May’s birthstone is the emerald which means love or success.

We’ve remembered the Diggers who fought so bravely on Anzac Day and seen May Day come and go. Now we are snuggled up and are enjoying hot chocolates and uggies on these cooler nights. This year is just flying past and I don’t think it’s going to slow down anytime soon.

Last weekend was the inaugural Pips & Cherries Market Day at Bell and boy was it a success! From our tiny little town so many came out and enjoyed the sunshine on a lazy Sunday morning, the market stalls were decorated so beautifully and everything that was being sold had to be hand made. There were beautiful baby clothes, silk scarves, pot plants, garden ornaments and so many more that I didn’t get to see because I had my paintings there as well (some on display and some for sale) and couldn’t leave my stall.

The other stall’s all looked so professional with table clothes, nice signs, price tags and well mine looked well, um, you could say like I had never done this before. Shame and embarrassment! I had fluro pink sticky notes with the prices of the paintings on them, no table cloth, no chair, no water and no shade over me. I have certainly learnt about being a stall holder for the next market day and will be a lot more clued up.

I was stunned by the sales and enquiry I received by locals and interstate travellers alike and am one very happy little vegemite Orders have been placed for paintings as some lovely clients missed out on buying the painting of their choice and just by a whisker too! Lol….as they say ‘the early bird catches the worm’

Lover’s Light

Winter Wattle

Dairy Farm View

High Country Muster

Red Sky Morning

Linen & Lace

Facebook has proven to be a sales maker for me as people purchase paintings after I post them or place an order for something they would like. Woo Hoo! It’s like having a store front but you can run it from home, yay! These two lucky paintings have found a home in Alice Springs with a delightful lady. I wish I could go to the Alice with them and paint the red centre of Australia, maybe one day!

Wish, wish, wish……..

Blue Boy

Spring Flowers

Bell’s & Whistle’s!!! ****** ~ I am so very excited to announce that ‘Grass Tree Glory’ was chosen as one of the Manhattan Arts International Award of Excellence Winners.  http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/Healing-Power-of-ART/Winners.htm

Grass Tree Glory

What a month, busy, busy, busy but so rewarding to wake up everyday and be able to do what I love.The markets were fun and I loved catching up with so many old and new clients. Until next time I’m going to enjoy this beautiful weather we are having, take the time to breathe the fresh air, practice with my NEW CAMERA and be thankful for everything I have.

Cheerio!

Belmont

 46x92cm (18×36″)
Acrylic
Gallery Wrap Canvas

My latest commission of a family history come to life on canvas and is now living in Mackay with a beautiful lady and her family.

Lots of photos and emails have gone back and forth to create this painting of memories and I have cherished this time of getting to know such a wonderful person and her family history while we have been working together on this painting.

With the many emails that were coming in with ideas the very last one had written on it “And Cathy with your little wren please”

]]> http://cathymcclellandfineart.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/majestic-mountains-a-new-painting-by-australian-artist-cathy-mcclelland/ Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:50:45 +0000 Cathy McClelland P A I N T I N G S http://cathymcclellandfineart.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/majestic-mountains-a-new-painting-by-australian-artist-cathy-mcclelland/

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46x92cm (18×36″)
Acrylic
Gallery Wrap Canvas

This pretty valley scene enticed me paint it as soon as I drove around the corner of the road. The plums and gold’s were the colours of the late afternoon on this day and the large rock formation called The Lions Head really stood out in the afternoon light. This mountain range is part the Bunya Mountains National Park where the unique Bunya Pine grow and if you look onto top of the mountain you will see their outlines standing tall and proud. On this day the waterfalls were falling down the cliff face and shining in the sunlight.

Majestic Mountains has found a home with a lovely lady and now she will be able to enjoy this view everyday.

“Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no longer it is joy it is art.”  William Bliss Carman

Cathy McClelland Website

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Highlights:

• International Coal Limited (ICX) and Coal Face Resources Pty Ltd sign joint venture contract to develop 43 sub ­block (approximately 130sq km.) Surat Basin thermal coal project (EPC2286).
• Joint venture sees ICX earn up to a 71% stake in EPC 2286 (Don Juan) through two phases of exploration investment.
• Exploration aimed at extending ICX’s resource position with an exploration target in the range of 20 ­ 435Mt identified with up to 10 ­ 210Mt expected at depths of less than 100m(1).
• JV positions ICX in a well known coal producing basin (Surat Basin) and coal measures (Walloon Coal Measures) with export potential at a relatively low cost of entry.
• The signing of the JV contract concludes negotiations on a Terms Sheet announced to the market on 22 November 2012.
• Clearances for an initial phase of drilling are currently being finalised but bad weather has delayed the expected commencement of drilling.

