Other past Patrons are Helen Goldsmith (1992--2009), June Young (1993--2007) and the late Molly Flaxman (1999-2004). Present Patrons are non-members Jocelyn Maughan and David Beschi, and life-members Margaret Wright, Harold Scott and Warwick Webb. Cas Sandercott and Roy Doyle were the first to be recognised as honorary life-members.

By mid-1986 the membership had risen to fifty, after which it continued to climb and hovered around one hundred till recently. It is now undergoing another period of growth and is in excess of 120.

The Society's original aims and objectives remain:
• To encourage and promote watercolour painting and related media and the appreciation of watercolour painting to provide a social discourse between artists and Patrons;
• To encourage the study of watercolour painting and related media by the formation of study groups and discussion groups, and to promote information on this art form by providing workshops, lectures, books and correspondence with public bodies and individuals;
• To institute exhibitions of the highest possible standard for public appreciation and subsequent sale on behalf of members.

The Society became an incorporated body in January 1993.
Charmhaven Community Centre continued as the meeting venue until June 1987 and served again over the two years 1999 and 2000. In the interim, members gathered at Gorakan--variously Lakehaven Studio and the Leisure Centre. Years 2001--2004 saw the Society based at Matcham Community Hall, a delightful rural setting but found not to be accommodating to older, frailer members. The Society therefore relocated to Niagara Park Community Centre, a safer spot for those less nimble, but too cramped to provide adequately for the numbers attending meetings and the associated storage demands. At the same time, Wyong Shire Council was re-developing a site to become The Entrance Community Centre and invited the Society to advise it on the needs of art groups. This relationship proved most fruitful. The re-development delivered a venue with everything for which the Society could have hoped--a beautiful location with plenty of space for meetings and workshops, good lighting and storage, and ease of parking and general access. The Society moved to the new location in July this year and considers it now occupies its permanent home after almost twenty-five years.

This year the Society lost life-member Elsa Kimmorley, its longest-serving President (1996--2004). Her drive, her wit and her warmth will continue to be missed by all who knew and loved her. Polly Norton, President 1993 to 1996 remains an active life-member with the Society and contributes her unique depth of experience through the Management Committee. Other Presidents have been Charles Wright (1985-1987), June Daniel (1987-1990), Helen Woods (1991-1992), Warwick Webb (1992-1993), Shelia Todd (1996-1997), Arthur Taylor (1997-1998), Lorna Unwin (August-September 2004), Joan Squire (2004-2006), Joan Kocken (2006-2007) and since that time, Sondra 'Sonnie' Hopkins. Other current life-members are Anne Brack, Mary Scholes, Roger Smith, Barbara Vaughan and Gwen Shipton.

An important feature of the Society has been its support for local charities, and especially Hospital Art Australia Inc. and Terrigal Rotary, with which it has held jointly-conducted exhibitions. In addition, this year it sponsored a prize in the inaugural art competition, Picturing Ourimbah. As well as fostering the arts, the competition seeks to engender the interest of Central Coast secondary students in post-school study, by having them visit the TAFE and University campus at Ourimbah to paint or photograph some aspect of it. The Society has indicated its willingness to continue the sponsorship while funds permit.

The Society's first dedicated exhibition was held in October 1987 at Lakehaven Community Centre. Exhibitions at Gosford Art Centre, Caroline Bay, commenced in 1995. Following the opening of the new Gosford Regional Gallery in April 2000, the Society's Easter Showcase Exhibition is an annual event there.

A newsletter became the Society's main communication vehicle in 1986, and has remained so ever since. This year, its web-site www.centralcoastwatercolour.com.au was launched to give information to the broader community, as a consequence of the offer of Hunter-resident Robert Rainey, to create and maintain one on a voluntary basis.

In 2007 a new 3x3-hour curriculum was developed to provide an introduction to terminology, materials and basic watercolour methods. Since that time the course The Basics of Painting in Watercolour, conducted by experienced members in a voluntary capacity, has proved popular with those who join with enthusiasm but little relevant knowledge and with those who want a refresher course.

A Strength of the Society is the sharing of management tasks. As well as having an Executive of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, there is a responsible officer for the web-site and, together with an assistant, for each the newsletter, the introductory course, the library, materials, exhibitions, publicity, membership and catering. The Management Committee meets monthly prior to the member-meetings. The latter variously provide for participation in decision-making, joint critiques of work in progress, demonstrations and information sharing, as well as booking for workshops, borrowing from the library, socialising and morning tea. In addition, there are seven workshops annually, typically with external tutors who are recognised experts in particular facets of watercolour.
The 2009 exhibition in the NSW Parliament House in November was the outcome of the invitation in April 2007 of Member for Gosford, Marie Andrews MP to host an exhibition of the Society there. In preparation, over the two and a half years since that occasion, ongoing effort aimed at meeting its third objective, that of ensuring the exhibition was of the highest standard--in the paintings themselves, in their hanging, and in the overall management of the event. It is fitting that the exhibition took place as the highlight of the Society's twenty-fifth year.

The bringing together of established and new artists, in a mutually-supportive and non-competitive way, will continue to be a valued characteristic of the Society, as will the exploration of the potential of watercolour and associated media to be used creatively.

Sonnie Hopkins
November 2009