Five Decades On, Terence Reignites Passion for Art

Fifty-five years after he last picked up a paintbrush, 89-year-old Terence Baldrey is preparing for his first SALA (South Australian Living Artists) Festival. 

Terence, of Brahma Lodge, is a member of ACH Group’s Not the Da Vincis Art Group at Wynn Vale and was excited about being part of the festival after a long hiatus from art.

As a young man growing up in Calcutta, India, Terence was a keen artist.

“I was always drawing or painting. I remember my friends and I started up an exercise group and we met regularly to train. To inspire us to keep going, I drew a series of portraits of Mr Universe contestants and we taped the pictures up around our training gym.”

“One day, a man visiting the gym asked if he could borrow my pictures overnight to show someone. I never saw him again – or any of my portraits. I later heard he had gone to England, and had taken all of my pictures with him. The whole incident really upset me, and I just stopped painting.”

Life went on for young Terence and he got a job in the Calcutta shipyards as a shipwright. Marriage and the birth of three daughters followed.

“We emigrated to Australia in 1967 and I was busy and happy with family life and work. I didn’t really think much about painting or sketching all those years. The joy of family life was enough for me.”

After 64 years of marital bliss, Terence’s wife passed away in 2012.

“I can’t describe the void and the emptiness I felt, and continue to feel,” he said. Meanwhile, Terence experienced an episode of Bell’s Palsy and had a cataract removed – both of which affected his sight.

“A couple of months ago my daughter LuWayne suggested I take up art again. I tried a couple of art groups, but it just didn’t feel right. Then I walked in the door of the Not the Da Vincis Art Group and knew I’d found the right group.”

LuWayne says there’s no stopping her father now: “He has a list of requests from friends and family members wanting portraits of loved ones. He’s going to be very busy!”

LuWayne says it is wonderful to see her father back doing something he loves. “Being involved in the art group has really lifted his spirits and it’s so good to see him happy and being creative again.”

Terence agrees: “It feels so good. I get great joy and satisfaction from painting and sketching. I just pray my eyesight holds up so I can keep going!”

ACH Group has been involved in SALA each year for the past six years, beginning with a single venue exhibition in 2010.

Dementia Learning and Development Unit Senior Manager Lenore de la Perelle says SALA supports ACH Group’s Healthy Ageing Approach which makes it as easy as possible for people in its residential living homes to choose to be active, remain connected and engage in what they love to do.

“When people paint or draw they are describing their emotions; expressing something that they can’t find words for,” she says. “Art gives people the opportunity to look back and think about things in a creative and deeply meaningful way.”

This year ACH Group will show art at six unique venues, including its flagship venue at The Space Between, Rundle St. SALA runs from 1 to 31 August.

The Not the Da Vincis Art Group will be exhibiting at the YMCA’s new John McVeity Centre at Smithfield Plains during the SALA Festival, which runs throughout August.

Find out more about ACH Group’s involvement in SALA at www.ach.org.au/sala2016.

Click here to find out more about ACH Group's aged care services.