The terms of the JV Agreement, which offer ICX the opportunity to earn up to 71% of the Don Juan project within 2 years, are expressed in detail in the attached announcement.

International Coal’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Glenn Simpson said, “The Don Juan Joint Venture will provide a relatively low cost entry into the Walloon Coal Measures of the Surat Basin. Development of this project is expected to yield an Inferred Resource in a target area with known thermal coal export potential”.

Summary

ICX is pleased to finalise this important agreement on the Don Juan Joint Venture with CFR and we look forward to a strong mutual partnership moving forward. The Company expects drilling to commence soon with final landowner and cultural heritages clearances currently being finalised.

Click here to view the full announcement

For further information, please contact:

Glenn Simpson
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 0428 886 537

Hugh Dai
Executive Director
Phone: 0416 186 888

MEDIA & INVESTOR RELATIONS ENQUIRIES:

Fortbridge Consulting: + 612 9003 0477

Fortbridge / Sydney
James Conrathe
Mobile: +61 477 991 777
Email: James.conrathe@fortbridge.com
Skype name: JConrathe

Fortbridge / Hong Kong
Christine Wootliff
Mobile: +852 908 723 27
Email: Christine.wootliff@fortbridge.com

Fortbridge / Singapore
Pierre Mas
Mobile: +65 9817 1017
Email: Pierre.mas@fortbridge.com

Fortbridge / 中国市场及中文咨询
Isabella Kou
手机：+61 425 567 931
邮件：isabella.kou@fortbridge.com

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Matt Beale
Mobile: +44 (0) 7966 389 196
Email: Matt.beale@fortbridge.com

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Marina Trusa
Телефон: +61 404 330 634
E-mail: Marina.trusa@fortbridge.com

Fortbridge / New York
Luke Dean
Mobile: +1 310 210 7696
Email: Luke.dean@fortbridge.com

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Mobile: +1 647 704 9054
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Fortbridge / Brazil
Julian Beach
Mobile: +55 21 8020 7513
Email: Julian.beach@fortbridge.com

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46x92cm (18×36 in)

Acrylic

Gallery Wrap Canvas

“No cares, just each other, a family full of love being together, helping each other, looking out for each other, the symbol of a perfect family. It’s a beautiful overcast day, here in the valley and the Bunya Mountains are highlighted in the soft morning light. There’s something that sparks inside of you..looking at this scene, the beauty, tranquility and peace of being in the country, beckoning you to come..take time out, come back to nature and recharge the inner person. Looking at these little wrens and beautiful country scene, you get lost in that place of just total carefree, no worries, you go back to that place where it’s fun to be a kid again, the pressure’s off, a place to dream…

and every time you stare at this painting, you’ll be reminded not only of your youth, but the eternal child within…that is out there being free in the country.

Every time you look at this painting, you’ll be transported to that world, and it’s a gift that keeps giving, giving you that same spark, that same wave of love every time you look at it, bringing you daily joy.”

Cathy McClelland Website

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A Federal Government scientific expert panel has raised a number of concerns in its review of Arrow Energy’s coal seam gas (CSG) expansion plans in Queensland’s Surat Basin.

The Independent Scientific Expert Committee (ISEC) report says the company’s environmental impact statement (EIS) does not adequately address potential environmental impacts on underground water supplies.

Read more

Forest Light

Highly Commended

Landscape Category

Bell Show Art Exhibition February, 2013

77×102 cm (30×40inch), acrylic on canvas

Purchase information

The forest is alive now because we’ve had rain, everything is so GREEN and the growth is amazing. This scene caught my eye as the glow through the trees was so bright highlighting all the big dark Bunya Pine trunks. The birds are all singing and all the sounds I hear in the forest are what I call nature’s orchestra. Everything is in tune with everything. Such a place of peace and spiritual calm, it refreshes my soul simply by being in such a place.

Cathy McClelland Website

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Lone Point 18x36inch acrylic on linen

This morning, I am really excited, another commission is finished and will be picked up today to be given to a very special lady. I have been secretly working with the daughter to paint this memory for her Mother as a gift for her birthday.

