Celebrating the Annual and Awards Exhibition

Friday 29th August at 120 Collins Street Melbourne was a glittering evening when the Association of Sculptors of Victoria celebrated its Annual and Awards Exhibition and presented prizes. Gillian Govan, president of the association, gave the welcome and introduction and Dr J. Patrick Greene OBE, CEO of Museums Victoria, gave the address.


Dr. Greene was appointed in 1971 to conduct an exploratory excavation Norton Priory near Runcorn in Cheshire, England. His findings were so important that he was retained for a total of 12 years to organise an excavation which "became the largest in area to be carried out by modern methods on any monastic site in Europe".[1]The excavation formed the basis for a thesis which led to his award of PhD by Leeds University in 1986. In 1983 Dr. Greene was appointed as Director of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. He was made an honorary Doctor of Science by Salford University in 1997. In 2002 he was appointed chief executive officer of Museum Victoria.[2]

Dr. Greene has been President of the Museums Association (UK), Chairman of the European Museum Forum, Chair of the UK Expert Panel of the Heritage Lottery Fund: Museums, Archives and Libraries, and a member of the English Heritage Industrial Archaeology Panel. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, of the Museums Association and of the Tourism Society, and a member of the Council of Australian Museum Directors and the National Collections Advisory Forum.[2]

Dr Patrick Greene was kind enough to find time in his busy schedule to present our Awards and open the exhibition. In his address he mentioned the honour and pleasure of having Andor Meszaros medallions at the museum. He also told us about his experience with sculpture during his excavation of Norton Priory in England. He mentioned different pieces from different periods in the history of the priory all made with different materials including large slabs of carved stone, statues and a bell casting pit in which a replica of the bell was made in 1977.



 There are many books written on the subject of Excavation of the Abbey. If you are interested see

Norton Priory: The Archaeology of a Medieval Religious House

The prizes winners are:

Garden of Eden Treasures Jackie Mackinnon

Coates and Wood Prize judged by Geoffrey Bartlett

Jackie Mackinnon for Garden of Eden Treasures

Dalchem Prize judged by Darren McNichol

Kyah - Rolling Form Rachel Boymal

Rachel Boymal for Kyah – Rolling Form
Judge’s comments: I enjoyed the suggestion made by the sculpture; it guided me towards the human form, while causing my mind to ponder the strength and yet fragility of life.

I like the use of strong material, in this case bronze, to create such a delicate sculpture with elegant movement.

Rachel’s work gave me pleasure in its sophisticated simplicity.


The Tina Wentcher Sculpture Prize for Sculptors with fewer than ten years’ exhibition experience was judged by Gillian Govan President ASV (ex officio), Mark Cowie (member ASV) and Geoffrey Bartlett, Sculptor (external judge)

First Prize went to Sioma Wajchman for Genesis

Genesis Sioma Wajchman

Pinnacle Irris Szoeke

Second Prize went to Irris Szoeke for The Pinnacle



















The Margaret Gunnersen William Hoggan Thomas Award for sculptors with greater than ten year’s exhibition experience was judged on the vote of ASV members with greater than ten years’ exhibition experience.

First Prize went to Gillian Govan for Grace

Gillian Govan Grace

Second Prize went to Mark Cowie for Elemental

Mark Cowie Elemental

And third place to Anthony Kim for Embrace on Seating Figure

Anthony Kim Embrace on Seating Figure