Helen Winkler
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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The Ladies who paint instead of lunch.
A group of very talented ladies who spend their Thursdays together at a local community hall sharing their passion for art and creating beautiful painting.
I approached this group of lovely ladies in the hope of maybe even getting one of the talented artist to consider donating a piece for the exhibition. I pulled out my computer and loaded the 1000 images of orang-utans for them to look at. They all gathered around and with the ooh ahs and squeels of excitement over these gouregous creatures I knew then I had them hooked. The all agreed to do their best to produce a piece for the exhibition. Now it was just up to the fighting of who would get which orang-utan as their subject. Some were greedy and ended up with 3 of them much to my delight.
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The Ladies from Goulburn come from many different backgrounds all retired now and many have sold painting for years but still don’t call themselves professionals though in my mind they should, so you wont see their websites or exhibition lists here. If any one is interested in asking any of these talented ladies to do a commission piece for them please contact Jessica Warwick at jw-jb@hotmail.com who will be most happy to forward on your details.
PEDRO
Healthy Start, Mischievous Spirit
Pedro arrived at International Animal Rescue’s (IAR) Orangutan Centre in Ketapang in August 2010—a rare case among rescues because he was in good health and condition when he was handed over.
Pedro had been briefly kept by villagers in Kapuas Hulu before being passed to WWF and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). From there, he was flown to Ketapang, where he arrived calm and relaxed despite the long journey. Upon veterinary assessment, Pedro weighed 2.3 kg, had a normal temperature, and showed no signs of trauma or illness—only the deep, invisible loss of his mother and forest home.
He immediately began his rehabilitation journey, starting with hourly feedings and enrichment at the baby care unit. His early strength and adaptability gave him a great head start as he transitioned into forest school, where young orangutans learn vital survival skills like climbing, foraging, and nest building.
Now a strapping and boisterous young orangutan, Pedro is one of the most playful characters at the centre. He’s known for getting into mischief with his best mates and making the most of his time in the trees.
Pedro’s story is a rare glimmer of physical health amid a backdrop of trauma—proof that with early intervention, compassion, and space to grow wild, orangutans can thrive once again.
