Ed, Thank you for our paper’s excellent coverage of local botanist and illustrator, Janet Hauser’s ‘exhibition of botanical art’ at the Yamba Museum last Saturday. Janet Hauser’s artistic exhibition was the artist’s tribute to William Carron who became inspector of forests and forestry ranger in the Clarence district. William Carron had considerable botanical knowledge of native plants and great artistic ability as an illustrator and was one of only three survivors on the ill-fated 1849 Kennedy expedition to North Queensland. Barely surviving when rescued, all Carron’s specimens were left behind and all he brought back with him to Sydney were his diary and intricate drawings of the specimens he had collected on the expedition. And it was the information that Carron had retained that enabled Mrs Hauser to “retrace his footsteps and discover (and then paint) those same specimens as he did.” This exhibition was in a word exquisite. So many young children from a very young age enjoy painting or drawing their own unique artistic endeavours. What a shame it is that as yet no tier of our governments attach much importance to trying to ensure growth in all The Arts is recognised as a fundamental aspect of the quality of life. When this does happen, wonderful exhibitions such as this will be retained for future generations to enjoy. Harry Johnson, Iluka