01/09/2026
One of our featured artists at the moment is Catherine Warnest, who has exhibited at Riddoch Art Gallery, Naracoorte Gallery and Walkway Gallery, as well as having her murals in Augathella Qld. Hailing from Willalooka, Catherine's work here shows her passion for wild orchids. So pop in and have a look.
"Growing up in Charleville Queensland I discovered at an early age I had a real love of drawing. I studied a Bachelor of Arts in Toowoomba but found city living a challenge for me. I am a lover of the great outdoors, bush walking, travelling and drawing. I have a real affinity for all creatures great and small, the smells and the night sky fascinate me.
One of my first pieces was a mural in Augathella where I did manage to also find some contract mustering along the Augathella Ranges. I was always a bit of saver, so I went on and purchased several merino weathers and agisted them at Winton QLD, then later selling them to buy cattle. Like many, I started in the shearing sheds wool handling for work then graduated to picking up a hand piece to try my hand at shearing which I enjoyed.
Working in the sheds took me to South Australia where I met my future husband – Shannon – and together we travelled extensively shearing sheep in Australia and further abroad to New Zealand, Canada, Isle of Man, Norway, Ireland, New York and England. Shearing has been a big part of my life with hosting and teaching schools for TAFE. I even got a gig on the channel nine series McLeod’s Daughters as a shearing double.
Shannon and I had the opportunity to purchase the Willalooka Tavern of which we owned and ran for 16 years cementing ourselves into the community by purchasing our own property up the road. We exchanged our vows there on New Year’s Eve in 2006, witnessed by family, friends and most of the Willalooka community. We went on to have 3 wonderful children, who thrive in the great outdoors.
Today I find I have done a full circle and I am back to my first passion of painting, drawing, constructing and thoroughly enjoy the simple life of farming and motherhood. "
