Jack McDonogh (1916 – 1994).

Jack McDonogh F.M.C.A.E., A.R.A.S., A.W.I., M.A.C.E., HonMA, former Head Department of Creative Arts, Mitchell College of Advanced Education (now Charles Sturt University, Bathurst), Fellow of Mitchell College of Advanced Education, Member of the Australian Watercolour Institute (1969-1994), Associate of the Royal Art Society of N.S.W., Member of the Australian College of Education, foundation and Life Member of the Hand Weavers and Spinners Guild of Australia. Jack's work was represented three times in Australian Exhibitions.

Jack’s contribution to Australian art and education has been significant. Of his forty two years of teaching creative arts, twenty five years were devoted to teaching watercolour painting through the former Mitchell College of Advanced Education (now Charles Sturt University) at Bathurst. Jack’s annual residential course attracted enthusiastic amateur artists from through out Australia and New Zealand.

Jack was nationally famous as a professional artist also as one of Australia’s best-known and best-loved art teachers. Jack never received any formal art training. Jack wanted to be an architect but was awarded a Scholarship to attend Teachers College in Sydney. Jack moved to Bathurst, New South Wales in 1952 to take up his appointment as Lecturer in Craft at the Bathurst Teachers College. Jack met Colleen in the same year and they married ten days after Jack proposed.

In 1957 Jack was appointed President Carillion City Festival Arts Committee, a role he held until 1962.  Jack worked tirelessly to develop the Bathurst Carillion City Art Prize as one of the most sought after Art Prizes in New South Wales. In 1958 Jack won the “Most Popular Artist” prize when it was introduced as a new section of the Carillion City Festival Art Prize.  It was to be known as the Most Popular by Public Vote. Jack went onto win this prize again in 1959, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1968, a total of nine times. In 1966 Jack also won the Carillion City Festival Art Prize for the Ben Chifley Memorial Prize for Water Colour.

When Mitchell College of Advanced Education was inaugurated in 1970 Jack was appointed to the foundation staff of the college, rising to the status of Head of Department and retired from this position in 1977. Jack founded the Mitchell School of Creative Arts. Jack continued to work in the Mitchell School of Creative Arts as the Honorary Resident Artist up until 1983. In 1979 following his retirement from Mitchell College Jack was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the College, for his distinguished services to the college, education and the arts (Jack was one of only five people to have received this honour from the college).

Apart from painting and sketching, Jack also enjoyed playing golf, lawn bowls and collecting and repairing antique clocks.

In 1992 Jack was awarded an Honorary “Masters of Arts” degree by Charles Sturt University (CSU).

Jack and Colleen were both honoured in May1993, when they both sat for a combined portrait commissioned by CSU and painted by another renowned artist Reg Campbell. This magnificent portrait is currently hanging in the Library at CSU. A further association with Charles Sturt University and its predecessors was the establishment of the Jack McDonogh endowment fund which supports the purchase of works of art at CSU.

On September 1st 1993 Jack and Colleen were both again honoured with the naming new buildings at CSU the “McDonogh’s”. This was to pay tribute for the long serving contribution made to CSU by both Jack and Colleen.

Jack’s watercolour paintings are hung in many galleries throughout Australia, overseas and in private collections. For many years Jack’s works were hung for judging in the Wynne Prize (the Wynne Prize is part of the Archibald Prize and is awarded to what the judges consider to be the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours). 

I knew Jack (and Colleen) personally as Jack is the Father of my best friend (and now Brother in Law) Stephen McDonogh. My Father was also an avid student of Jack’s summer schools held each year at Mitchell College, Bathurst.

Jack lost his battle with cancer on 4^th April 1994.

A bit about Colleen McDonogh