40 year anniversary + Packsaddle presentation of $50,000 cheque to NERAM

Rachael Parsons, Sue Fisher, Trish Battin, Liz Fulloon, Alison Wright, Shirley Cook, Glenda Kupczk-Romanzuk and Moira Lloyd

2025 was Packsaddle’s 40th anniversary and this wonderful year was celebrated with the exhibition opened by Christopher Hodges (Utopia Gallery, Waterloo), who also spoke at our 40thheld Anniversary dinner.

Christopher is a dear friend to Packsaddle, and Utopia has been part of the Packsaddle family, since Pat Elkin, Benonie Pearson, June Atherton and Beverley Wright instigated their Packsaddle fundraising venture.

In 2025 we adopted Ernest Buckmaster’s “Portrait of the Artist’s Mother”, covering the cost of restoration and conservation of this portrait of a woman who now looks alive and interesting.

Packsaddle bought a beautiful work from Rowen Matthews’ exhibition Water, for the NERAM Collection. The work was selected by Selection Committee members Angus Nivison and Rachael Parsons, and joins the works of a small group of significant local artists (Angus Nivison, Isabelle Devos, Stuart Boggs) held in the Neram Collection.

Acquiring Rowen’s work and the gift of $50,000 to Neram was possible due to those who buy at Packsaddle exhibitions. Thank you.