Lifedrawing at Nichols Point Scout Hall, 2018. Charcoal

The NicholsPoint Scout Hall, as it is now known, is situated on the corner of Cureton Avenue and Karadoc Avenue. It was built as a pumping station in the early yearsof the Mildura Irrigation Settlement and later converted to a hall for public use.

Angie Beyer and I lived not far from the hall. Angie, her husband Bernie and family lived just across the road.

Back in the’80s and ’90s, when Angie and I taught Art at the Sunraysia TAFE College, we approached the Scouts and came to a hire arrangement for the hall.

Once a month, on a Saturday, a group of interested artists would meet at the hall fora drawing afternoon. I taught Life Drawing at TAFE and therefore had access to life models and easels. Bernie Beyer constructed a portable dais, which he trundled across the road on the day. I supplied some easels – people brought their own paper and drawing equipment.

Classes were fairly relaxed, though Angie or I would set the model up and determine the duration of the pose. It worked well. The model was paid and everybody brought along a plate and perhaps a bottle of wine, to share after the drawing session.We sat around socialising and some of us enjoyed a game of Pétanque or two. Friendships developed, wives, husbands and kids joined in… I have fond memories of those Saturdays.