Judges 2009

Stuart MacGill – former spin bowler of the Australian cricket team – a keen wine connoisseur who hosts the ‘Uncorked’ wine show on the Lifestyle channel;

Anneke van der Pal – studied at the Royal College of Arts in the Netherlands, she has spent the last 20 years working in commercial / corporate art & design in Europe, England, South Africa and Australia. Immigrated to Australia 11 years ago and is well know for painting local café scenes – “Bondi Beach – My Backyard” exhibition 2003;

Dr. Dick Quan – a passionate collector of contemporary Australian and Asian art and a tireless supporter of new talent and new forms and one of Sydney’s most influential visual arts people. A principal patron of Gallery 4A/Asia-Australia, with an impressive knowledge of art who’s name commands automatic respect in contemporary art circles;

John McDonald – outspoken art critic for the Sydney Morning Herald – on and off – for more than twenty years. He has written for a wide range of Australian and international publications, worked as an editor and publisher, and lectured at colleges and galleries around the country. He was Head of Australian Art at the National Gallery of Australia from 1999-2000, acting as curator for the exhibition, Federation: Australian Art & Society 1901-2000. From 2002-04 he was director of NewContemporaries, a non-commercial gallery in Sydney;

John Windus – he was actively involved in the art scene of Sydney including the Yellow House project with Martin Sharp, George Gittoes etc. In the 70’s he participated in a group show at the now legendary Central Street Gallery. Exhibited in major galleries in Sydney and Melbourne. In 1975 John had as highlight an exhibition in Holland with the American artist Sam Middleton. He also participated in the conceptual Liverpool+1 art-group with and as its mentor the progressive art critic Donald Brook. In the 90’s he won the Mosman Centenary Drawing Prize and in 2003 the National Walkom Manning art prize.