I hope you sat glued to your televisions on Saturday at 4.30pm on Channel 7, to watch the Coast to Coast for Kids – Land & Sea Challenge.  Just don’t blink or you will miss the star in my life my hubby!  Lol

You see hubby was part of the support crew that went over to Kangaroo Island to film this adventure over a 5 day period recently when he took time of from being Art Manager to helping out where he could and being chief chef and bottle washer.

The aim of the television production is to raise money for charities and this time it was for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation.  The challenges had been dreamed up by their event manager Christina Angus who also participated in the event. Eleven participants all from South Australia were the “Challengers” who each raised over $10.000 dollars.   The man in charge is Troy Gray with his Vox ventures production company and Troy’s past 10 TV documentaries have screened internationally, won medals in the Annual South Australian Cinematography Awards as well as raised over $1 Million dollars for South Australian based charities.

PAINTING AND FOOTBALL

This football painting shows some of Troys other talents as he started out as a footy star who was drafted to the Sydney Swans in 1991 before being traded to St Kilda, then starting on his media and production career.  This is also pretty much how I found the Challengers when I joined in the festivities for the weekend on the Kangaroo Island shoot.  The boys were all kicking the footy around and as they are all pretty easy on the eye I certainly thought I had come to the right place!  As I am a firm believer in “Just because I’m on a diet, doesn’t mean I can’t look at the menu” Let’s just say I enjoyed the view!   Oh and the menfolk watching on Saturday TV Show won’t be disappointed either as the girls are pretty good sorts too.  Although I did not see any streakers as my artwork suggest but there was a nice incident with a pole dance or was it a shimmy up the pole to retrieve a ball – oh I forget!

THE ART OF THE CHALLENGE

The whole gang; David, Ali, Chad, Sam, Scott, Rebecca, Laura, Michaela, Saxon, Christina, Cara are thrown in the deep end for an unknown adventure through some of Kangaroo Island’s wonderful countryside.  Each participant went through their own personal challenges physically, mentally and emotionally as they faced five days of life-changing experiences.  It really was a tough gig as they all slept rough – sleeping bags or swags with sometimes just the one toilet to share between 20 odd people.  The fact that they were constantly filmed and expected to be ready with only minutes to spare added to the tension.  The days started at 5.30 am for breakfast round the campsite and often didn’t finish until way after midnight.

ARTFUL ACTIVITIES

I was very happy to come for a little visit and be able to retreat to my comfy hotel room at the end of the night, I am more a “5 star kinda gal” however if I had the access to a Hollywood camper I would be up for the challenges as they looked like so much fun.  Full on activities from sunup till dawn such as; sailing, swimming with dolphins, hiking, bicycle riding, fishing, four wheel buggy driving, jet-skiing, melon catapulting, wine tasting, Harley Davidson rides just to mention a few.

THE ART OF KARAOKE

I do think I came over at the right time as it was Karaoke & Party night, unfortunately this event did not make it into the show but let me assure you it should have!  There were certainly some funny moments and unexpected talents, much hutzpa and bravado and just so much fun even from the local KI community who joined in as well.

THE ART OF THE VOLUNTEER

Over $110,000 was raised for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital which would not have been possible without the volunteers; Tim, the 2 Ben’s, Narelle, Bryan, as well as the hard work by Michelle and Martha and the girls in office of WCHF.  Of course we mustn’t forget Lisa & Butch and camera crew from 2OC Production (just try to figure out what those initials stand for and it will make you giggle!) who also worked incredibly hard and then had another episode to film in the outback when this one was in the bag.

Here is a quote I think fits well by Vance Havner;

“The vision must be followed by the venture.  It is not enough to stare up the steps – we must step up the stairs.

Till next time happy painting, sculpting and adventuring!

Love Marie xxx

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALE and SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

This artwork “Community Spirit” made from handmade ceramic and mosaic is part of a public sculpture called the Federation Gateway Sculpture at the entrance to Balaklava a town in the Mid North, South Australia, here is a link if you want to take a look 109 Stories behind the Wall.   However this story is about the running lady in white on the left hand side holding the torch.  As an artist you never know where the next idea for an artwork comes from and that makes my profession especially fun.

OVERCOMING DISABILITY & ART

Christina Angus is her name and she never ceases to amaze me because there is nothing that she cannot do, Christina is one of these “can do” people, whatever you ask her to do, she will fix it, do it and sort it.  There is no mountain too high and no river too deep for her, no siree!  Well that’s not that unusual you may say; there are lots of amazing women out there doing lots of stuff.  Yes and I agree so there is; however this amazing woman is legally blind and has only got 6% sight in one eye and nothing, zilch, nada in the other.  If you think that’s going to stop her from getting on with it, you have another thing coming.

THE ART OF THE TORCH

So let me tell you about her list of achievements which just continue to grow as we speak and a list too long to describe here.    Let’s start with the Olympic Torch Relay depicted in my artwork, here she was chosen as an outstanding Community member for the Sydney 2000 Olympic summer games, to run part of the leg when the torch made its way through the Clare region in SA, cheered on by hundreds of local supporters.

THE ART OF KOKODA

Then it was time to do the Kokoda track as part of a fundraiser for her employer the Guide Dogs SA&NT.  She was joined by Cosi from Triple M and 14 other Australians and the whole thing was made into a documentary for Chanel 9 by Troy Gray.  The Kokoda track is one of the most challenging treks in the world and spans 96km between the northern and southern coast of Papua New Guinea.  Many soldiers lost their lives there during the war fighting the Japanese and the unforgiving Kokoda trail has also claimed 8 Australian lives trekking in peace time.

ARTISTIC INSPIRATIONS

In 2010 Christina set off for Italy and trekking through the Dolomites followed by Cinque Terre where she and her husband took the walking trail between the 5 villages on the on the rugged coast of the Italian Riviera called Sentiero Azzurro.  Not to mention she has also climbed both Uluru on 4 separate occasions as well as the Kings Canyon.

At Christmas time this year Christina could be found 75 meters up a Karri tree in Pemberton in Western Australia, climbing up on metal spikes fastened into the tree trunk with no safety net.  I have to point out she has to feel her way as she cannot even see her feet.

THE ART OF THE BIKE

If that wasn’t enough, Christina as the “stoker” and Andy Griffiths as the “pilot” just finished the Tour Down Under section called The Mutual Community Challenge and rode the 135km from Norwood – Strathalbyn on a tandem bike reaching speeds of 60km an hour.  Move on over Lance Armstrong she is catching up!

THE ART OF HAVING A GOOD TIME

So I shouldn’t have been surprised when she jumped up on the one meter high and 50cm wide marble bar at her 50th birthday party held at The Banque and did a crazy go- go girl routine should I?  The only problem being she threw the gauntlet and I, her best friend had to follow, right?  Much to the horror of the bar staff who saw an accident waiting to happen (well we are talking past midnight and let’s just say I at least, was a little bit happy) but all is well that ends well and you only live once!

I think the following quote fits rather nicely here said by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

Till next time happy painting and sculpting to you all.

ps. Here is another art blog about Christina s resent adventures in Italy if you fancy a look 155 The Art of Packing Light

Love Marie xxx                          ©

Why not come and have a look at Marie Jonsson-Harrison’s PAINTINGS FOR SALE, GICLEE PRINTS FOR SALEand SCULPTURES for sale or WALLBASED SCULPTURES.  Enjoy an original artwork on your walls or perhaps one on your bed ARTnBED.

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