James McDonald 1945-2025
About
James McDonald was born in Australia in 1945 in a small country town in Victoria and completed his undergraduate degree, Masters, and PhD in workplace relations and human resources at the University of Melbourne. After graduating he was a secondary school teacher and teacher's union representative, then head of the Victoria Teacher's union before becoming general secretary of the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia.
In the late 1980's he and his wife Doreen moved to Queensland, where he was the head of the department of Human Resources at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. He was politcally active, as a passionate and outspoken member of the Australian Labor Party, and was later a member of the Greens party for whom he stood as a parliamentary candidate in two national elections. He wrote articles for the regional newspaper, ran an online blog, drew cartoons for local newspapers, and sang with the local choir.
After his wife died in 2009, he retired and built a modestly successful career as a stage actor in local theatre productions. He wrote and produced a number of short chamber plays, appeared as an extra in a number of television series and feature films, and starred in televsision commercials and advertising campaigns.
James moved to Perugia, Italy in 2017, where he studied Italian and art. He devoted his time to painting, visiting art galleries and exhibitions, writing polemics on social issues and politics online, supporting the local football team, and making friends, which he was outstanding at. He died at the Santa Cecilia hospital in Perugia in June 2025 after his joyous 80th birthday, following a short and aggressive illness.
In the late 1980's he and his wife Doreen moved to Queensland, where he was the head of the department of Human Resources at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. He was politcally active, as a passionate and outspoken member of the Australian Labor Party, and was later a member of the Greens party for whom he stood as a parliamentary candidate in two national elections. He wrote articles for the regional newspaper, ran an online blog, drew cartoons for local newspapers, and sang with the local choir.
After his wife died in 2009, he retired and built a modestly successful career as a stage actor in local theatre productions. He wrote and produced a number of short chamber plays, appeared as an extra in a number of television series and feature films, and starred in televsision commercials and advertising campaigns.
James moved to Perugia, Italy in 2017, where he studied Italian and art. He devoted his time to painting, visiting art galleries and exhibitions, writing polemics on social issues and politics online, supporting the local football team, and making friends, which he was outstanding at. He died at the Santa Cecilia hospital in Perugia in June 2025 after his joyous 80th birthday, following a short and aggressive illness.
Work
All works created in Perugia between 2017 and early 2025 in oils and acrylics on canvas by James McDonald. All rights reserved.
Prices
We have an unlisted reserve price for each work, and will accept reasonable offers that match or exceed this value. Listed prices are an indication only. In the event of two or more offers of differing value, all interested parties will be notified before the higher bid is accepted. All bids are private.
All money from the sale of these works is to be used exclusively for the renovation of James's home and studio in Perugia.
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