We did our first stint of family mosaics quite by accident. We bought a house in Mango Hill when the boys were little, and me being a garden nutter I had to dig up gardens. It was during this time that I dug up an old path that lead to the block next door (they had spilt the blocks for resale). Anyway, the path was eventually made into the centre point in that area of that garden. It was a long drawn out process as my back herniated at that time and the boys being about 4, 5 and 6 did a lot of the work.

So we spent a lot of good times out mosaicing that path. It was good fun for 3 young boys smashing tiles with hammers and mixing mudpie grout (oh the memories) and we made a very colourful magical path to nowhere.

We had to sell that house when we moved to NZ in 2015. You see, we have lived a strange life. Simon worked away FIFO most of the time when the boys were young. NZ was the first time we actually lived together as a family and it was a very fantastic time in our lives. Long story short we found “Bargara” when we had to return back to Australia and said “we must live here”, so we did.

So being a homebody for the last 16 years and being quite the hermit I enrolled in the WOW art programs held at the “Take the Plunge café”. One of them was Mosaics with Julie Hyland where I made a turtle and an owl. I found I liked mosaics (tho my shoulder tries to say different and my back say’s it’s something I need to do in small intervals). It was at these mosaic classes that I heard about this project and I knew I had to be part of it. To tell the truth I picked the herring on the first day as it looked like it was one of the easier things to do. I loved the resulting herring and am very proud of my effort. When I had finished my piece I asked my husband if he would like to do a piece. He loved the idea and then we talked about it with the boys and they were all keen. So we added it to the home learning program.

My daughter Nadean also did the mosaic class with Julie and has taken the time out to complete her cuttlefish masterpiece. She’s had a fascination with their colourful, camouflaging ability since seeing one during an Easter camping trip.

One day at the beginning of lockdown she drove into my drive and presented me with 3 beautiful starfish that my grandsons had done and I said wow “they need to be on that wall too”.

We are now very proud to be part of an everlasting moment in history as the school of 5 Herring, a cuttlefish and 3 starfish on the “Fish Tale” wall as part of the Milbi Magic: Archie’s Beach Community Mosaics.

This fish is based on a painting by Nicole Wone (used with her permission) created as part of the Bargara Art Trail series of murals on the Council’s sewer pumping station electrical control boxes along the Bargara foreshore. Nicole is one of the artists on the design team for the MilBi Magic Mosaic project and has added a wonderful fresh dimension to the project with her contemporary Indigenous art design.

Material: Hand cut ceramic tiles

You need to be careful when flipping rocks and wading in rock pools, especially around Elliot Heads, as you may come across this pretty but deadly tiny creature. My hairdresser came across one of these at Elliott Heads near the river mouth. These cute little creatures look beautiful and inviting but are deadly.

Clay and underglazes were utilised for the creation of this creature. Fired in an electric kiln at the Bundaberg Pottery Group.

I love my crayfish and when my friend Bill asked me to make a painted crayfish mosaic for him I went looking for an image of such a creature that was suitable to use as a source image for the mosaic. I found this beauty and got stuck into making it.

While making the mosaic and thinking about the shape of this creature and why it looked so much like the yabbies I was familiar with from the Murray River in South Australia, I realised this creature too was a fresh water variety. So Bill didn’t get this one. I had to find an image of a painted crayfish that was from the Southern Barrier Reef for him.

So this one got left for the Fish Tales wall.

Materials: Hand-cut ceramic tiles

Hermit crabs fascinate me as they are so adaptable, resourceful and entertaining. I related to these characteristics as recently I have had to be super adaptable and resourceful due to life’s changes.

I am also working on changing my living circumstances. So the hermit crabs ability to ‘move homes’ with such daring and ingenuity is one of my inspirations.

I hope you like my Blue Sea Star (Linckia laevigata).

I used to live at Burnett Heads (17 years) and moved to Tasmania 2 years ago for my husband and my health. I do miss snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island and seeing the beautiful area around Bundaberg, however I love my new home also.

I look forward to seeing the mosaic mural next time I’m back visiting family and friends.

Best of luck with the project and I hope you aren’t delayed due to the shocking virus.

Thanks for including the Davenport Mosaic Group.

Location: Devonport, Tas - Fish Tales wall

My inspiration for the crayfish relates to visits to Innes Park beach searching through the water pools at low tide.

When we first arrived in the Bundaberg region, the creek and rocky divots at Innes Park provided many hours of discovery and enjoyment for our little ones.

Clay and underglazes were utilised for the development of this creature. Fired in a gas kiln.

This is a fish that brings back memories for me.

As a commercial diver I worked in oceanariums many years ago. One of the daily tasks was to clean the glass and acrylic of the fish tanks throughout the aquarium. I would lower myself into the tank with a soft bristle broom with a long hose supplying air to my regulator. Usually the divers would go bare foot to not damage the displays. Whilst brooming off algae and debris from the windows and rocks the inhabitants of the tanks would often hang around eating the bits brushed off.

One day a usually very inquisitive and seemingly friendly Harlequin Tuskfish was hovering above my bare foot. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my big toe. With its protruding razor-sharp teeth the fish decided my toe looked quite appetising. It bit me so hard that he exposed the bone of my toe. Needless to say I now I have a healthy respect for this fish.

I love colour and movement. This is what my starfish represents to me – happiness!

The treasure chest is here because everyone wants to find one! Long ago there was a ship that was blown off course, lost along a new, uncharted coast. The only thing that has survived is the bounty of booty they had collected on the seas. No one knows when it arrived, only the fish, and they aren’t telling anyone, anything. But here it still sits, patiently waiting for its next adventure.

The idea of my starfish came to me when I was wandering down the beach. I was deep in my thought thinking about the project, and also observing the nature and gathering ideas around me. I spotted a starfish, and just fell in love with its colours and the way it was just sitting on the ocean floor. I came back home, and the project began.

First, I had to decide on the size and the materials. I rummaged through all my bought op shop’s plates and cups. I decided to use an old ceramic vase, because it had a lovely pattern, and for added colour I used some ceramic petals and tiles. I thoroughly immersed myself into this project and I am very happy with the result, hope it will add a little sparkle to the wall!

Rainbow Sunfish was the result of different plates sourced from Op shops. I really enjoyed making this fish. She is a happy angel and loves to bring colour to the ocean.

I have always been fascinated with octopus. They are such intelligent creatures, in so many ways. And despite the irony of it, I also love eating char grilled octopus... takes me back to wonderful experiences in northern Spain while walking the Camino Trail and our travels through Greece and the Greek Island.

This creature brings all those memories back as if it was just yesterday.

Materials: Hand-cut ceramic tiles

The Blue swimmer crab was forward facing and looked very interesting.

I have a fascination for things that can go airborne. Seeing these fish in action is very special. Hopefully my flying fish will have played a small part in helping this community project soar to the great heights that it deserves.

Coy Koi , well I just love the colours: red black and white together. So when I saw a picture similar to this, I knew I just had to create her. She is very shy and rather introvert, keeps to herself and loves to swim.

I am an amateur mosaic artist who wanted to celebrate the clownfish. It lives here in the Southern Barrier Reef. The clownfish is on the list of ‘The Great Eight”. It’s an icon of the Great Barrier Reef.

I love colour and Nemo, so that is why I wanted to showcase this bright and beautiful fish.

Having met Paul and Faye Perry in early 2016, we became friends and with Paul’s encouragement and his abundant artistic skills I embarked on a rekindling of my own artistic abilities. I enjoy painting animals and turtles have been a favourite due to where we live near Mon Repos Turtle hatchery. The mediums I use are acrylics, pastels and oils.

I have followed Paul’s work and was delighted to purchase one of his mosaic pieces from the “Flushed Out “ exhibition held in the Archies Beach Toilet Block. So when Paul started creating the pieces for the Turtle Walk and the Fish Tales mosaics, I put my hand up to help. Not having done any work with mosaics previously it was a steep learning curve however Paul’s teaching skills and vast knowledge had myself and others snipping and cutting tiles with ease before long.

I was attracted to the beautiful colours of the Rainbow Sardine and was inspired by photos of fish Paul had in his file. With Paul’s collection of various tiles and glass including the beautiful smalti glass used in the sardine’s fins, this fish came alive.

I really enjoyed making him and if time permitted I would have loved to create more pieces for the Fish Tales wall.

