South Coast Fires

THINGS ARE NOT SO BAD FOR US at Bungendore Wood Works Gallery Any complaints from us would be hollow compared to the devastation to the many businesses at the South Coast and the slow attrition of business in Braidwood. We are so very appreciative to those who are visiting us over these smokey and worrying times. People seem to be especially attentive to the works on display. Because we deal in arts and craft making objects we have a special empathy for those businesses lost in Mogo and Cobargo, some have work displayed in this Gallery.

To imagine the loss of any small business: All the stock, and all the infrastructure for running a business, everything; its just so hard building all that up again. It takes years. And years. I so wish people will understand and support the plight of this small, but so important arts sector of our lives. The Road To Recovery will be long, and for many there will be no recovery. And this is devastation.

The current fires reinforces for us that our South Coast makers and artists represent as a group the greatest number of those we represent from one area. This is a very big potential loss for the Gallery – on top of their individual losses. David Mac Laren Bungendore Wood Works Gallery(Twenty years ago a fire destroyed my workshop with everything in it. I never fully recovered from that.) 

John Sharman has been exhibiting with the Gallery since 2005. He has lost both his house and gallery in Mogo. We currently hold seven of his works. Stan will be in contact with him as soon as possible as to what John may want to do with these works.

Hi Steve,

Just checking in on you and that you are okay as we know you live in
the Cobargo area.
When you can if you can let us know that you are safe.
Thinking of you, family and friends effected by these devastating
fires.

Cheers,
Sharon Rasker

Hi Sharon

Helen and I are ok and in good spirits. We left our house on Tuesday
31st and arrived at Bermagui around 3.30am, we then moved onto Narooma
when essential services went down in Bermagui. We are now in Canberra
with family. We have lost our home, workshop/shed
and all my machinery and tools. We have house and contents insurance but
not for my machinery etc.

Cheers Steve and Helen

Dear Steve and Helen,
We are all so very very sorry for you both, but glad you are okay and safe
in Canberra, not that the air quality is good.
John Sharman one of our artists has also lost his home and gallery in Mogo
and he too is in good spirits.
I'd love to say I can send you some $$$ for recent sales but we have been
so quiet with the Kings Highway being closed for 3 weeks now and
visitation being the lowest it has been since 2008.
Please if you feel like a hug and a coffee n cake at the Café please come
out and see us, our shout, it is the least we can do.
Thinking of you and Helen.
Cheers,
Sharon

Hi Sue,

Checking in to see if you are okay as we know you are in the Eden area. We have tried ringing but all lines are down in the area says the message. We are sending our prayers to you, your family and friends. Stay safe and when you can let us know how you are.

Sue has had no power and no phone but is so far very lucky as her house is safe. Though the threat is far from over.

Gavin Playfair - lives in Milton. 

Hi Sharon, Thank you for your concern. We did have some power cuts and loss of internet and phone , thankfully comparatively briefly, all are back now. As you would have seen the fire was all around us and did persuade us to evacuate to Ulladulla on Saturday and Saturday night, now we are back home unscathed, Thankfully. Unfortunately the threat is not over yet as we are still very dry and we live in a very thickly treed area. Thanks once again for your thoughts.

Gavin and Sharon.

Ian McKenzie - lives in Tomakin and all is okay. They had two nights in the  Moruya RSL.  

Many of our staff members here at the Gallery are also practising artists and are well equipped emotionally to appreciate the extra trauma any artist would feel at the loss of their valuable artworks. As artists have a real and often sentimental attachment to their works we wish only the best to all those who have lost the fruits of their artistic labours and a speedy recovery in every way.

Stan d'Argeavel, Exhibition Coordinator