The Outback Arts Board

Amanda Colwell (Chairperson) – Community Group Representative from Coonamble CWA Evening Branch

Amanda has been a board member since 2008 and was elected as Chair in 2010. Amanda is known for her keen interest in Community projects and her passion for all arts and crafts. An interest in creating textile art has grown from sewing traditional patchwork and embroidery to rather more eccentric pieces featuring recycled fibres. She is passionate about building high quality artistic and cultural opportunities and experiences significant to the OBA communities, then proudly showcasing this talent to others. Advocating for artists working in relative isolation is another strong interest of Amanda’s. She has worked as a project officer and facilitator with “Behind Closed Doors” domestic violence community education and awareness program, and chaired the 2008 Women’s Gathering in Coonamble, as well as supporting many other events in and around her area

Peter Florance (Vice Chair)– Arts Council Representative from Cobar Arts Council

Peter (Flora) has been a board member since the 2010 AGM. His personal involvement in art business and art organisations goes back 10 years. During his first 10 years working in the Arts he was Vice Chair and Acting Chair for Outback Arts (QLD) over a period of 3 years. In 2009 the Florance family moved from Mount Isa in northern Queensland to Cobar in New South Wales which meant re-establishing the business in a new location with all new clients. At the 2010 Outback Arts AGM he took the position of Vice President and representative to Cobar Arts Council with Outback Arts. Late in 2010, he purchased the Cobar Entertainment Centre business and is managing the cinema with the long term aim of creating an all in one Entertainment Complex. He has also helped re-establish the Cobar Community Radio Inc. as current Acting Manager/Vice President.

Barbara O’Brien (Treasurer) – Council Representative from Coonamble Shire Council

Barbara moved to the Coonamble District in 1964, she worked as a registered nurse at Coonamble District Hospital from 1982 until 1988, when she accepted a management position at Gulargambone Hospital.  She remained in a management position until her retirement in 2005. Her responsibilities included change and financial management as well as policy development and implementation. Her current community involvement includes Committee member of the Gulargambone Rural Transaction Centre, 2828, Director Gulargambone Community Enterprise, volunteer at Gulargambone library and fuel station, and active member of the CWA. Barbara believes our council needs to provide the infrastructure and social services to allow each of our communities in the shires to grow and prosper.  Barbara aims to be part of a consultative council that aims to ensure communities are working together, with appropriate support, to meet the shire’s needs of the future.

Pauline Serdity (Secretary)– Council Representative from Warren Shire Council

Pauline has been on the Outback Arts board for 10 years. She has previously served as the Treasurer and Secretary and as Chairperson from 2006 to 2010. She is a Councilor on the Warren Shire Council, is a member of the Warren Arts Council and Chairperson/Secretary of the Warren Inter-agency Support Services. Pauline is involved in many community groups including; Youth Committee, Linking Women with Safety, MOW and Community Transport, Nevertire CWA, Nevertire Progress Association, Council delegate on the North Western and Central Zone Library Committees and recently as Treasurer of the Warren Hospital Auxiliary. Pauline is LC of NSW Dept of Primary Industries at Warren (part time), is a partner in her husbands welding business and runs her own small bookkeeping service. Pauline also holds a Diploma in Business Administration, Cert IV in Workplace Assessment and Training, and a Certificate IV in Business Governance.

Angela Webb – Council Representative from Cobar Shire Council

Angela holds a BA Psychology and Women’s Studies (Double major) from Edith Cowan University in WA and is currently undertaking a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology through Charles Sturt University.   Angela currently works for DADHC disability services as a Case Manager servicing Cobar, Bourke & Brewarrina. She also undertakes work as a Generalist Counselor at Cobar Community Health. Angela was elected to Cobar Shire Council in 2008, after spending only 4 years in Cobar, originally hailing form Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Although she does not call herself an artist, Angela does have a passion for creating abstract artworks with recycled materials. Angela has been President of the Cobar Arts Council from 2005 to 2009 and is keen to further raise awareness of the benefits of incorporating arts and culture within her community. Angela has successfully integrated the issues of mental health and disability into Cobar Arts Council projects and is passionate in breaking down the barriers and working with disadvantaged groups.

Jane Keir – Council Representative from Walgett Shire Council

Jane was elected as a councilor to the Walgett Shire Council in September 2008 and expressed an interest in becoming a board member of Outback Arts because she has a passion for the outback, particularly Come By Chance, where she is a 5th generation resident. Jane says that she has no artistic qualities but always takes an interest in all things artistic be it in any medium because “art enriches our lives” Jane has been a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist for 17 years travelling regularly all around the Walgett Shire and beyond for the Greater Western Area Health Service. On Australia Day 2008, Jane was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to nursing & to the community of Walgett.

Philomena McCue-Young – Arts Council Representative from Lightning Ridge Arts & Craft Council

Philomena joined the Outback Arts Board in 2009. She is  president of the Lightning Ridge Arts and Craft Council. Philomena has been involved with art all her life, from oil paintings and mosaics to stage performances.  Her passion at this time is to link all the art venues in her community of Lightning Ridge so as to help promote art in all its forms, and also to bring the Lightning Ridge Arts and Craft  gallery up to date highlighting the local talents on offer.

Olga Collis-McAnespie – Council Representative from Bourke Shire Council

Olga identifies as a Bourke Indigenous person, recently establishing her own consultancy service “Culgoa Dreaming” along with her business Para Native Garden, an walk through garden with native foods and historical information of her families Indigenous heritage in Bourke. Olga is a consultant with thirty years experience in the health and education industry. She has worked closely with individuals and professional groups to improve their knowledge and understanding of cultural issues. Olga has also mentored and supported new medical and teaching professionals in rural communities and, she is committed to improving the quality of life for the total community.