We did our first stint of family mosaics quite by accident. We bought a house in Mango Hill when the boys were little, and me being a garden nutter I had to dig up gardens. It was during this time that I dug up an old path that lead to the block next door (they had spilt the blocks for resale). Anyway, the path was eventually made into the centre point in that area of that garden. It was a long drawn out process as my back herniated at that time and the boys being about 4, 5 and 6 did a lot of the work.

So we spent a lot of good times out mosaicing that path. It was good fun for 3 young boys smashing tiles with hammers and mixing mudpie grout (oh the memories) and we made a very colourful magical path to nowhere.

We had to sell that house when we moved to NZ in 2015. You see, we have lived a strange life. Simon worked away FIFO most of the time when the boys were young. NZ was the first time we actually lived together as a family and it was a very fantastic time in our lives. Long story short we found “Bargara” when we had to return back to Australia and said “we much live here”, so we did.

So being a homebody for the last 16 years and being quite the hermit I enrolled in the WOW art programs held at the “Take the Plunge café”. One of them was Mosaics with Julie Hyland where I made a turtle and an owl. I found I liked mosaics (tho my shoulder tries to say different and my back say’s it’s something I need to do in small intervals). It was at these mosaic classes that I heard about this project and I knew I had to be part of it. To tell the truth I picked the herring on the first day as it looked like it was one of the easier things to do. I loved the resulting herring and am very proud of my effort. When I had finished my piece I asked my husband if he would like to do a piece. He loved the idea and then we talked about it with the boys and they were all keen. So we added it to the home learning program.

My daughter Nadean also did the mosaic class with Julie and has taken the time out to complete her cuttlefish masterpiece. She’s had a fascination with their colourful, camouflaging ability since seeing one during an Easter camping trip.

One day at the beginning of lockdown she drove into my drive and presented me with 3 beautiful starfish that my grandsons had done and I said wow “they need to be on that wall too”.

We are now very proud to be part of an everlasting moment in history as the school of 5 Herring, a cuttlefish and 3 starfish on the “Fish Tale” wall as part of the Milbi Magic: Archie’s Beach Community Mosaics.

My former home in South Australia was known for its King George Whiting and its Snapper. It was always my dream to catch a whopper “Big Red” and went out a number of fishing charters with that goal... unsuccessfully. I remember on one occasion I was so frustrated at not being able to catch my dream fish that I stopped at Cappos on the way home and bought the biggest Snapper they had in their fridge. When I got home it was too big to fit into the oven without removing its head. Wow! But we enjoyed eating that fish even though I couldn’t claim it as my catch.

This Big Red is my way of claiming one I “caught” with my own hands... and also enjoyed every minute of making it.

Materials: hand cut ceramic tiles and glass. Design inspired by an image sourced from Pinterest, original creator unknown.

What attracted me to joining this workshop was the opportunity to be part of a community project, using mosaics, to highlight the importance of supporting the region’s focus on preserving and displaying our precious marine environment.

It was the bright solid colours, red and yellow, and the simple design that drew me to creating this fish.

My fish were leftover bits and pieces, so didn’t really cost anything.

I spent around 3 hours per fish, mostly agonising about how to make a fish!

Initially it was a project to do with our Davenport Mosaic Group but then we were put into lockdown, so it became a Covid isolation project, one that we will never forget.

Location: Devonport, Tas - Fish Tales wall

All my life doing any type of art has been a chore, and I have never looked twice at anything I made, drew or painted.

With some maturity, I suppose, I have realised I cannot be compared to the masters in any field, so I should be happy with what I do myself.

Emmaline Reid has been a source of inspiration in my life since I began to really know her, and her insistence that I do artwork has been a motivation to go with how she inspires me.

The first art we did together was a still life drawing of a bunch of bananas; I wanted to continue the yellow theme I chose Spongebob.

My inner-six-year-old kid came out when I thought of doing Spongebob, and I tried to make the mosaic piece of the famed-under-water character as a kid would make it.

After a few times trying my hand at art (drawings, and now a mosaic) I have found being creative is something I truly enjoy doing. I will just have to find time to fit it in with being a dad, volunteer, enthusiastic reader, someone who wants to be fit again and small-scale chook farmer.

Most people will be familiar with Clown fish. The Bumble-bee fish is from the same family but is “sweeter”.

Many years ago my daughter and I went on a deep-water fishing excursion in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef. I was the only person on that trip to catch a fish and it was a Red Throat Emperor, sometimes known as a sweetlip emperor. I was absolutely thrilled that I had caught something so beautiful.

The resort we were staying in cooked it that night and brought it to our table. It was magnificent. I had never eaten such a delectable fish before. I’m sure it tasted so good because I had caught it but I have had it several times since and always enjoy its moist, sweet flavour. Now when I see a whole fish available I will usually buy it. I’ve never been disappointed.

When I had to choose a fish to create in mosaics the Red Throat Emperor was a must. It was the first, and only, fish that I have caught and now is the first fish mosaic that I that I have made.

I was able to create the design as I found a painting of a red throat emperor that I found easy to interpret. Once I decided on the bronze tiles the rest of it came together. It was fun experimenting with the coloured glue to get some colour under the glass that I used for the fins. I couldn’t quite get the right tone but I was happy with the overall effect of the fish. Paul created some of the difficult bits for me such as the big cheek which he had to make using a diamond cutter. Way out of my skill set. One of the other things that make the fish is the teeth. I love them and they make it look great. They too were Paul’s handiwork.

From a starfish to this fish was a steep learning curve. I thought at times it was a far too ambitious project for me to tackle. It was a slow process as I had to learn so many skills and I wasn’t quick. However tackling such a project meant that I practiced cutting, grinding, gluing many, many times. The repetition of the basic skills was excellent groundwork and Paul was a patient and supportive teacher.

I have noticed working on my new fish that I am much more confident in my approach to the project. I feel that I can work far more independently in all aspects of the process. That in itself has given me a lot of satisfaction.

This creature is one of my favourite illusive sea creatures. I love its ability to hide among the sea weed and look just like some loose weed floating in the tide. I know these creatures are found in the waters off Pt Lincoln, South Australia. But I’m not sure there are any up in the warmer waters of the Southern Barrier Reef. Maybe they’re there but they’re so illusive no one has seen them yet!

Materials: Hand cut Ceramic tiles and sea glass collected from Robe, SA.

I hope you like my Moorish Idol.

I used to live at Burnett Heads (17 years) and moved to Tasmania 2 years ago for my husband and my health. I do miss snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island and seeing the beautiful area around Bundaberg, however I love my new home also.

I look forward to seeing the mosaic mural next time I’m back visiting family and friends.

Thanks for including the Davenport Mosaic Group.

Location: Devonport, Tas - Fish Tales wall

This was my first attempt at making a fish after having made a turtle out of plates. The plate used for the body hopefully looks a bit like scales.

Quirky design in my favourite colour – purple.

I have been a mosaic artist for over 24 years and a teacher for 7 years.

I hope you like it.

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

The two key elements I think of with fish is their beauty and, being a pragmatist, their taste. The colours of the Hussar are what first attracted me to it and then I discovered that they are not only beautiful but also delicious. Friends who had been fishing locally posted a photo one day of the red emperor and hussar that they had caught. When I saw that it firmed my decision to make the hussar as I had already made a red emperor.

My design inspiration was taken from a website, efishalbum.com. The drawings on this site are beautiful and I love the introduction on their site.

The association between man and fish is ancient. Fish fascinates man by their brilliant colours, their elegant body shapes and power in movement through the water. Their abundance but elusiveness to catch brings frustration to man. Nevertheless, since ancient times man is dependent on fish for both food and enjoyment.

Working on the fish I enjoyed trying to find the right materials to create the sense of texture and movement that I was seeking. The process of creation is totally absorbing and the collegiality of working with other people on the project really enjoyable.

My decision to create the pink hussar was primarily due to its colourful appearance and that the species was mainly seen in the waters around Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Two versions of the fish were made as I felt the first one did not de justice to the beautiful colours of the fish.

This was an enjoyable project and a technique I had not tried before. I was pleased when my keen fishing friends were able to recognise the hussar immediately.

Leaping Salmon was the very first fish that I created. It was rather challenging being my first attempt but rewarding when I finished it. But lo and behold a shark ate his tale when he was placed on the wall. All that hard work gone in one bite. Ouch!

You need to be careful when visiting the Riverview Heads area as stonefish gather at the boat jetty and riverbanks. They blend in so well. We had a local come and warn us not to stand in the water. The fish are magnificent at camouflage and are deadly.

