Early Days
Born in Melbourne in 1939, Jim’s early years played a major role in shaping his adult life. Growing up in the inner-city suburb of Hawksburn, Jim realised at a very early age that there were just no native animals in his immediate environment. There were plenty of cats and dogs roaming the streets and occasionally, a fox prowled at night. He identified seven different birds but they were all introduced. He developed a passion for knowing more about Australian wildlife; a passion that took him to his local library, only two miles away, every Saturday where he borrowed five Wildlife books at a time. (Much to his disgust, five was the limit he could borrow at any one time.)
Jim’s father was away for the war years and after the war, like many vets, had trouble adjusting back to domestic life. His Mum became the primary bread winner and Jim stepped up to help her by preparing the vegetables for dinner. This gradually grew to putting them on, then finally cooking the meal for the family. His interest in food preparation still exists and Jim’s marmalades and chutneys are very popular at the Montville markets.
His Mum could see potential in Jim’s early art work and enrolled him in Saturday classes offered by the Melbourne Gallery School while he was still in primary school. When he finished his primary schooling, he was accepted by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) to complete a 5-year Diploma of Commercial Illustration at age 13. The course was made up of 4 years of study with a final year in an industry placement. At 18, he was called up for National Service but this was deferred so he could complete the compulsory industry placement. Eventually the basic training was at Puckapunyal, then Albury Wodonga, returning to Melbourne and being on-call for two years with camps and parades.
Working Life
Jim went looking for jobs that would give him as wide an experience as possible in commercial art design. His goal was to become an art teacher. He worked for a range of businesses including Containers Ltd, Massey Ferguson, Australia Post and ISA, a hovercraft production company based in Adelaide and Sydney. Jim married Marion in 1964 and they had three children, all born in Melbourne. During those years Jim and Marion took in some Aboriginal children, supposedly orphaned to share with them a Christian family Christmas. On the second year, one little girl was very tearful and when Jim asked her what was wrong; she said she wanted to be at home with her Mummy and her family. They realised they had been lied to and these children were not orphans, just not Christians! They never did that again.
Jim’s favourite employment was with Australia Post. It had a wide range of artistic requirements for him to master and some perks picking up some part time commissions possibly more interesting. One included work for the boss’s son; designing and constructing theatrical props for the young playwright, David Williamson. He was also part of a committee, representing the commercial arts industries, that oversaw the design of the new Melbourne Art Gallery. These various work opportunities gave him diverse experiences in design and promotions, and a good look at other Australian cities. In Adelaide one of his commissions was designing material for a famous ‘Massage Parlour’.
Move to Queensland
He left Adelaide in 1969 to take up a teaching position at Queensland College of Art in 1970. A Diploma of Teaching, was required and Jim completed this through Mt Gravatt CAE while at QCA. During this time Jim was responsible for organising ‘Momentum 74’, the Official Launch of the Morningside College as the new College of Art. This celebration involved exhibitions and activities from staff and students. In 1974 Jim was transferred to Townsville along with Robert Preston, to establish an art course within Townsville City Campus of TAFE. Jim saw it as a great opportunity and loved the adventures, being able to explore the tropics. At the time, the art scene in Townsville was very conservative and Jim’s more innovative approaches caused some confrontations. When criticism of his teaching reached parliament, TAFE was pressured to have him inspected. The result not only exonerated Jim, it recognised him as one of TAFE’s best teachers.
Jim’s move to Townsville resulted in his re-engagement with environmental issues. The Townsville Common had been so degraded by illegal dumping and four wheel driving that the native wildlife was seriously at risk. He was instrumental in forming the Natural History Association to defend the Town Common becoming its inaugural President. One of his first acts was to collaborate with a visiting researcher from the University of Illinois, Dr Ursula (Sue) Rowlett, to publish a book, Water Plants of the Townsville Town Common, with Jim providing the essential, detailed illustrations. Although his work was pro bono, the book was such an outstanding success it led to Jim developing close relationships with local National Parks and Wildlife Rangers and illustrating more books! The next one, Birds of the Townsville Town Common was a collaboration with Stephen Garnett, and again very successful.
In his last years in Townsville, Jim was promoted to Officer-in-Charge of Adult Education and introduced a range of evening classes and outdoor adventure courses. Another book Discovering North Queensland, a Bi-Centenary Project, a collaboration with Jill Mather illustrated by Jim and former student, Christopher Brunton, published 1988. Working closely with Park Rangers he helped plan re-vegetation programs and walks. On one occasion, he helped rangers relocate barramundi trapped in a borra pit created by the American Airforce during World War 2. They needed to extend the runway, digging huge holes to get the extra soil they needed. These filled with brackish water in no time providing an ideal environment for barramundi, however in big droughts, the holes began to dry up. The knee-deep water left couldn’t support adult fish and relocating them to a nearby creek was back-breaking work but the only option.
