Australia Day Honours

29 Jan Australia Day Honours

I like to read the Australia Day Honours list because sometimes
I see someone I like get a mention. This time I’m happy to see
Mr Dean Claflin get an OAM, for services to marine and maritime art.
Congratulations to you.
As an artist in Balmain it’s difficult not to be involved with the harbour, as we live
on the edge of this great waterway. In fact, the inspiration for my entry in the
2012 ANL Maritime Art exhibition was from a picture taken of my great friends
standing on the deck of the steam tug Waratah. Built in 1902 and restored by
the Sydney Heritage Fleet.  I called my painting Sea Dogs.
It’s now a part of the ANL collection but the work will always have a special meaning
of friendship for us. I was also a member of the South Steyne Steamship Preservation
Society, stripping back the old timber stairs after a fire…
But I digress, that’s for another post.