I recycled some old wind chimes I had made many years ago and added new shell parts. Clay and glazes and oxides. Fired in my gas kiln. F

My passion for glass started around 30 years ago, after my husband and I completed a leadlight course.

I progressed to mosaic art 15 years ago, my first project being an outdoor tabletop. This was a joint effort with my late father who handcrafted the wrought iron base and chairs. Following that project I dabbled with mosaics on and off until a recent trip to Italy inspired me to explore Italian smalti. Since then I have experimented with this medium and combining stained glass and porcelain in my mosaic projects. I now have an Etsy page “Radiance Mosaics” where I sell my work.

My contribution to ‘Fish Tales’ is the blue swimmer crab. The inspiration behind this piece was determined by the colour and texture of a beautiful sheet of mottled art glass by Youghiogheny Glass USA.

I have never been to Bundaberg but very much look forward to visiting it in future to view the Fish Tales wall at Archie’s Beach.

Janene had a stroke in 1996 and lost the use of her left arm. I have been working with her as a disability support carer for over 8 years and have completed quite a few mosaics with her. She finds it fun, scary and challenging, but perseveres to the end fantastic results. She jumped at the chance to part of this mosaic mural project. The starfish was a quick design drawn by her husband Peter. (NB Helen Burgeister)

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

My decision to create the pink hussar was primarily due to its colourful appearance and that the species was mainly seen in the waters around Bundaberg and the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Two versions of the fish were made as I felt the first one did not de justice to the beautiful colours of the fish.

This was an enjoyable project and a technique I had not tried before. I was pleased when my keen fishing friends were able to recognise the hussar immediately.

I enjoyed doing the Hussar as it has a true look of a Hussar and is more structured than my previous mosaics. It was a challenge to get the colour as close as possible to the real fish. I used tiles for the mosaic.

My greatest love since JAWS came out.

I have been a mosaic artist for over 24 years and a teacher for 7 years.

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

The fish design was taken from a book about fish, found in the library at the Creation Station from the Childers Visual Artists.

I’ve been using clay as an art form for about 9 years.

The Angle fish is a distant relative of the famous Angel fish! Simple straight lines and bright colours inspired the creation of the Angle fish.

Morays are the secret reef hunters. With their heads poking out of their lair they are always looking for their next meal. They are a special member of our Woongarra Rocky Reef. It’s wonderful to see them represented in the MilBi Magic mosaic project.

My mum and dad went to the fish and chip shop and never came back.

My relationship with Bargara and the region started seven years ago when I met my partner Paul on EHarmony. Paul, who is a Bundaberg boy, wanted to show me his part of the world where he had lived and worked for all his life.

I came to Australia from England in 1984 and have always lived in Northern NSW. Our blossoming relationship required us to make many trips, back and forth, before Paul unselfishly decided to move to my part of the world.

We have stayed in Bargara many, many times over that period and really enjoy the laidback beauty of the place. As we are both in our seventies we find the Esplanade is great for walking, and The Basin and Kelly’s Beach are wonderfully accessible places for a dip.

I’ve been mosaicing for ten years or so, and have recently started to sell some of my work. My Bargara fish is the first piece I have attempted on mesh and I hope that it finds a place in your community. I source most of my supplies from The Mosaic Store in Jindabyne, embellishing my pieces with beads and other bits and pieces.

My inspiration for the clownfish relates to the joy on my husband’s face at seeing these little fish darting around him while he was viewing with a full facemask. Standing waist deep in the water and being able to experience the dance of these fish moving in and out of the soft coral.

Aquatic life is magical.

Clay and underglazes. Fired in an electric kiln at the Bundaberg Pottery Group.

This stripey fish has a pointy nose, as it stuck it in where it wasn't supposed to be. It will take time for it to grow back to normal.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles

Location: Devonport - Fish Tales wall

This fish is made with handmade pottery tiles. I drew up a pattern then cut out the tiles individually. Each tile was then hand-painted with underglazes, fired, clear glazed and then refired. The tiles were then fitted together to make the mosaic.

This fish is dressed in its local football colours although I'm not sure which club it follows.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles

Location: Devonport - Fish Tales wall

I love the sea and everything about it. It makes me happy.

This Clown Fish is made of crockery and tiles.

Remembering my mother-in-law Margaret Clare Barton

Born 17 June 1920 passed away 9 January 2019 aged 98years

In making my Skipper Fish I used the left-over saucers from my mother in laws rarely used Royal Dolton tea set that came out for special occasions with the beautifully embroidered table cloth but I believe that Margaret would have been happier with her enamel mug of tea sitting around a campfire.

I first knew Margaret as “Skipper Lady” the sea ranger guide leader of RTS Arunta in Epping NSW when I joined the girl guide senior section Sea Ranger Unit.

Margaret had a huge influence on many young women though her many years involvement in the girl guide movement. She taught us many things, how to row heavy wooden boats and make them glide across the water and feather our oars, how to win races and work with all our strength, how to sing silly songs and remember the words for the rest of our lives and to be game to do things we never thought possible and have fun while doing it … working together, being part of a team.

The best grounding for a teenager to go out into the world and succeed to the best of her ability and believe in oneself …. I thank her.

But I bet when she invited me to join the RTS Arunta crew in 1969 she would have never believed that I would be in her family for the rest of her …. Long live the good memories AR-RUN-TA Arunta!

This green fish is a tenor fish and just can't resist singing its heart out when any other fish are around.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles

Location: Devonport - Fish Tales wall

Half a day spare and jibes from my wife that I need to loosen up and have some fun... so this creature comes into existence. Inspired by a few images we found on the internet of funky fish made from timber and screws.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles and glass tiles

Hi. I am Sophie Maybanks. I am eight years old.

I often come to Bundaberg on holidays to see my grandparents and enjoy the surf, swimming, fishing and beach combing. I love Moneys Creek and The Basin for snorkelling. I often see fish swimming around me. I like to chase after them.

I designed my fish in pencil.

I like to play with clay. I used white clay with underglaze colours for my creation. Fired in an electric kiln.

Location:Brisbane - Fish Tales wall

Having done some snorkelling and diving in the waters around NSW and QLD, I have been fascinated by the schools of fish that swarm through the water in beautiful coordinated sweeps of movement, colour and light. These handmade pottery tiles fit closely together to show the movement of a school of little reef fish. Each tile was individually painted before being fired, then clear glazed and refired. They were then closely fitted together following my original design so that they would appear to be a fast-moving school of fish sweeping through the ocean waters.

We have had a tropical fish tank at home for approximately 5 years and it has housed a number of different fishes well as soft corals. We have had the playful Clown fish, Six Lined Wrasse, Coral Beauties as well as starfish and snails.

In that time we have had a couple of Foxfaces and I love their vibrant yellow colouring. They are an interesting fish to watch as they make their way around the tank nibbling at the algae which they love.

We named our last Foxface "Flicker" as I loved the way he flicked his top fins up and down as he swam around. This piece is a tribute to him and his predecessors as sadly we lost him a couple of months ago. He will be forever immortalized in this mosaic project and we will remember him whenever we visit the site.

Thank you for the opportunity to be involved in this wonderful community project.

Location: Hervey Bay - Fish Tales wall

For this piece I was inspired by an image of an octopus found on the internet. The colour of the octopus drew my eye also.

My reason for choosing to do a Leaping Marlin was the challenge and the fact that no one else had done one.

I chose the artistic materials because the colours and patterns are both bright and eye catching.

My Batfish was constructed as a bit of fun with two other artists at my studio.

Largely called a Batfish because of my surname and is probably unique as it came out of my head.

Wanted to do an ‘en masse’ design and this is so graphic!

I have been a mosaic artist for over 24 years and a teacher for 7 years.

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

My creative background stems from my childhood as I have always had a love of colour, playing with materials of all kinds, making things and embrace all forms of craft and creative expression. I find it so therapeutic, connecting and endlessly entertaining.

I dabbled in mosaics for years on my own but used the smash and stick approach – crazy pave technique I’ve learnt from Paul. I had collected heaps of tiles from skips, seconds, demo boards from tile shops but stopped doing it so was excited when Paul started this project and I could donate all my tile collection to him.

