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Estuary Arts Centre in Ōrewa has been handing out awards, Olympic style, recently with its annual members Merit Awards and first Youth Photography Competition held this month.
Centre manager Kim Boyd says it was especially satisfying to have the awards and exhibition go up this year – last year the show was all ready to open when lockdown happened.
Half of the 10 Merit awards went to Hibiscus Coast artists, including the Premier award, won by 27-year-old Waitoki artist Caitlin Johnston.
Her work was painted on a surfboard – something she’s been doing for around seven years.
This is Caitlin’s first Estuary Arts award. Not so for Whangaparāoa School teacher Lizzy Dickie, who has won three previous Merits. Lizzy says octopuses, a recurring theme in her work, are a source of fascination.
The other local winners are Yvonne Gray, Paula Wheeler and Logan Simich-Burr, all of Ōrewa.
Artist and teacher Lizzy Dickie’s work reflects her “octopus obsession”. 
Teenager Logan Simich-Burr of Ōrewa won the student category with his ‘fingerprints’ work.
All the works entered in the awards are on show at the arts centre until August 29.
Youth the focus of new competition
Estuary Arts’ Youth Photography competition was for photographers under 18 years of age. Judging was by Paul Conroy, Hibiscus Coast Photographic Club, and winners were announced on August 5. Top, First place went to 10-year-old Lucy Dean Ngirungiru. She spends summer at a bach in Arkles Bay and takes a lot of photos at Shakespear Regional Park, although that is not where her winning image, of a South Island tomtit, was captured. Fifteen-year-old Matthew Brabant of Matakatia was awarded second place for his image called Mountains, pictured. The photo was taken in the Eglinton Valley in Te Anau where he went on a family holiday. Matthew only began taking photos this year. The winners will have an exhibition at Estuary Arts Centre later this year. They also get a master class with Paul Conroy.
