“I was born in Cowra, but I was brought up in Lane Cove, in Sydney. My husband worked in the bank, but for a while we had a post office at Booligal between Hillston and Hay. That was an experience! No 240 volt lights or anything like that. He did the mail run and I was on the switchboard. Looking back, it was a challenge, but there were a lot of happy times and good people.

“We came to Orange in 1993 and I joined the art society. One day at a meeting the president said there had been inquiries about children’s classes and would anyone like to take it on… There was dead silence, no hands went up and then suddenly I said I'll give it a go!

“I thought I’d do it for three or six months, but I'm still here 22 years later!

“I did art classes when I was nine or ten in Sydney, catching the tram at Lane Cove to go to Gore Hill. I enjoyed them so much I thought I'd just like to give teaching them a go.

“I really couldn’t tell you how many children I’ve taught now! I've got quite a few roll books and some of them are married when they come back and visit me, which is nice.

“I love it! I don't paint as much now myself as I really prefer teaching the kids, seeing them improve is very rewarding. I'd hate to give it away but, in the end, my poor old arthritic knees will be the decider.”