The Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival has two patrons, these are both people who have historically given the festival financial or other support.
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In 2018 Kathleen Smith OAM stood down and well-known Grenfell identity Judy Mitton was nominated for the role.
Judy is a very worthy new festival patron and will be accompanied by continuing patron, children’s author Dr Hillarie Lindsay OAM.
Judy Mitton has had a long and varied involvement in the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts over many, many years.
Judy was the Art Exhibition Coordinator from 1976 to 1995. From the 1970’s until the present day she has been involved in the Grenfell Dramatic Society play days and drama days, including the annual Festival Stage Production, held in conjunction with the Festival.
In 2001 Judy became Secretary of the Henry Lawson Festival Committee and she continued in this role until 2010.
Her role as secretary saw her spending many long hours mailing entry forms, collating and organising.
She also coordinated the official HLF luncheon and has coordinated the festival program for many years, a task she continues to assist with.
Judy has helped in a number of other areas of the Festival. She has assisted with the hanging of the Art and in the kitchen for the Official Opening of the Art and Porcelain Exhibition.
She helped tirelessly with the dampers at the Festival Poetry Readings on the Sunday morning at Henry’s Obelisk (Henry’s birthplace) and has been involved with the Dramatic Society’s Poetry by the Firelight on the Wednesday night.
Along with her late husband, Allan, she was involved in the Pinnacle Guinea Pig Races since its inception.
In addition Judy has been an avid sponsor of the art and porcelain competition.
In 1993 she was awarded the Weddin Shire Arts Award for Community Service to the Arts.
This award was presented to persons living in Weddin Shire who had made an outstanding contribution to the field of arts over an extended period of time.
Judy has always made herself available to anyone in the festival committee who needed help and has happily accepted numerous roles to help ensure the festival’s repeated success.
She is a wonderful volunteer who has given up many hours of her time to help the Henry Lawson Festival continue to thrive.
Judy is deserving of the nomination for patron and the Henry Lawson Festival committee members are truly delighted to acknowledge her as a celebrated patron of the arts.