I’ve always had a fascination for Nudibranch’s. I’m attracted by their flamboyance, drama and colour. I enjoy their tendency to appear secretive, shy and unique. I love to be daring and different in my creativity so was excited to make something a little wacky and challenging. Besides that, I love nudi-swims so wanted to celebrate the nudi of the underwater world.

I created a sword fish as they are fabulous creatures.

Gertie is a liberated green groper, living a free and independent life on the reef. This is symbolised in her colouring: green, purple and white: the suffragette’s colours.

Gertie is my fourth mosaic and presented some interesting challenges being the first use of both crockery and tiles, as well as glass.

This fish is made of crockery and I used the outer edge of a dinner plate in the design.

Despite living in Dalby, Bargara has played a large role in my family’s life for 37 years. We now happily call Bargara our second home and are active in the community whilst we are there.

The Milbi Project is another opportunity to be involved on a community level. Not only will the finished product enhance the Archie’s/Kelly’s Beach foreshore, it has been a delight to learn some of the skills of mosaics and to connect with fellow locals working towards a common goal.

I see my bright, colourful fish as a symbol of the years we have already enjoyed in Bargara, and the years of joy yet to be experienced. I will delight in seeing it on the wall, ensuring a part of me will be remain in Bargara for a long time - long after my use by date!

The Maroon Mullet was the first mosaic fish I made. Learning to use the correct cutting tools and being taught how to cut crockery as well as tiles was an encouragement that lead to mosaic more fishes.

I have been doing mosaics on and off since I first learnt at school in South Australia.  I got my inspiration for the Lemon fish from the Townsville Aquarium while on holidays there in early 2020. I used tiles sourced form Gumtree Buy and Sell.

I paint as well. That started when I learnt folk art and I combined the folk art with my painting of the paddle steamers (at the time I lived in Mannum,  a town on the Murray River in SA). I moved to Queensland in 1999.

My inspiration for my artworks comes from the things around me.

I went back to mosaics when I needed a piece to go by my pool. Since then I have done many more pieces and also sold some.

I love working with tile and cut all the pieces I need from old tiles sources from many different places.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles

Location: Morayfield - Fish Tales wall

Inspired by a Queenfish as caught by my son from the Elliott River.

One of the many beautiful species that can be found along our local coast.

The Mahi Mahi are surface dwelling fish up to one meter in length with brilliant golden bellies shading to irridescent green on their backs. They feed on flying fish, crabs, squid, mackeral and other fish.

This depiction is taken from an eight cm long colour drawing, blown up and then given a fair amount of artistic licence to produce a reasonable likeness. Definitely an exercise in precision and patience of which I am very proud.

My favourite ‘nudi’!

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

My three little fish remind me of my first snorkelling experience on the Great Barrier Reef.

Living in the UK, I have never seen a nudibranch myself, and only became aware of them from photographs sent by a friend in Bundaberg. It seemed an appropriate choice of image – although tricky to do in pique assiette/broken crockery.

Location: Overseas, USA - Fish Tales wall

Love a big strong powerful tuna. That is why I went with large tiles and strong face. If you have ever had one on a fishing line you are pulling against a powerhouse. Hope I got that across in my depiction.

My fish were leftover bits and pieces, so didn’t really cost anything.

I spent around 3 hours per fish, mostly agonising about how to make a fish!

Initially it was a project to do with our Davenport Mosaic Group but then we were put into lockdown, so it became a Covid isolation project, one that we will never forget.

Location: Devonport, Tas - Fish Tales wall

These fish were created at two craft circle sessions run by the Bargara Surf Church at Nielsen Park Beach.

Having been doing mosaics for several years, I was delighted to attend one of Paul’s workshops with my sisters Jenny and Lyn. I took along a few of my mosaic books for ideas and chose a fish pattern from one of these to do. I used my own choice of coloured tiles to complete the fish. Everyone who sees it tells me it looks quite fierce.

It is the only fish I could draw. I liked it. It was fun.

Being a complete novice at art, I welcomed the opportunity to try mosaics for the Milbi Magic project. I am proud to be able to have contributed to this special project along with some very talented community members.

Working on Prawn Trawlers many years ago, I witnessed many beautiful, strange and amazing sea creatures. I was always mesmerised by the iridescence of this unique class of molluscs. Regarded as the Chameleons of the Sea - due to being able to change their shape, size, pattern and colour was my inspiration to choose the colours I did for this piece. I felt they reflected different shades of light just as Cuttlefish do.

This fish was a group effort with different people working on different stages: a mix of andamento and tile tesserae. Interesting outcome.

Doing the Blue Tuna was a challenge but also very satisfying and a great joy to finish it. Tiles were used.

My beautiful Australian Salmon had always believed he was not a Salmon but a Tailor! He thought he had grown up in the warmer waters close to the long stretch of light sand beach of Woodgate in Queensland, but really he was from the cold coastal waters of the eastern edge of The Great Australian Bight.

As he and I worked together on the Milbi project he whispered to me and taught me something about myself that I had never realised before. I fell in love with my fish as I worked hard making him as authentic and real as I possibly could. And I discovered that I really need those I know well and love to be not perfect, but “real”.

This fish, I imagine, would live deep down in the ocean, rarely seen and never caught on a fishing line. I tried to use the patterns on plates to give some movement in the fish. A couple of tiles added to the finer details, as well as long glass tiles to give length to the tail.

My fish has attitude with a dash of fun. My inspiration came from the ocean that surrounds us, the unusual and quirky.

The Angler fish was made from discarded plates and I think it looks great. I loved the way this project brought together many artists in the area, and had contribution from all around the world.

Thanks to Paul Perry, I believe this will be a great asset to our regional art scene. I am a local artist from Elliott Heads who mostly work in fibres, textiles, mixed media, and have dabbled in art most of my life. I now have the time to enjoy the journey of experimentation within my art, regionally or wherever it takes me.

@debbiebennetthandmadeart

Well, it’s back to another fish after the thrilling reaction to the Girl Swimming. I was thinking about local fish and the Mangrove Jack seemed to be making the news as challenging a few fishing lines in the local river. This fish has a potted history as I was having difficulty choosing an image to base it on, so it’s got bits of this and that, even some Moses Perch in it.

The name Orange Roughy seemed appropriate with the colour, style and unknown lineage.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles

Little fishes so sweet. Nice to look at, nice to eat.

Member of Childers Visual Arts Group.

I have been doing art with Alice McLaughlin at Creation Station for a long time and enjoy the friendship and inspiration.

My boys were raised here. Running wildly along the endless white beaches, chasing pelicans, collecting shells and pretending to be turtles crawling up the beach from the ocean. I love the long blue horizon of this place we call home.

Leather jackets used to be one of my favourite eating fish when I lived in Adelaide. Their flesh is very sweet and they are so easy to clean and skin... one cut and a quick tug! And they were very easy to catch. Warning! Look out for that spiky fin. It’s very painful if you get stung.

Coming to Queensland I suddenly found myself confronted with so many more fish that had a similar shape to the leatherjacket I knew in Adelaide, but in such an array of sizes and colours. I’m not sure of the proper name of this fish, or whether it’s even a leatherjacket, but I liked the red tones and the contrasting green dots.

Design inspired by various photos, created using hand-cut ceramic tiles and crockery.

This parrot fish has a case of the "Blues" as he is sad that he can't find a mate.

Location: Devonport - Fish Tales wall

We did our first stint of family mosaics quite by accident. We bought a house in Mango Hill when the boys were little, and me being a garden nutter I had to dig up gardens. It was during this time that I dug up an old path that lead to the block next door (they had spilt the blocks for resale). Anyway, the path was eventually made into the centre point in that area of that garden. It was a long drawn out process as my back herniated at that time and the boys being about 4, 5 and 6 did a lot of the work.

So we spent a lot of good times out mosaicing that path. It was good fun for 3 young boys smashing tiles with hammers and mixing mudpie grout (oh the memories) and we made a very colourful magical path to nowhere.

We had to sell that house when we moved to NZ in 2015. You see, we have lived a strange life. Simon worked away FIFO most of the time when the boys were young. NZ was the first time we actually lived together as a family and it was a very fantastic time in our lives. Long story short we found “Bargara” when we had to return back to Australia and said “we much live here”, so we did.

