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Obituaries
Valda Merle Cuming (Bayley) OAM (MLC Elsternwick 1945)
31/07/1929 – 07/04/2020
Val Cuming was one of the central and social figures keeping her Elsternwick cohort together 75 years on; she delighted in meeting her friends annually on campus. The OWCA was saddened to hear of the loss at the age of 90 of this fun, creative and dynamic individual. The epitome of the progressive thinker, she was a real presence; an inclusive person who offered intelligent conversation and memorable kindness and energy – all of which will be universally missed.
Val was born in Korumburra and moved to Melbourne aged nine, where she attended MLC Elsternwick. Showing an early interest in art, she attended RMIT to study Art and Metalwork. She married Lindsay Cuming in 1954 and a lifelong love of travel began with a move to North America, followed by France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Her love of ceramics developed; while in Geneva she enrolled at the École de Gravure de Genève and studied further at Slough Institute of Technology in the UK. She returned to Australia in the early 1970s. Lindsay was a yachtsman and this appealed to Val’s adventurous nature, leading them to sail around Australia with their children.
Val was an important Australian artist and sculptor and an energetic contributor to many spheres of endeavour, through community groups and in supporting others, including inspiring her children and grandchildren. As an artist, Val remained highly present through social media and always youthful in outlook, a true creative spirit who enjoyed each moment. Her achievements included many exhibitions and solo shows in digital media, painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media; as well as her impact as a teacher. She was President of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria, President of the Beaumaris Art Group, a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, President of the Association of Sculptors of Victoria, and a long-time member of the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors. As an artist she was energetic, prolific and fearless. Her similarly gifted grandson, Will Cuming, the Australian songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist known as Lanks, who helped Val drive her social media platforms, describes her as, ‘A little woman with a big heart, and an unpretentious and wildly unique lens she looked at the world through, and which we were in awe of.’ In her 90th year, Val was recognised with an Order of Australia for her services to the Arts.
Val died peacefully following a stroke, leaving behind her husband of 66 years, Lindsay, their loving children, Steve, Ro and Doug, and adoring grandchildren Louise, Will, Byron, Winsome, Hugo and Grace. ‘A truly amazing lady, who inspired us all with her creativity and wisdom. She led by example and was loved and admired by all her friends.’