History of WASA
SNIPPETS OF INFORMATION
The following comments (abbreviated) were in an article presented by Mr Alan McEvey to a meeting of the Society in March 1995 entitled “Some comments On the First Ten Years of the Society.’
“Alan McEvey and Richard Weatherly founded the Society in Melbourne in 1974. (Alan McEvey was trained in part as art historian although professionally he worked in the science of ornithology at the Museum of Victoria). Alan and Richard together thought how wonderful it would be to have a society in Australia similar to the Society of Wildlife Artists in England. The idea was discussed with several people and there was agreement that Australia needed to proceed in that direction. A joint decision was made to try to form a society. An inaugural meeting was held in Feb 1974 and a preliminary drafting was made for a constitution. Hence the Society was established and the name chosen was The Society of Wildlife Artists of Australasia. The first exhibition was held at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne in 1974, and then travelled to Canberra. Monthly meetings were held in various places and eventually settled at the Museum theatrette in Melbourne. Eventually the Victorian Artists Gallery was to be used for exhibitions for many years. A strong feature of the early days of the Society was the instruction given to beginners.”
A listing of Presidents in the early years included Richard Weatherly, Charles McCubbin, Ninnon Phillips, Geoff Douglas and Tim Ealey.
Images below from the 1994 annual exhibition at Victorian Artists Society galleries.
Alan McEvey presenting 1994 
1994 Pat Winnett with President John Baker 
1994 Andrew McKenzie presenting to Don Glue 
1994 Best Drawing to Beverley Ednie 
1994 Dawn Stubbs 
1994 Don Glue 
1994 Watercolour award Robert Mancini 
1994 Paul Margocsy and Adele Forsythe-Grant 
L-R Lilian & Kelvin Mather, Paul Margocsy, Tony Pridham & wife, Nuisance Emu, Ilma & Sue Duncan 1990 at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria
Four decades ago: Charles McCubbin
Charles was one of the very early foundation members of the Wildlife Art Society. He did some spectacular paintings of butterflies.
The magazine cutting dates from approx. 1971 and is from the Australian Women’s Weekly magazine. Charles was the grandson of famous Australian landscape painter, Frederick McCubbin. Charles painted wildflowers and insects. He had an immense interest in observing their behaviour and was fascinated by nature. His garden was a re-created bushland, shared by frogs, hens, tortoises, lizards, possums and butterflies. For a butterfly painting he pinned them to cork-based boards and put them under glass. He made a rough sketch, putting it into an environment similar to where it had been found and then painted with the finest brushes and lots of patience.
Four of the WASA Life Members 2014 –
Kelvin Mather, Ian Milligan, Beverley Ednie,
Peter Trusler
The WASA logo was designed by Robert (Bob) Warneke who joined the Society in 1990. 
Vida Pearson in her studio 2015
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