So being a homebody for the last 16 years and being quite the hermit I enrolled in the WOW art programs held at the “Take the Plunge café”. One of them was Mosaics with Julie Hyland where I made a turtle and an owl. I found I liked mosaics (tho my shoulder tries to say different and my back say’s it’s something I need to do in small intervals). It was at these mosaic classes that I heard about this project and I knew I had to be part of it. To tell the truth I picked the herring on the first day as it looked like it was one of the easier things to do. I loved the resulting herring and am very proud of my effort. When I had finished my piece I asked my husband if he would like to do a piece. He loved the idea and then we talked about it with the boys and they were all keen. So we added it to the home learning program.

My daughter Nadean also did the mosaic class with Julie and has taken the time out to complete her cuttlefish masterpiece. She’s had a fascination with their colourful, camouflaging ability since seeing one during an Easter camping trip.

One day at the beginning of lockdown she drove into my drive and presented me with 3 beautiful starfish that my grandsons had done and I said wow “they need to be on that wall too”.

We are now very proud to be part of an everlasting moment in history as the school of 5 Herring, a cuttlefish and 3 starfish on the “Fish Tale” wall as part of the Milbi Magic: Archie’s Beach Community Mosaics.

Otto – the friendly Snapper!

Otto has a birthmark from Denmark, a country that is part of my heritage as that is where my grandfather spent his childhood prior to immigrating to Australia via England. The brand on Otto has both Danish and English insignia – hence the connection.

Inspiration for this mosaic must be attributed to similar fish mosaics researched mainly on Pinterest, where I was taken with the various combinations of ceramics and metal used. Unfortunately, I could not use metal on Otto due to weathering concerns in public spaces. I chose to use locally sourced beach glass for fins and eye surrounds, coloured plates for a rounded body, flashy geometrics for a telling tail and glass beads for Otto’s character warts! I love Otto!

I would like to think that when Danish tourists visit our wall, they will see Otto’s mark and feel “Hygge” – the unique Danish word for comfy, cosy, homey!

This fish was a project started by Simon with help from Paul Perry. I was happy to complete the piece as the end result I believe is an accurately shaped Mangrove Jack with bright non-accurate colouring!

Daisy Hoover, a gentle harvester of seagrass which struggles with rubbish that finds its way to the sea bed.

Location: Biggenden - Fish Tales wall

I am fairly new to mosaic art. I learnt most of what I know by watching YouTube. I have picked up more knowledge from the Mosaic Mentoring Facebook group.

I learnt about this project on the Mosaic Mentoring Facebook group. It sounded like a fun project that I would enjoy.

I get most of my materials from thrift stores. I prefer to use plates for my projects.

I found inspiration by doing a search for species native to Australia. I have never been to Australia, but would love to visit some day. I look forward to seeing pictures of the project. This is such a cool idea! Thanks for letting me participate.

Location: Overseas, US - Fish Tales wall

I enjoy seeing mosaics in community spaces. When I heard about this project from my sister, I decided to make a fish (or 2). I am part of a mosaic group in Rockhampton area and two other ladies are also making a fish each.

Location: Rockhampton - Fish Tales wall

I’ve been diving for a long time, since I was just a lad
For me it’s not just a passing fad
Navy diving, oceanariums, underwater construction and other jobs like this
When not in the water it’s something I miss

I‘ve encountered many thousand creatures living in the sea
But there is one that’s most dearest to me
An amazing animal with two hearts and nine brains
Like the squid and cuttlefish, Cephalapoda is its family name

Around three hundred species - a list that is long
He and his garden even get mentioned in a Beatles’ song
As big as fifty kilos or fit in a thimble that is small
This animal can contort its shape or roll into a ball

A creature that can disappear in a cloud of ink
This is an adaptation that’s so clever don’t you think
One of his family has flashing blue rings of dread
To warn you one bite and in minutes you are dead

So here’s to the octopus from beneath the waves
From rock pools to the deepest of caves

Like this used crockery

I have travelled far.

I have a colourful history and a tale or two to tell.

Material: Hand cut crockery ceramic and glass tiles

I found some colourful, patterned plates in an interesting op shop in Byron Bay and wanted to use them in a creative and fun piece for the MilBi Magic community mosaic project. This is the result, which I’m happy with.

A bit of fun to balance the solemn dudes around me!

Material: hand cut ceramic and glass tiles and crockery

Moses is a challenging character, with various sized spots, dark grout emphasis and mixed tesserae. The textural variation in Moses demonstrates the delight of his creator as each piece of naturally shaped sea glass reflects both light and movement of his fins and tail, while the fernlike shape of the dorsal fin is emphasised using precisely cut tiles. The dark grout provides not only a textural difference, but highlights the variance in shape and colour of the spots. Blue-eyed Moses is a handsome, bossy fish that swims his own way.

A few Rockhampton region ladies meet to mosaic and we were keen to be involved in this exciting community project: well done Paul Perry!

I worked with Col Limpus in QPWS for 30 odd years so have an environmental connection to your region. I also have quite a few local relatives so have visited many times over the years.

I drew my Red Emperor then went searching for tesserae in the appropriate colours. I have quite a stash – as you do. I had very little reds though, so my contribution is yellow. The shiny fins are a recycled pansy vase; the remainder is various pieces of china from all over the state and country.

I look forward to seeing the progress of this most adventurous journey.

Location: Rockhampton - Fish Tales wall

The fish is entirely made from crockery. I wanted to see if I was able to use the outer edge of a colourful dinner plate to achieve the colour in the tail and fins.

Half a day spare and jibes from my wife that I need to loosen up and have some fun... so this creature comes into existence. Inspired by a few images we found on the internet of funky fish made from timber and screws.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic and glass tiles and crockery

My inspiration for the clownfish relates to the joy on my husband’s face at seeing these little fish darting around him while he was viewing with a full facemask. Standing waist deep in the water and being able to experience the dance of these fish moving in and out of the soft coral.

Aquatic life is magical.

Clay and underglazes. Fired in an electric kiln at the Bundaberg Pottery Group.

While thinking about this project, I was getting tired of fish and wondered what other image would suit a wall full fish and other sea creatures in the sea... and of course it had to be a girl jumping into the water. If I’m careful where this piece goes it will look like she has jumped out of the toilet block window into the water.

While searching around the internet I found an image of a quilt made by Cristina Arcenegui from Argentina that grabbed my attention. I couldn’t get the image of this ‘white on white’ quilt of a girl jumping into the water out of my mind. I eventually found an illustration that had obviously been used as the source for the quilt. This drawing had been done by Sveta Dorosheva, a Ukrainian illustrator living in Israel. Using social media, I was able to contact Sveta and ask her permission to use her illustration as the basis for a mosaic component for this project. She responded positively to the request and sent me a full version of the illustration, with one condition “as long as you do it beautifully!”

I sent her a photo of the ungrouted piece when it was complete. She loved it, so much so that she posted it on her Facebook page with enthusiastic appreciation. Her large gaggle of followers from around the world also liked that piece and chimed in with encouraging comments.

I can’t wait to show Sveta the finished Mosaic with her Swimming Girl embedded in it.

Thank you, Sveta.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles

The blue spotted ray is regularly seen swimming along our foreshore and in The Basin. I made it out of a couple of dinner plates, one white, one covered with blue dots. I like the way it turned out.

I had some lovely pieces of ceramic tile and some fish themed ceramic shapes and thought what fun they would be for the community project Fish Tales. Hence, the idea for Fantasy Fins was born.

Final design shape came from an online drawing, and many happy hours were spent deciding on final tesserae and their placement. As always, great encouragement and (socially distanced) support from CQ mosaic friends, who are also busily working on pieces for this project.

Location: Rockhampton - Fish Tales wall

Despite his ferocious appearance and red teeth, Barry is a gentle fish who gets along well with everyone.

I have been doing art with Alice McLaughlin at Creation Station for a long time and enjoy the friendship and inspiration.

My boys were raised here. Running wildly along the endless white beaches, chasing pelicans, collecting shells and pretending to be turtles crawling up the beach from the ocean. I love the long blue horizon of this place we call home.

My fish is one from DEVONPORT that swam all the way up north to stay with you for evermore.

I call him ‘Lumpy’ because of his obvious heavy jawed appearance. ‘Lumpy’ is very proud of his locally, Tasmanian handmade red glass tail – and is just swimming about looking very discombobulated now he is in warmer waters.

We, the Devonport Mosiacs group, are super proud to have been able to contribute to the MilBi Magic project and had fun making our Tassie fish.

Love what you have done! And hope to visit the project next time we travel to Queensland – which hopefully won’t be too long – once our current dramas are over and done with and borders open.

