AQC Awards - Gala Dinner 2012

I have been attending the AQC in Melbourne this week and last night the 2012 Awards were presented at a fabulous Gala Dinner - all held in the beautiful historic Royal Exhibition Buildings, Australia's only World Heritage listed building.
Around Australia, each State Quilt Guild chose their State's Best Quilt for 2011 and these are on display as the The Best of Australia Exhibition.  Last night at the Gala Dinner, Merelyn Pearce (NSW) was chosen as the National Quilt Award Winner for 2011 with her quilt "Preston Dreaming".

Merelyn said "In this final quilt, in the series of six, I have sought to highlight the influence of Australian Aboriginal Art on the work of Margaret Preston who strove to achieve a truly uniquely Australian artistic expression."  Congratulations Merelyn. 
I shall take photos of the actual quilt and others today then post them to you this week.

The Shining Light Award, an encouragement award to our young quilters, went to Ineka Voigt, a budding 12 year old from Canberra who has already won 9 quilting awards.

The prestigous "Rajah Award", for 2012 was awarded to Judy Hooworth.  A very well-deserved winner to join the ranks of our previous 7 annual winners. The Rajah Award acknowledges the outstanding contribution by an individual to quilting in Australia. Name given in honour of the famous Rajah Quilt which is in the National Museum in Canberra. You should google "Rajah Quilt" and read of it's place in our history.  Fascinating history.

The Lut-Da Award goes to a quilter who has made an outstanding contribution to their local or quilting community via the medium of quilting.  This year's award went to a very popular recipient, Miss Isabel Lancashire, who is considered the backbone of the New South Wales Quilt Guild for her work over the past 25 years.  Isabel has always attracted my attention as the vital, dear old lady who ALWAYS gets up and dances the night away at every Gala Dinner for the AQC each year, so I just HAD to personally congratulate her.

 

At this year's show a group of quilters from Japan have an exhibition of their superb work on display.  The group is headed by renowned quilter Kayoko Oguri and they enjoyed the fun at last night's Gala Dinner too, pictured here with Judy Newman in the centre.

 

Congratulations to all winners, entrants, tutors, exhibitors and indeed, to Expertise Events, headed by Gary Fitz-Roy and Judy Newman, for another wonderful world-class event.

 

More news from the AQC this week, stay tuned!