Marion had created a very successful career in Special Ed and in 1989 a promotion saw her posted to Brisbane so Jim also applied for a transfer. He was appointed to introduce a short introductory program to the new Gateway TAFE. This would give students a ‘Certificate of Art’, which facilitated entry to the QCA Diploma program. Jim met Pam in 1989 when she was asked to assess the staff and facilities of the newly formed Ceramic Dept. at Gateway TAFE. Pam was a very successful full-time potter and a part-time consultant for TAFE. Pam joined a steering Committee developing programs for the Ceramics Dept becoming friends with the Ceramics Staff.
At the end of 1989, Marion tragically drowned, attempting to save a tourist in trouble swimming off Stradbroke Island. Three people drowned that day! Jim’s friends rallied around to support him and he busied himself completing a BA at QCA (upgraded from his Diploma). He threw himself into his teaching and Gateway College quickly gained a solid reputation with QCA for preparing students extremely well for further studies. Pam was active in Brisbane arts organisations, sharing a studio in an old Woolshed in New Farm and home at Auchenflower. Jim and Pam gradually got to know each other, sharing many interests, and a wicked sense of humour. Both being single, they became close friends, Pam eventually moving into Jim’s home in Seven Hills.
The Montville Scene
Jim was experiencing some health problems, possibly stress related, and took a retirement package from teaching in 1996. Pam was working less hours and they decided to use these times travelling as much as possible. They spent three months in Japan and travelled widely between Cairns and Geelong and everywhere in between spending time with family members. With Jim’s two sons in Far North Qld and his daughter overseas, they bought a block of land in the Daintree, thinking of a winter shack. But of course, the boys moved elsewhere, so that shack never got built. They enjoyed living in Brisbane but decided they needed more space and a bush environment. It took several years to find the location that suited them – Montville. In 2002, they found an ideal spot at the end of Honeysuckle Drive overlooking a forest and Baroon Pocket Dam.
Montville had both a beautiful, natural environment and a history of supporting the arts. They immediately began to restore their acreage, removing invasive exotics and planting natives, endemic to the Range. At the same time, both Pam and Jim immersed themselves in the local art scene with zest. Jim started drawing classes in an old packing shed on Western Ave, collaborating with local potter Ray Outteridge to form ‘Montville Community Arts’. After several years this group sought a wider audience, becoming Arts Connect Inc, and first off, created ‘Artists on the Green’, a monthly art market. But Montville weather put a dampener on ‘Artists on the Green’ as few artworks can risk being rained upon.
This expanded into ’Sculpture on the Edge’, initially supporting several Open Gardens Events. This was so successful it was then sponsored by the Spicers Group first at Clovelly, then at Tamarind. After looking at other Open Studio programs ACI tentatively tested theirs in 2011. Jim was active in making these programs a success and is still active with Open Studios. ACI events were supported by Sunshine Coast Council providing the stability needed for an active local arts community. Arts Connect Inc. has become one of the premier Sunshine Coast Arts Association. Initially, Jim and Pam continued to pursue their own art but with Pam losing flexibility in her hands and Jim re-engaged with environmental issues, their priorities changed.
In collaboration with Elaine Green, Jim has published three environmental works: SOS-SaveOur Species; POP- Protect Our Pollinators; and FOF-Friend Or Foe. And in 2018 he was invited to contribute illustrations to what is recognised as the ‘Ranges’ most authoritative book on the wildlife endemic to the Range, The Magic of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. He did many illustrations for it! Jim continues to illustrate for other writers and is currently working in collaboration with the Montville History Group on a light hearted irreverent look at the more humorous aspects of Range history, Tall Tales and True (Maybe). Pam has taken on the role of ‘manager’ allowing Jim to focus on what he loves - making art.
Jim has exhibited in galleries from Townsville to Brisbane, but not so much anymore. Recent awards include:
2017 Winner Lyn McRae Drawing Prize (Noosa Gallery)
2016 Finalist Noosa Art Award
2016 Finalist Lyn McRae Drawing Prize
2015 1st Prize Kenilworth Art Festival (Animal section)
2011 Finalist Kenilworth Painting Award
His last three exhibitions have been in the Mary Cairncross Gallery with works from SOS; POP; and FOF, where he launched the books of the same name. He has a strong bond with Mary Cairncross Reserve over many years and still has some original drawings from the ‘Magic of Mary Cairncross’. Jim has written and illustrated two wickedly irreverent and politically incorrect children’s books, written for children in the family, who now have their own little ones. Jim does one-off Birthday cards for most of his friends and family and most years designs satirical Christmas Cards, that possibly only family and close friends would appreciate!
Through his environmental activism and brilliant depiction of wildlife, Jim has left an indelible mark on the artistic and political life of not only Montville but the whole of the Blackall Range. His contribution was recognised by the Montville Community when he was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2022. Jim has undoubtedly earned this recognition as a Montville Gem, a rough-cut stone perhaps but essential to our future.
Doug Patterson
MHG 30/10/24
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