As we get older our memories become stronger and the desire to return to our childhood areas is often revisited as was the case in this painting. This is Grandma’s house, a lovely rambling old Queenslander in the foothills of the beautiful Bunya Mountains National Park.

The memories were of sitting on the veranda looking at the mountains and having a wonderful time wandering around the farm with Grandma and Grandad.

After consultation with the daughter we decided to reverse the view and put the mountains behind the house as the mountains were so impacting and it would have been such a shame not to have them included into the painting. So using artistic license we moved mountains to get this beautiful scene. Two paintings in one really.

I can’t begin to tell you how special this act of kindness made me feel today. It also reminded me that I need to do things like this more. I need to share the happiness my life gives me just like this 1 very special daughter did today for her Mother.

As the gift was given Mum just stood there, mouth agape, speechless, just staring at this painting. It was a precious moment to witness.

This gift she gave to her mother has so much meaning and has bought so much joy to her, Mum’s face was radiant and I know this painting is going to be a much-loved member of their family. Small kind gestures really do bring big happy smiles!!

As I write this it is early on New Year’s Eve day – a time to look back on 2012 to review accomplishments and lessons learned.

2012 was a year of major change of life direction for me. It was the year I made the decision to take my art from the hobby level to devote myself full-time to my art. I didn’t start out with any preconceived ideas; I just thought I would see what happened and if my art was accepted. I am a business woman at heart opening my first shop front business at the age of sixteen, so I realized how hard it would be to turn my art into a business and to get other people to accept this as my job and not a hobby.

At the end of 2011 I entered the FASO online art competition and won the popular likes section with Morning Chat. I was surprised and amazed that so many people liked my style of art.

Morning Chat

I was approached by the Agora Gallery, Chelsea, New York to be represented by them. I was stunned and amazed. They found my website on-line and loved my style of painting. This has been a great experience working and learning from some very experienced people culminating in the Sensorial Realms Exhibition, December 20 to January 12, 2012. http://www.agora-gallery.com

Hidden Treasures

The Sugar Loaves

I entered another online competition and received third place in the ‘Summer’ competition with Leading Artists Gallery. This painting is now currently on display In New York.

Grass Tree Glory 20×60 (3rd Leading Artist Gallery Summer Competition)

I have been interviewed by the ABC southern radio station on their morning program, had articles written about me in the local paper Dalby Herald, and the Rural Weekly, South Burnett Times, the Chronicle and the Highlife Magazine. The Highlife magazine was a wonderful experience, meeting famed author Jan Grieve who wrote the article so very well and accurately and Janine Waters who was exceptional in her photography session with me and my dog Kim, as they say you shouldn’t work with children and animals maybe Janine might add ‘artists and animals’ http://www.highlife.net.au/index.html

Me and Kim painting plein air up the paddock.

I am so very excited to have had two of my paintings, ‘Myall Creek’ and ‘Tap Dancer’ to be accepted for inclusion in the “International Contemporary Artists” art book, volume V. This was released in November and has been released to all the major art galleries worldwide. The book is also available through Amazon.

Myall Creek, Dalby

Tap Dancer

Isn’t it beautiful and glossy.

I was invited to participate in the inaugural Dalby Stockhorse Sale Art Exhibition, I worked hard painting for it and it was such a successful event for me selling lots of paintings and taking orders for a good number more. It was really funny; they asked if I would do a demonstration painting for them. I have never painted in public before and was unable to keep focused as so many people kept coming up to talk and ask questions. This didn’t matter though as I had such a good time meeting so many people who like my style of art. I hope they invite me again next year!

Stockhorse Art Exhibition Display

A local mum needed help and I was approached to help raise money for her son that badly needed a wheelchair and the local community for on a fundraiser golf day with a bar and bbq. I painted Tap Dancer IIII which raised a good sum of money for him. His mum was so overjoyed by the generosity of the community but isn’t this is what life is all about, doing something for another and not keeping your skills and gifts to yourself.

Tap Dancer IIII

I then took the plunge and decided to advertise in the local paper, Dalby Herald, letting people know that I welcome commissions, the response before Christmas was incredible. I was certainly kept very busy and fulfilled all deadlines just in time. I have learnt to be disciplined and focused on the task at hand and not get distracted by everything else like I am prone to be.

The ad in the paper, “Always Artfully Done” is my slogan.

