Memoir recalls adventures in art

By Diane Wallis

Coledale has lost one of its famous residents, Les Blakebrough, who died in December aged 92.

Les was a leading ceramic artist whose work is held in all major Australian art galleries and many overseas. His story is one of determination by a person who was virtually abandoned by his parents at the beginning of the Second World War. But against all odds he persevered, and his work became sought after internationally.

In 1948, at the age of 18, Blakebrough jumped ship in northern Queensland without money or passport and for months hid out on rural properties working as a stable hand and
general roustabout.

When he eventually approached Immigration, he had further problems since there was no record of his arrival and he had no documents. He did, however, have a driving licence, granted to him by a local police sergeant who observed that he had driven 40km in a truck to make his application. Eventually Les was given a letter to say he was welcome to stay and work as long as he abided by Australian laws. How things have changed today!

Soon he moved to Sydney, became a lifesaver at Coogee and worked night shifts as a cab driver for the famous Gelignite Jack to earn enough to survive while he completed an art course. Then he undertook a grinding apprenticeship in a pottery workshop for food and board and a pitiful £1 a week.

But gradually he became recognised, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study in the UK and Scandinavia, and today Blakebrough’s work is found in all major museums in Australia and many in Europe and the USA.

Later he was instrumental in developing a world-class porcelain clay deposit in Tasmania that is still in production 30 years later. And in 2013 he was awarded the Order of Australia – truly an Australian story.

Les Blakebrough: A Memoir (The Watermark Press, rrp $35) is available at Collins Booksellers, Thirroul.