News From the Pond: Illustrator’s Australia Newsletter February 2026

News from The Pond!

February 2026 issue:

Featured: New Member
Ponderings
Website Launch Delayed
New Acknowledgement of Country
New Inclusion
Seeking Vice President
Vale - Award-Winning Cartoonist Jon Kudelka
Winners - Picture Book of All Time Australia
Events, Awards & Prizes
Article & Podcast Recommendations
Our YouTube
Our Sponsors

Illustration by one of our New Members: Vela Noble

Vela Noble

Featured: New Member

Vela Noble is a South Australia-based illustrator and writer. A 2026 graduate of the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Studies and Creative Writing.

From crafting comics to writing for games, Vela brings a touch of fun to everything she creates. If you’re a fan of storytelling and beautiful art, be sure to show her some love by following her on socials and take a wander through her portfolio on her website.

See more of Vela’s work

February

Ponderings

Hello and Welcome back! It’s late but Happy New Year - The Year of the Fire Horse! It’s been a busy time behind the scenes (at least in theory, not so much in practice!).

We have been tirelessly working on our new website and reviewing and editing all our core documents. This is an important process for the renewal of the organisation and you’ll see and hear more about this in the coming weeks. We’re currently awaiting some legal advice on memberships and our new T&Cs, however, as soon as that's done we’ll be launching the new website! Check out how beautiful it looks here below!

Meanwhile we have started organising some more fun social events to balance out the serious stuff.

We’re so excited for a fresh new start - please join me for regular drawing meet-ups in Melbourne (more info below)! Also, please feel free to start your own and let us know what you get up to!

Warmly,

Katie ‘Katiebell’ Roberts

President Platty

Committee News

Website Launch Delayed

We sincerely apologise for the delay. Unfortunately, this was beyond our control. Members, please stay tuned for an email with further information over the next couple of days!

New Acknowledgement of Country

We are proud to have written a new Acknowledgment of Country for Illustrators Australia’s website. Please have a read below and let us know what you think.

We recognise the many nations and Traditional Custodians of the land and waters throughout Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand the Australasian region and honour their Elders past, present and emerging.

Illustrators Australia acknowledge that we live and work on Indigenous lands, and in Australia these lands were never ceded. We recognise that the original custodians have a deep and ongoing connection to the land, seas and waterways. We honour the depths and diversity of First Nations peoples’ artistic and cultural practices and expression, both historical and contemporary. We welcome the opportunity to listen and learn from the Traditional Custodians and their cultural and natural heritage. It is an honour to share this place, which we will treat with due respect. We feel a deep reverence to this land’s unique spirit, which gives so much to us and inspires us daily.

Inclusion - Autoroa/New Zealand and the Australasian region

Illustrators Australia has decided to officially broaden our inclusion to the Australasian region (and anyone with an ongoing connection with Australia). For as long as anyone can remember we have included New Zealand but we hope this will add to our diversity of membership and be of benefit to our neighbours as well.

Seeking Vice-President

We have a wonderful full committee, a super talented bunch with most of the positions filled, apart from Vice-President. This is a great role for learning the ropes, chairing the occasional meeting and supporting the President. If you’re interested to know more please email: office@illustratorsaustralia.com

News

Vale - Award-winning Tasmanian cartoonist Jon Kudelka

Jon Kudelka was an award winning, progressive, irreverent and wonderful cartoonist. For 30 years he drew for the Hobart Mercury, 20 years for The Australian and later the Saturday Paper. He won two Walkley awards and was the Museum of Australian Democracy’s Cartoonist of the Year, twice. He also made beautiful artworks of birds and animals. Sadly he passed away after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2024.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-09/jon-kudelka-tasmanian-cartoonist-dies/106321714

Winners - picture book of all time Australia

What a wonderful array of picture books were voted best of all time by 3000 Guardian readers recently. Congrats to Alison Lester with Magic Beach which won overall, but also all the other authors and illustrators. It’s a quintessential list if you want to have the best in your collection.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/feb/05/children-favourite-australian-picture-book

Events, Awards &Prizes

KidLitVic is back on at a new venue - The Langham Hotel, Southbank Melbourne on Saturday 2nd May. It’s a wonderful place to meet authors, publishers and other illustrators.

Tickets on sale Monday 23rd February at 8pm (AEST). Be quick, they sell out FAST! The Illustrator Showcase is amazing!

https://www.kidlitvic.com/

Deadline Extended to 24th February

Come and draw this Saturday 28th February at 3pm (AEST). This is an online event - a casual gathering arranged by illustrator and committee member, Chris Murray. Everyone’s welcome, hope to see you there!

Join

Drawing Date - Meet Up

Fancy meeting up in-person and doing a little drawing while drinking coffee? Meet us Thursday 5th March 3-4pm at Cavillini Cafe Clifton Hill Melbourne/Naarm - with Katie ‘Katiebell’ Roberts.