The year 2012 has been an amazing journey with many doors opening for me, I am trying not to feel overwhelmed and just simply have faith, put the hand to the plough and endure to the end of each painting, each commission and each day. As these wise words say ‘each day has enough troubles of its own’ I am not wasting any time thinking of what I can’t do, only thinking, yes, I can do that! I believe I am on the path that was ordained for me and my hope is that I have the courage to maintain and stay on course. Lessons learned hard work does pay off, persistence and perseverance are the key to longevity, faith and offering are the keys to happiness.

What does 2013 have in store? Only the Lord knows! I have been approached by the Colour In Your Life TV show to share my art with them and the Artists Pallete Magazine have invited me to write an article for them as well. I have commission orders placed throughout 2013 to 2015 from both the private and corporate sector ordering feature artworks for their homes and business.

I have a dream! To earn an excellent living from my painting, doing what I love and getting paid for it.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

24×60” acrylic on gallery edged canvas.

Here come the men in my life setting out for an early morning muster before the heat of the day sets in on Pine Hills, Wallumbilla, Queensland. They are riding past an Australian Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris) with its unique shape making a bold statement in the early morning light. This is a beautiful property where the views seem to go on forever into the distance. It is always such an adventure on a mustering
day, you start out with such great expectations but depending on the cattle it
could turn out how you expect or it could go very bad indeed. Here the rider on
the buckskin horse is working out a plan with the others, predicting where the cattle will run so they will be in the right place at the right time to block them and keep them steady. This is wash away country where there are big washouts that you have to be very careful your horse doesn’t fall down into. They can be very dangerous so you need to keep alert and not relax until the job is done. This day was a good day! The cattle were mustered into the yards without too much mishap.

61x153cm (24×60″) acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

Available from Insight Gallery, Toowoomba

This beautiful big boy was standing under a Bottle Tree surveying his territory, looking for his girls. He is a Braham Bull and I just love Brahams! They are a beast that is smart and will think about what is happening. They remember where they have been and what paddocks they need to go through and walk/trot readily ahead of you when mustering them. This is Wallumbilla country out near Roma, Queensland on a property called Pine Hills. Beautiful grazing country that has been improved with buffel grass. Some people don’t like it but we absolutely love it. It has turned light unproductive country throughout western Queensland into summer fattening country for cattle.

The unusual tree the bull is standing under is an Australian Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris) there are other trees in the Brachychiton family. To me, Bottle Trees are one of the most dignified of all Australian Native Trees. This painting really shows the uniqueness, the versatility and individuality of Bottle Trees. They are a sign of good soft country and we are always very happy to find Bottle Trees growing on our land. You can clear other trees but the Bottle Trees get left alone, they are protected by many land owners and prized in their paddocks.

Spirit Land – 48×36′ acrylic/mixed media

Carnavan Gorge National Park, Queensland

The Carnavan Gorge is an amazing place, a land of immense contrast. Walking through the gorge made me realize how small and insignificant I am in this landscape and made me appreciate all the more the people who lived there and were part of it – hunting and living off this mighty land. I felt honored that I had the opportunity to see this unique environemnt that has been protected for gernerations to come.

Carnavan Gorge is an ancient place full of history, beauty and ruggedness. The Gorge is breath takingly beautiful with hidden caves, and the coolness of the water holes, palms, moss, and ferns. All of this gentle beauty contrasting with the harshness of the immense sheer rock cliffs and the heat of the blazing sun.

The same contrast is between us, a people who visit, look and wonder and yet do not understand the spiritual connection to those whom the indigenous paintings belong, showing the spirits of this land still speak to those who will listen.

Carnavan Gorge is my emotional response to this amazing place, I will certainly be going back again to this rich diverse National Park in Queensland, I hope you go and visit to.

Last Light Isla Gorge 12×24″

Forest Moods, Kogan, Surat Basin 12×24″

Westcott Lookout Bunya Mountains 12×24″

Sandstone Cliffs Cania Gorge 12×24″

McConnell Lookout North Burnett Shire 12×24″

Summer Love Western Downs Region 12×24″

“Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.” – Leonardo da Vinci

What a amazing place we live in, Australia. A land of great contrasts and yet of great beauty. These paintings show the diversity in our landscapes from the softness of the Bunya Mountains National Park and surrounding foothills to the ruggardness of the Cania and Isla Gorge National Parks.

Even where nothing seems to be beautiful as in around the Kogan forestry in the Surat Basin, it is all just bulloak and pine trees in a hard non productive soil and yet at the right time the weather will change and behold, it is as you are looking at a jewel. A precious moment in time where beauty permeates the ordinary. You just have to have eyes to see and be there at the right moment.

