of Grafton

Regional Gallery, Sarah Gurich, on Friday October 18 at 5.30pm at the Old Kirk Gallery, River St Yamba.

“ART 1 ” is open to the public until Sunday November 17 during Yamba Museum opening hours.