First prize for ceramics

A St Hubert's Island woman has been awarded the first prize in a nationwide ceramics contest at this year's Royal Easter Show for the second year running.

Ms Gail Steele was awarded first prize for a slipcast ceramics platter.

The Slipcast ceramics section was reintroduced to the show in 2003, which Ms Steele also won.

"I was so excited and more than a little surprised to win such a prestigious and hotly contested award," she said.

"I'm very proud of my success and thankful for the chance to test myself against many of our most talented ceramists.

"To win any prize in a competition judged by the Ceramic Art Association of NSW judges is really quite an achievement."

The point system used to judge the winner is strict and monitored closely, she said.

Each piece was judged on design, shape, colour, texture, value and intensity of colour, colour harmony, originality, degree of difficulty, appropriateness to function, perfection of technique, correct use of media and firing.

The win is more extraordinary for Ms Steele, who suffered a brain haemorrhage which paralysed the left side of her body in 1992.

She was told she was told she would never walk again.

"I came out of a long stint in hospital to find my successful and well paid sales management job had been given to someone else.

"My salary stopped and my confidence was shot to pieces," she said.

"With the support of my loving husband, Steve and my three sons, and months of rehab, I proved the experts wrong and did learn to walk again but my life still felt pretty empty and pointless."

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to re-enter the workforce, Ms Steele decided in 1999, to establish her own home-based business, "Gail's Gallery".

This ran successfully until 2003 when she moved to St Hubert's Island to be with her mother after the death of her father.

"It wasn't until I opened my first studio in Beecroft that I felt real control over my life again," she said.

"It was hard to walk away from a well established business and the many friends that I'd made and start all over again.

"It wasn't difficult to return to the Central Coast.

"My husband is a local Terrigal boy.

"After living and working at Terrigal in the 1980s, we sill have good friends up here."

Ms Steele has now fully established herself in the ceramic world, winning at least one first place ribbon in the Ceramic Art Association NSW Annual Art Competition since 1999.

She now uses her diploma in ceramics to run "Ab Fab Ceramics" in Helmsman Boulevarde, St Hubert's Island.

She has many pre-cast clay pieces, greenware, decorative tabletops, platters, jugs, vases and chess pieces which she teaches students to clean, decorate and glaze.

"For those who are keen to learn the basic skills and techniques, we offer a comprehensive all-inclusive beginners course.

"For those who have done it before, they can just phone or call in to explore now techniques and products.

"It's all about relaxing and enjoying yourself while you're making beautiful and useful decorative pieces for your home or as gifts."

Inquiries can be directed to Gail Steel on 4342 0122 between 10.30am and 4.30pm everyday, except Wednesday and Sunday.

Owen Lewis, April 30