Feature - Jim Cox - Artist, Environmentalist, Activist

by Doug Patterson, Montville History Group

Part 2 - Born in Melbourne 1939, resident Montville artist Jim Cox’s early years were shared in January’s HT. This month we find out more about his life with Pam, his travels, and creating an artist collective in the hinterland.

In the early ‘90s, artist Jim Cox He threw himself into his teaching and Gateway College quickly gained a solid reputation with QCA for preparing students extremely well for further studies.

Pam Magdefrau was active in Brisbane arts organisations, sharing a studio in an old Woolshed in New Farm and home at Auchenflower.

Jim and Pam gradually got to know each other, sharing many interests, and a wicked sense of humour. Both being single, they became close friends, Pam eventually moving into Jim’s home in Seven Hills.

Jim was experiencing some health problems, possibly stress related, and took a retirement package from teaching in 1996. Pam was working less hours and they decided to use these times travelling as much as possible.

“We spent three months in Japan and travelled widely between Cairns and Geelong, and everywhere in between spending time with family members,” said Jim.

“With my two sons in far North Queensland and my daughter overseas, Pam and I bought a block of land in the Daintree, thinking of a winter shack. But of course, the boys moved elsewhere, so that shack never got built.” 

Jim and Pam enjoyed living in Brisbane but decided they needed more space and a bush environment. It took several years to find the location that suited them – Montville.

“In 2002, we found an ideal spot at the end of Honeysuckle Drive overlooking a forest and Baroon Pocket Dam,” Jim said.

“Montville has both a beautiful, natural environment and a history of supporting the arts, so it felt like a perfect fit”

The pair immediately began to restore their acreage, removing invasive exotics and planting natives, endemic to the Range. 

At the same time, both Pam and Jim immersed themselves in the local art scene with zest.

“I started drawing classes in an old packing shed on Western Ave, collaborating with local potter Ray Outteridge to form ‘Montville Community Arts’”, shared Jim.

After several years this group sought a wider audience, becoming Arts Connect Inc, and first off, created ‘Artists on the Green’, a monthly art market. But Montville weather put a dampener on ‘Artists on the Green’ as few artworks can risk being rained upon.

This expanded into ’Sculpture on the Edge’, initially supporting several Open Gardens Events. This was so successful it was then sponsored by the Spicers Group first at Clovelly, then at Tamarind.

After looking at other Open Studio programs ACI tentatively tested theirs in 2011. Jim was active in making these programs a success and is still active with Open Studios. ACI events were supported by Sunshine Coast Council providing the stability needed for an active local arts community.

“We are so pleased that Arts Connect Inc. has become one of the premier Sunshine Coast Arts associations,” said Jim.

“When this ACI stability happened, Pam and I continued to pursue our own art, but with Pam losing flexibility in her hands and my re-engagement with environmental issues, our priorities changed.”

In collaboration with Elaine Green, Jim has published three environmental works: SOS-Save Our Species; POP- Protect Our Pollinators; and FOF-Friend Or Foe. And in 2018 he was invited to contribute illustrations to what is recognised as the ‘Ranges’ most authoritative book on the wildlife endemic to the Range, The Magic of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.

“I still like to illustrate for other writers,” said Jim, “and I’ve been working in collaboration with the Montville History Group on a light-hearted irreverent look at the more humorous aspects of Range history, Tall Tales and True (Maybe).”

Pam has taken on the role of ‘manager’ allowing Jim to focus on what he loves - making art.

Jim has exhibited in galleries from Townsville to Brisbane, and collected awards along the way, including winning the Lyn McRae Drawing Prize at Noosa Gallery and the Kenilworth Art Festival (Animal section). He has also written and illustrated two wickedly irreverent and politically incorrect children’s books!

Through his environmental activism and brilliant depiction of wildlife, Jim has left an indelible mark on the artistic and political life of not only Montville but the whole of the Blackall Range.

His contribution was recognised by the Montville Community when he was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2022.  Jim has undoubtedly earned this recognition as a Montville Gem, a rough-cut stone perhaps, but essential to our future.