60Cm X 80Cm. Oil On Canvas. Sister Judith, The Stables “Wivenhoe”. Phillip Carrero.
When Claire St Claire, then director of the “Friends of the gallery” at Campbelltown Art Gallery, passed away her last words to me were -“Look after Sister Judith”
Now, Claire knew I made and sell art supplies, so what I gather is she meant supply Sister Judith with whatever she needed of my wares to sell at her project complex.
Sister Judith did a remarkable, or should I say superb or amazing, work at upgrading the 100+ year old horse stables at “Wivenhoe”. They became a state of the art stop for touristic coaches with toilet blocks and a complete arts and crafts centre.
That alone was good enough to get involved as the surroundings, part of the Sisters of the good Samaritan Convent are simply beautiful, and peaceful. But she did it in a way that touched my heart: she employed complete derelicts from the Corrections Department to do the job. I guess just like the convicts from the colonial era built it in the first place.
And then she taught watercolor and oil painting, specially to children. She organized regular gatherings of the popular “Poets Corner” on the grounds, plus exhibitions and workshops.
… and all that for the love of art, “ad honorem”.