Location: Devonport, Tas - Fish Tales wall

Mullet 

Detest the smell of them being cut up for bait.

Mesmerized by their shiny diamond scales as they skim in schools just under the surface with the sunshine reflecting off them.

I am a jeweller and artist from Bargara who loves snorkelling and swimming locally. I created my first mosaics of two fish for the school of fish in my two daughters' favourite colours.

Remembering my mother-in-law Margaret Clare Barton

Born 17 June 1920 passed away 9 January 2019 aged 98years

In making my Skipper Fish I used the left-over saucers from my mother in laws rarely used Royal Dolton tea set that came out for special occasions with the beautifully embroidered table cloth but I believe that Margaret would have been happier with her enamel mug of tea sitting around a campfire.

I first knew Margaret as “Skipper Lady” the sea ranger guide leader of RTS Arunta in Epping NSW when I joined the girl guide senior section Sea Ranger Unit.

Margaret had a huge influence on many young women though her many years involvement in the girl guide movement. She taught us many things, how to row heavy wooden boats and make them glide across the water and feather our oars, how to win races and work with all our strength, how to sing silly songs and remember the words for the rest of our lives and to be game to do things we never thought possible and have fun while doing it … working together, being part of a team.

The best grounding for a teenager to go out into the world and succeed to the best of her ability and believe in oneself …. I thank her.

But I bet when she invited me to join the RTS Arunta crew in 1969 she would have never believed that I would be in her family for the rest of her …. Long live the good memories AR-RUN-TA Arunta!

A blue and white China pattern was the starting place for this fish design. The organic design is both bold and elegant and reflected the texture of the surface of a fish. A plain fire engine red added striking highlights juxtaposed against a second organic design in softer green, lavender and lemon. Small round feature tiles added line and shape and a glass bead creates an almost lifelike eye and lifts the whole design.

I began the journey of mosaicing my sea creature purely from a place of challenging myself to try something new. Hands on and tactile, creating has always been a love of mine and mosaicing proved to be this, and so much more.

From the outset of my first day with Paul I honestly fell in love with this abstract and open ended form of art. I could not remember the last time I was fully immersed and fixated on one thing for hours at a time. Creating my jellyfish gave me an opportunity to find a hobby that helps me to be completely present and mindful whilst exploring a form of art with no rules.

What an experience!

I really love the colour combination of white and blue. It harks back to my Dutch heritage and the pieces of Delft blue in my childhood home. Yellow adds a touch of brightness and freshness to the detail - sunshine, blue skies and white clouds - nature on display.

The jelly fish is mainly crockery with some added glass and millefiori to achieve a translucent effect.

Just liked the bright happy colours and the big lips.

A fish without water dies just as much as we can’t live without true friends

Member of Childers Visual Arts Group.

Found the design on these two plates and immediately thought of a flying fish.

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

Remembering my mother-in-law Margaret Clare Barton.

Born 17 June 1920 passed away 9 January 2019 aged 98years.
 
In making my Skipper Fish I used the left-over saucers from my mother in laws rarely used Royal Dolton tea set that came out for special occasions with the beautifully embroidered table cloth but I believe that Margaret would have been happier with her enamel mug of tea sitting around a campfire.

I first knew Margaret as “Skipper Lady” the sea ranger guide leader of RTS Arunta in Epping NSW when I joined the girl guide senior section Sea Ranger Unit.

Margaret had a huge influence on many young women though her many years involvement in the girl guide movement. She taught us many things, how to row heavy wooden boats and make them glide across the water and feather our oars, how to win races and work with all our strength, how to sing silly songs and remember the words for the rest of our lives and to be game to do things we never thought possible and have fun while doing it … working together, being part of a team.

The best grounding for a teenager to go out into the world and succeed to the best of her ability and believe in oneself …. I thank her.

But I bet when she invited me to join the RTS Arunta crew in 1969 she would have never believed that I would be in her family for the rest of her …. Long live the good memories.

AR-RUN-TA Arunta!

This fish was pure joy to mosaic. Using mixed tesserae with some tiles and crockery, it all came together well. I included a bit of an Australian theme featuring the Rosella bird, Dream World and Gum Tree Gully Hall tea mugs. It was a fun puzzle to say the least.

Papa Green Cod is the male fish of the “pair” that I created. The green tone tiles that I picked were of a mottled texturetile, and I found it rather challenging to cut. Papa Cod is a rather grumpy old fish and just loves to order mama cod around. Mama cod just nods and blows bubbles behind his back.

Mama Pink Cod is the Female fish of a “pair” that I created. I picked out some tiles that were similar in tones and thought it would be appropriate to have a mama and papa couple looking after each other at the bottom of the ocean. I really enjoyed making my family. I made a few baby fish to make the family complete, but the sharks ate them!!

I made this whale because we see increasing numbers of whales in our waters in whale season. It is a joy to see them breaching, playing and resting on their way north and south. The whale is made from crockery and tiles.

This whale consists of crockery and tiles. I had previously done a larger whale and I feel this piece represents a juvenile whale. I chose brighter colours for the juvenile to represent a playful youngster. The baby reminds me that the whales travel north to have their young and to play in our waters.

A mixture of tiles and plates were used to complete this whale. I used large cut pieces to reflect the large size of the whale. I chose a Blue Whale to inspire calmness and happiness as it floats and splashes.

Tiles and a plate were used to complete this whale. I am always on the lookout for whale tails on my morning coastline walks during whale season. To me, this one is a child playing and having fun – waving his tail in the air.

The fish done with Maria was inspired by the “triangles” on the edge of a dinner plate. A fun project using materials at hand, glass Italian tiles for the eyes, and larger glass “pebbles” on the body add sparkle and fun to the fish.

(All the fish I made were generally made with materials that were already cut, as I have pain issues using the tile cutters). 

I have been a member of Childers Visual Arts group for several years, doing both painting and sculpting. Recently I have done drawings and paintings pf fish, including triggerfish. I love the shape and amazing colours of this type of fish.

This was a great opportunity to do something I really enjoy, for a worthwhile community project.

This fish does not take life too seriously and tries to spread a bit of cheer and joy. It encompasses all the people and cultures of Australia as can be seen by all its colours.

Dolphin ... bright, busy creature of the sea.

My fascination with the Nudibranch began after seeing one whilst snorkeling at Rottnest Island, WA. I was mesmerised by the intensity of colours and the majestic mode of self propulsion of these little creatures.

I continue to be fascinated by the seemingly endless variety of colours, shapes and sizes of Nudibranch – such an amazing sea dweller!

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tiles, crockery and smalti.

No fish goes anywhere without a porpoise.

My fish reminds me of Nemo. I hope it’s a hit with all the kids.

Member of Childers Visual Arts Group

We received a nasty sting from the fins of this fish when we tried to get the hook out of its mouth. We didn't know that the fish had spikes that would inflict pain. We have always just grabbed fish around the top to free them.

A pretty fish we came across near Barolin Rocks in the days when you were allowed to fish there.

Clay and underglazes were used for the development. Fired in a gas kiln at home.

This fish with white spots is a trying out different patterns to see what it likes. Only time will tell.

Materials: Hand cut ceramic tile

Location: Devonport - Fish Tales wall

Janene chose the whale calf to make as she was impressed with their size and beauty when seeing them on a trip to Victor Harbour.

The starfish was a quick design drawn by her husband Peter

Janene had a stroke in 1996 and lost the use of her left arm. I have been working with her as a disability support carer for over 8 years and have completed quite a few mosaics with her. She finds it fun, scary and challenging, but perseveres to the end fantastic results. She jumped at the chance to part of this mosaic mural project. (NB. Helen Burgemeister).

Location: Renmark, South Aust - Fish Tales wall

One large dinner plate was used to complete this whale.

Sunflowers = happiness.

When you see a whale splashing it brings joy, and a smile when sighted. You always want to share that excitement with a whale tale!

This was a feel-good fish to make with a mix of colours and a bit of fun with giving it red lips.

I have dabbled in art, mostly sketching, since I was a young girl. My father was always creative, and I have fond memories of watching him make the most amazing leadlights, from intricate flowers, right up to humpback whales. I recall in my teenage years when I had little money using my dad’s left over glass to make stained glass jewellery boxes for my friends as birthday gifts. Other then this I had never tried mosaics and I had limited knowledge of it until the night before the pieces were due to be delivered to Paul Perry.

