By Monday afternoon all the Bimblebox artists and crew were present and accounted for. We covered a remarkable range of backgrounds and interest. We had: painters, ecologists, botanists, environmentalists, makers of useful things, sculptors, watercolourists, printmakers, a performance artist, photographers, videographers, curators, a nature journalist, writers, woodworkers, a papermaker, a paleobotanist, textile artists and fabulous cooks.

Ian and Karl Hoch were the Bimblebox generous hosts and backroom boys making it all possible.

Maureen Cooper was the baking queen and Paola Cassoni also cooked and with quiet (except when someone held the fridge door open) expertise she ran the camp.

The rain that caused the delay early on produced the most magnificent display of wildflowers. Spring fever hit the birds who were going berserk building nests and singing their little hearts out for a splendid dawn chorus every day. Even the echidnas got into the action and a troop of them kept Greg awake late into the night with their wild partying. The artists didn’t hang about.  On the first day everyone set up and got started on their varied projects.  Everyone was doing something different and interesting.

Our lunch and dinner chats were great fun as we got to know each other and tell tall tales about past exploits and future plans.   The 2016 group agreed to do a show in mid 2017 in Ipswich so watch this space for more about that closer to the time.

Fuelled by great food from Paola and Maureen’s magic kitchens we were able to work all day, and explore Bimblebox with ecologist, conservationist and author Eric Anderson and bird and plant watcher extraordinaire Diana Anderson. We all become part of a marvellous group of like minded people. A rare opportunity in a unique landscape.  Many thanks to Paola Cassoni and Ian Hoch for making it all possible.

– Deborah Cavanagh