I try to paint the spirit of the Land and the feeling I get when I visit a place, I hope these paintings encourage you to visit our wonderful diverse country.

The population in the region will grow from 209,000 last year to 301,000 in 2031, registering an increase of about 43 per cent, Queensland government projections show. The workforce in the Surat Basin will increase from about 85,000 in 2009 to 110,800 in 2016 and 158,000 in 2031.

The main difference from the projects in WA is that the region already has established towns and infrastructure which allows the towns to grow and prosper without having to build “camps” for workers working on the projects.  This means growth for local industries supporting the projects and more importantly employment for the local people.  Employment in the basin has been on a steady decrease since 2010 from a very low 3.7 compared to the national average of 5.5 and it is currently sitting at 2%, which in technical terms means there is zero unemployment in the region.

The increase in labour is not just reflected in workers on the projects but in other areas such as school teachers (100 additional per year), nursing professionals (100 additional per year) and chefs.  So that’s the good news, the bad news is that unfortunately there are not enough suitable people in the region that have the skills or enough people full stop.  With an aging population and school leavers moving out of the region for further education or other opportunities outside of the resources industry.

The region has 20% of the coal supply and a massive 65% of the State’s gas reserves so it is unlikely that the requirement for skilled labour will diminish.  The plan from the local Queensland government is to up skill and train more people but realistically they could not train enough people in time.  So what’s the solution?  This is the big question facing every company in the industry.   

Does it mean we need to go offshore to find skill talent?  Gina Rinehart has already got approval for 1700 foreign workers for one of her projects will this continue for the rest of Australia.  I would like to think we have the people for these roles and would hope that we could fill these roles with local talent, but I just don’t see anyone doing things differently to attract workers from other areas of Australia to come to Queensland.  In Switzerland each canton (region) have the flexibility to vary their tax rate to attract both investment and people living and working in the area.  Now this is a bit out of reach for Australia but it gives you some food for thought for what is possible?

I have also noticed that the local education service are offering great training courses to people wanting to get in the industry.  The only problem is that if you do not live in one of the rural areas it is impossible to do a course to re skill and candidates are not likely to take a chance to relocate to gain further education without a job already in hand.

There is currently a lot of effort trying to find and recruit people in to the gas industry but from what I see currently even with the great effort from everyone concern the industry will still for short of delivering the number of workers needed to support all the approved projects.  At some point the projects will be put at risk as there will not be enough workers to move the project on.  I don’t think there is a magic wand but like the old saying goes, “If you do the same thing, you will get the same results!”

20′x60′ acrylic on gallery edged canvas

This is one of my favourite views from the Kumbia side of the Bunya Mountains National Park. In winter the air is crisp and clear, the grass turns golden, the mountain air turns blue in the distance and the funny little leaves of the grasstrees move gently in the breeze reflecting their different colours. I find the Australian landscape to be ruggard, interesting and colourful, I really enjoy going out to paint it. This painting is for sale and is going to the Agora Gallery, New York to be in a collective exhibition from 20 December, 2012 – 12 January, 2013.

]]> http://oilandgasaustralia.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/arrow-releases-eis-for-surat-gas-project/ Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:24:22 +0000 agamanhao http://oilandgasaustralia.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/arrow-releases-eis-for-surat-gas-project/ Arrow releases EIS for Surat gas project

CDJV is a 50:50 joint venture between Clough and engineering and infrastructure management services group, Downer Australia (Downer).

Click here to view the full announcement

For further information, please contact:

John Smith, Chief Executive Officer
+61 8 9281 9407
Kristy McGrath, Marketing & Communications Manager
+61 8 9281 9344

The image was taken from 25m high cherry picker. I’m surprised I got a still shot, it was blowing a gale and the machine was swaying in the breeze!

Shot with Canon 5DMk2, 17-40L.

The consideration is:

• $8 million in cash;
• 13 million fully paid shares in Vicpet (market value as at close of trade on 3 November 2009 approx. $4.5m); and
• Vicpet’s interests in Surat Basin tenements ATP 608P (including 24% in Stratton Block and 30% in Rookwood Block) and ATP 805P (15%). Bow’s ownership in ATP 608P and ATP 805P will increase to 94.6% and 100% respectively.

Click here to view the full announcement.

For further information, please contact:

John De Stefani
CEO – Commercial
Tel: +61 7 3303 0675

Ron Prefontaine
Managing Director
Tel: +61 7 3303 0675