Rushing to source materials at the last minute Benjiman Turnbull and I phoned Paul Perry for advice. I’m not sure what he thought, or if it was possible for a pair of first timers to successfully complete an underwater creature within the few remaining hours, but we were willing to give it ago. We then jumped in the car and headed to see Glenn at Glenn’s Tiles and after some more advice and equipment we headed home for a few drinks and set about trying to master the art of mosaics.

With a hammer in hand, the first smash seemed the hardest, it was like we had taken to it like ducks in water (or perhaps Sponge Bob under the sea?) and sitting at the kitchen table, smashing tiles on a chopping board, listening to Crowded House, at nearly midnight made us both realise how being involved in a community project like this was more than just contributing, but also making memories.

I had heard about the Fish Tales wall through an article I wrote on the Milbi Festival in 2019 for BundabergNow, and I wanted to be involved in the community project for two main reasons: Firstly because community is important to me and if I can help I will, and secondly because I thought one day my kids may bring their kids passed the Fish Tales wall and there will be something Benjiman and I helped create.

I designed my red and blue fish the way it is purely because of the materials I had on hand, I used all the space given to me on the leftover mesh sourced last-minute from Paul, and worked with the tiles we had.

Benjiman and I were both quite surprised and pleased we were able to create an underwater creature with limited time and experience, and as I watched Ben create his Sponge Bob I saw his inner-child, which he often wears right near his heart on his sleeve, come to life again.

Ellie made “Tubby” at Bundaberg Pottery Group. She attends weekly classes through the NDIS Scheme with the Local Personalised Services Group. She enjoys the classes and has improved greatly over this time. She is a happy, outgoing girl and this is reflected in her colourful design.

I enjoy seeing mosaics in community spaces. When I heard about this project from my sister, I decided to make a fish (or 2). I am part of a mosaic group in Rockhampton area and two other ladies are also making a fish each.

Location: Rockhampton - Fish Tales wall

Location: Brisbane CGG - Fish Tales wall

Saw this picture of the mermaid in a mosaic book and fell in love with it immediately. It was a challenge, but I had a lot of help and guidance from the very talented Paul Perry.

I am impressed with the end result.

Made from hand cut ceramic tiles.

I choose a turtle and named it Lynette because that is the name of my amazing nana who passed away almost 6 years ago and she loved turtles.

Location: Brisbane CGG - Fish Tales wall

Four plates and one tile were used to complete this whale. I started the construction at Paul’s workshop on a Saturday morning, mu first time workshop with a different medium (plates with curved surfaces). Easy to cut and shape, and I have continued to use cups and plates in my other pieces.

Whales, dolphins and turtles are my favourite sea creatures. Having never done any mosaic work before, I created a dolphin as my first piece of work, which is now on a rock on the ocean pathway near the Basin at Bargara.

This jewelled whale is my second piece of mosaic art work and was created with an outline of shiny round glass pieces highlighting the whale to be like the most majestic jewel of the ocean.

I choose to create a mosaic seahorse as I admire the shape of this creature; the curves in its body remind me of the coastline in parts of Australia.

I am really happy with the final creation and would like to thank Paul for guidance provided through the project.

My inspiration for this piece came from having visited the Seahorse Aquarium in Tasmania and seeing the myriad of colours of these beautiful underwater creatures and, of course, living near the ocean in Bargara and spending many hours snorkeling. The vibrancy and textures represent the reflections in the water of all these colours, much like many of our reef creatures.

There was an abundance of materials at my disposal, allowing full creativity and freedom of design. I am new to this form of artwork and was able to complete this seahorse in Paul’s mosaic class due to his extensive knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and encouragement, and am very happy with the result.

My artistic background has mainly been from my uni days undertaking a B.Ed degree with art as my major, where I studied photography, pottery, screen printing, lino-etching, embroidery, sketching and painting ... but sadly, no mosaics! Anything that came afterwards has been either with primary students in my class, or for my own enjoyment.

Last year, I heard about the community mosaic project through a good friend. She was enjoying it so much that I thought I would give it a go too.

The materials source was a wonderfully large variety of different crockery, pottery, glass etc that was huge fun to rummage through, to find the colours, shades and textures. I didn’t even know what I was looking for until I spotted them!

My design inspiration sprung firstly from my love and fascination of those delicate and mysterious creatures called seahorses, winding right back into childhood curiosity. Seahorses have such beautiful patterns and flow so calmly through the water. I wanted my design to reflect their intricate textures and patterns.

What was so special was working alongside others who had their own inspirations.

It has been a privilege to be taught some mosaics techniques by Paul and to also see other people’s beautiful designs emerging.

I have a tenuous historic connection to the area, as one of my children was lucky enough to be in the Bargara State School group (around 20 years ago) who made pottery sea creatures to be cemented into the newly constructed beach walkways. She made a little starfish which is now forever embedded underfoot on the pathway along the ocean front.

A large part of my life has been spent living in London, but my husband’s family have been a part of Bargara for 3 generations... so as a Wilson, I like to think that this is my town too!

It will be so exciting to see my seahorse up on the wall, swimming along with all the other beautiful mosaic sea creatures. How fabulous to be a small part of a gloriously ambitious, imaginative and ultimately successful adventure to beautify our surroundings!

When I came to Bargara 6 years ago I was overwhelmed by the focus on turtles on this area. I quickly became ‘turtled out’! But as time went on I also came to love the creatures, especially the lumbering loggerhead that comes up on our beach to lay her eggs year after year.

This is two of 4 mosaic turtles (Milbi) I made for this project, each one with different colourings. I learnt a lot about mosaicing as I finished one and started on the next.

Design inspired by various photos of turtles around the Great Barrier Reef. Made of hand-cut ceramic tiles.

The Moorish idol (family Zanclidae from Greek “zagkios” meaning ‘oblique’)

Its name was given by the Moors of Africa who believed the fish to be “a bringer of happiness”.

The flowing, contrasting bands of black, white and yellow (andamento!!) and dramatically elongated trailing dorsal fin (said to ward off enemies) gives this little fella such character and pizzazz!

They are coveted aquarium fish but sadly do not survive well in captivity. They are not on the Threatened Conservation Status... yet.

Made with Paul’s industrious, lovely mosaic group, the experience of being part of this wonderful community project and getting into the creative zone again, has been rewarding and enjoyable. I look forward to contributing further with the project and hoping one day to meet the Moorish Idol face to face!!

This is a cute little fish which will hopefully catch peoples eyes because of the bright colours and sweet lips.

Being new to mosaic work, I chose to do this fish mainly in triangles, so that I could learn a new skill in cutting tiles in triangular pieces.

Green Eyes was created from various old plates that I picked up at the op shops. The varied thicknesses of the plates made it a challenge which I enjoyed.

I loved the flowy lines and all the different colours. A happy fish that enjoys swimming.

I love the turtles at the local beach. Hopefully this is a good representation of these turtles.

Made with recycled plates and tiles, the design was inspired by an image found on Pinterest.

I love mosaicing and was very happy to get involved in this project by making a piece for the Fish Tales wall.

Just another turtle.

I have been doing art with Alice McLaughlin at Creation Station for a long time and enjoy the friendship and inspiration.

My boys were raised here. Running wildly along the endless white beaches, chasing pelicans, collecting shells and pretending to be turtles crawling up the beach from the ocean. I love the long blue horizon of this place we call home.

When I came to Bargara 6 years ago I was overwhelmed by the focus on turtles on this area. I quickly became ‘turtled out’! But as time went on I also came to love the creatures, especially the lumbering loggerhead that comes up on our beach to lay her eggs year after year.

This is two of 4 mosaic turtles (Milbi) I made for this project, each one with different colourings. I learnt a lot about mosaicing as I finished one and started on the next.

Design inspired by various photos of turtles around the Great Barrier Reef. Made of hand-cut ceramic tiles.

The blue spotted ray is found in the region and I was looking for something local to add to the wall.

Cute little critter of the sea.

The seahorse is a fish, has an exoskeleton, swims upright and the male produces the young. Go daddy!

Why a Seahorse? Seahorses are one of my favourite sea creatures. They are full of surprises. They don’t look like fish, but they are, they mate for life. They have their own version of a fingerprint; a small crown is different on every seahorse.

To create this mosaic I used old plates, I used old plate edges, that already had the right images and colours. I Just added a few red hearts for fun. I really enjoyed making this mosaic.

I have been doing glass mosaicing for a number of years, so when I heard of Paul's big plans of mosaicing a toilet block, I was very interested in contributing in some, albeit small, way.

