This will give the members and guests the chance to hear about another local company's latest successful expansion on the world stage.

It will be extremely interesting to be informed about the newest joint venture with China by this innovative and progressive manufacturer.

Last Thursday Night the Cowra Rotary Club was privileged to have local Artist Ken Hutchinson as their guest.

Ken, who is very well known in the local area for his work with the young and less fortunate of us showed to the gathering his rather unique way of looking at art and at life in general.

As he admits, he could be the type of artist who produces commercially valuable works; but this is not him.

He is obviously enthralled by nature and what can be done with the raw materials which she provides.

Ken was as he said, lucky enough to be able to visit Worksworth recently, the stone village in Derbyshire, England where the Industrial revolution began in the UK.

He was part of a team who went to Worksworth for a "stone" festival.

In this village the art of stonework is flourishing. At nearby Hardwick Hall Ken was able to team up with local stonemason Richard Hickman, who is an acknowledged master of the art, to not only hone his own skills; but to learn more of the history of stonework and the meanings of many of the works of the ancient Celtic artisans who have been leaving stone works for many hundreds of years.

Today, stone work artists are learning the ancient crafts and the students are finding there is quite a demand for skilled stone workers not only for their artistic efforts, but for the erection and conservation of the stone fences which are still some of the most efficient and least costly ways to control livestock in the British countryside.

The ancient and modern works he saw during this trip have had a profound influence on the work he is now attempting where he is more interested in leaving works which will be visible well into the future as well as having a meaning for today.

While in Derbyshire Ken also studied the ancient art of "Bodging", which is working in "green" wood, as against the traditional sculptures in "dry" wood which we are more used to seeing.

Ken also had the opportunity to visit numerous collections of artworks and was especially impressed by the Duke of Devonshire's collection which he highly recommends for any lovers of art and artworks.

Over the last few years, Ken has been concentrating more on leaving his artistic "mark" in the world through mostly stone works in nature and has created artworks in the Warrumbungle as well as closer to home at Hovells Creek and is hoping to leave a permanent stonework at Koorawatha Falls.

These are not great big eyesores, but may just consist of a word which is carved into a rock or an appropriate carving to complement the surroundings and to show that man has passed this way without drastically changing or destroying nature along the way.

In this way he is carrying on the traditions of man over the eons where rock carvings and cave paintings have given us a small insight into history.

Ken continues to show us that we are part of nature and must both respect and work with her to continue our journey through the ages.

- Cowra Rotary