Hunter Valley-based artist Greg Wilson will be the guest speaker at an awards presentation and exhibition of artworks by young people to be staged in Newcastle tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

Wilson, whose life has been profiled on the ABC’s Australian Story and in his autobiography My Brush with Depression: The Greg Wilson Story, will outline his battle with mental illness and subsequent rise to fame as an artist both here and overseas, while adding his support and encouragement to the fledgling artists.

The Breakaway Art Competition and Exhibition features works from local young people who are currently clients of Mission Australia’s youth programs and who attend the Girrakool and George Anderson Walpole Schools, located at the Frank Baxter and Kariong Juvenile Justice Centres on the Central Coast.

According to Breakaway Program coordinator, Kellie Smith, the young people have taken great pride in their artistic accomplishments and enjoyed every moment of the experience.

“To see these young people exploring some of the very serious issues in their lives in such creative ways is very humbling,” she said.

“I hope it will be an indicator of even greater things to come from some of these young people.”

Mission Australia’s youth programs aim to assist local young people to re-establish positive links into the community and identify training and/or employment opportunities.

The exhibition and presentation of prizes will be staged in The Wheel Room (located at the Honeysuckle Markets), Wharf Road, Newcastle, from 5.30pm this Tuesday, 11 April. The exhibition will remain open until Thursday.