I decided on the little seahorse because I love the quirky combination of these creatures, part horse, part crustacean, and the way they appear to float effortlessly through the water. The combination of the three primary colours just seemed to work well together. And I couldn't find enough purples (my favourite colour) in Paul's selection of tiles!

The classes were so much fun, meeting and mixing with many different people, all with the one enormous goal in mind. It certainly is Milbi Magic.

Many thanks go to Paul, and all of those who have contributed to this majestic art work.

I’ve been playing with clay for 9 years now. I’ve been part of several group exhibitions with Fire House Potters Childers and Wide Bay Potters.

This starfish is made with paper clay and decorated with glaze and underglaze. Made at Childers Visual Arts Creation Station, the design was inspired by a starfish skeleton that lived in my Aunty Dot’s garden when I was a child. It always fascinated me. I have never seen a real one of this kind until two years ago, when I found one in a tidal pool at Theodolite Creek Beach at Woodgate.

Blue Tang, always dressed to impress.

I have been doing art with Alice McLaughlin at Creation Station for a long time and enjoy the friendship and inspiration.

My boys were raised here. Running wildly along the endless white beaches, chasing pelicans, collecting shells and pretending to be turtles crawling up the beach from the ocean. I love the long blue horizon of this place we call home.

Electric Blue – the magnificent Emperor Angelfish.

I have always been fascinated by octopi. I love their ability to merge with their surroundings, squeeze into unbelievably small crevices and amazing ability to work out challenges. This is one of two octopi I created for this project trying out different techniques to get the effect of fluid movement in the creature. I think I succeeded in this one.

Design inspired from several photos of octopi, created with hand-cut porcelain tiles.

I have always loved mosaic, and have done a lot of gifts for family and friends.

The inspiration for the jellyfish was an amazing picture I saw in a collection of books I was scanning through. I was working with other talented mosaicists, which was a lot of fun.

It turned out beautiful and I know a lot of people are going to love looking at it!!

My favourite colour is blue. The idea of the blue jellyfish came to me as I wanted to incorporate the round blue glass pieces into a fish tale mosaic.

My octopus is mythical whimsy and I wanted it to stand out and the fitting the glass circle tiles gave it the 3D effect. Being a sculptor I always envisage the 3D image in my finished work.

I am the Magical, Mystic Mermaid, Mother and Guardian of all Sea Creatures.

I guide the baby turtles on their first journey out to sea and on their return each year.

I swim with the whales and assist with their birth, protecting them on their yearly passage and welcoming them back to hear their tales.

Sometimes you may hear me singing a lullaby to the baby sea creatures, which is why some Indigenous people call me a “Yawk Yawk”

The ‘Geometry Fish” are special because Daphne is a much appreciated member of our local, informal mosaic group. For some time now she has been unable to work at any of her craft interests due to poor health. She insisted on donating all her mosaic supplies - tools and tesserae - to the rest of the group to use and enjoy.

I received the bold coloured tiles, some already cut to shape. I wanted to design and contribute a piece that would reflect that aspect of Daphne’s mosaic practice. Daphne has always talked about her much loved grandchildren - so it is also a piece that appeals to the littlies and encourages them to ‘have a go’.

A bit of fun using a plate with starfish design and coloured tiles. Those eyes should be useful for keeping an eye on things on the wall.

Sheldon the happy turtle.

I just wanted to make an animated-looking turtle that children would relate to.

Its template was found in a child’s colouring in book.

I exaggerated the shape of the turtles shell and used bright colours to emphasize it.

The ‘Geometry Fish” are special because Daphne is a much appreciated member of our local, informal mosaic group. For some time now she has been unable to work at any of her craft interests due to poor health. She insisted on donating all her mosaic supplies - tools and tesserae - to the rest of the group to use and enjoy.

I received the bold coloured tiles, some already cut to shape. I wanted to design and contribute a piece that would reflect that aspect of Daphne’s mosaic practice. Daphne has always talked about her much loved grandchildren - so it is also a piece that appeals to the littlies and encourages them to ‘have a go’.

I made this fish in a friend’s studio using left over tiles.

My inspiration was thinking about my last fish meal, a whole grilled fish, but as usual it had to be a bad boy and very colourful like myself.

Whale Blow reminds me of the gentle movements of these oceans giants on our doorstep. We are so tiny in comparison.

It also prompts me to remember a favourite bible story from childhood - Jonah and the Whale.

Another fun fish. Enjoyed putting the colours together.

Materials: Tiles and crockery.

Busta is a plated denizen of the deeper zones off the reef. He blends well with the other assorted crockery swimming in those waters. His name is inspired by the process of his creation (busting plates).

Busta was my third ever mosaic and learning to keep the patterns in his scales was the major outcome for me.

Red Lips was a fun fish to put together. I used tiles and pieces of a broken coffee cup.

Not quite the colour of a Salmon, but fun to piece together. I used tiles for tesserae.

These fish were created at two craft circle sessions run by the Bargara Surf Church at Nielsen Park Beach.

I chose to create the dolphins as they live and play within metres of the mosaic wall. It is such a pleasure to see them in their natural environment.

I used crockery and outlined the dolphins in black tile to define the dolphins.

Daisy the Emperor Angel fish is a country gal! Dressed up with ruby red lips and a flower in her scales, she is from humble origins. A smashed plate or two, treasured but now broken, Daisy is happy to be clad in second-hand recyclables. Daisy takes pride in her appearance with ‘eyelet lacework’ edging her dorsal and pectoral fins. Her tail is dressed to impress with ruby red bands and turquoise trim matching the movement and colour of facial tesserae. Bright eyed and beautiful, Daisy has a heart for her “Country Cheddar Style” home. Swim and dance - Daisy girl!

Felix the green-eyed Moon Fish is proud to be the only fish of his type at Archie’s Beach! I chose to create Felix in black and white to highlight his beautiful body shape. Golden edged, textural scales have been achieved using the fluted edges of plates that contrast with the smooth black tiles of the upper body. The swish of his elegant tail is highlighted with different shaped tesserae. Felix has mysterious glassy green eyes which portray his natural aloofness. Felix’s geometric shape was inspired by other artists.

I am a jeweller and artist from Bargara who loves snorkelling and swimming locally.

My Butterfly Fish was inspired by the beautiful colours of fish I sees snorkelling.

After discovering Moe Zake with its almost human facial appearance I started to wonder, for those who believe in the theory of evolution, whether we did come from the apes or maybe we came from the ocean. Certainly makes me wonder at times. Maybe we came from both. How much have we evolved?

My Leopard fish came as an inspiration from some old plates I saw in Paul’s garage. It was not an easy project, as the plates where rather brittle and hard to cut into shapes. Not my favourite fish.

I joined the Childers Visual Arts Group in February 2020 and decided to take part in the “Fish Tales” project with the group.

I live by the sea. Every day I walk the beach. I was inspired by the sun, sand and sea when creating my fish.

My fish is yellow like the sun and blue and green like the sea.

George was inspired by another researched mosaic creation with “cool” attitude. The Toad flashes his old school tie in the colours and patterns of his fins, embellishes his persona with a wind-me-up key, flaunts smashed disco mirror tiles and loves his Mum! “Mum’s” influence is depicted by the use of fine floral china and the strong maternal/pink body line. George sparkles with attitude and seeks company with similar creatives.

I call myself a hobby artist, have had several exhibitions and entered numerous art competitions with some success. I grew up in Maryborough and have spent a lot of time on the beaches of Hervey Bay as a child and young adult. I live in Childers now, and visit Woodgate and Bargara as well as Hervey Bay as often as possible.

My imaginary rainbow fish represents the many beautiful shapes and colours of the sea creatures living in and around our coastal waters.

I was one of several members of the Childers Visual Arts Group who spent a couple of our regular art days together to make sea creatures for the Milbi Magic “Fish Tales” mosaic project.

A splash of joy…

My thoughts: On a beautiful summer’s day the ocean can look like a giant, glistening stage upon which thousands of tiny sunlight reflections magically transform into thousands of tiny starfish seemingly dancing in the sunlight.

Materials: hand-cut crockery and ceramic tiles

This piece is predominantly crockery. I used a bowl for the body of the crab which gave it its curved appearance. I love the colours and I have seen many small crabs on the beach in a variety of colours.

Materials: Hand-cut crockery and ceramic tiles