Art gallery director, Sue Mitchell said the Archibald Prize exhibition brings more people to the gallery than any other exhibition with people travelling as far as Coffs Harbour and Newcastle to lay eyes on the paintings this year.

The gallery ran a people’s choice award and received more than 8000 votes from visitors.

Nancy Lowe from Cedar Party was revealed as the winner of the draw receiving a prize of $500 cash from ANZ Bank at yesterday’s presentation at the gallery.

Nancy selected Vincent Fantauzzo’s painting of Matt Moran as her personal favourite in the Archibald field.

She said she chose the painting of Matt Moran as it brings him to his best and has incredible life.

Nancy said she visits the regional gallery now and again but wouldn’t miss the Archibald exhibition.

“I came to the Archibald exhibition last year and I see it as a must see,” she said.

She hopes to use the prizemoney to travel to visit her grand children in Toowoomba.

The presentation of Nancy’s prize was hosted by Sue Mitchell and attended by Greater Taree City mayor Paul Hogan, ANZ area manager Karl McLean, Taree ANZ branch manager Leonie Melder and gallery volunteers.

Karl Mclean said the ANZ bank has been on board bringing the Archibald Prize to Taree for the past three years as part of the bank’s commitment to the support of arts and culture on a local and national level.

As the last stop on the Archibald exhibition tour, the artworks will now be packed up by the galleries volunteers and returned to the artists.

Volunteers, John and Jeni Van Oosten said they take part regularly in the ‘hanging party’ for exhibitions at the gallery

They are not daunted handling artworks in Australia’s most prestigious exhibition but do note the paintings are a lot bigger in size than they usually work with.

“They come very professionally packaged, which is nice. Some other exhibitions are quite chaotic,” Jeni said.

The gallery will now begin counting votes to reveal the Manning’s favourite masterpiece in the collection.