Greater Taree Who's Who
Public Profile
Michelle Baxter
welcome to Blessings by Design Art Studio
I'm the owner, founder, and lead teacher of Blessings by Design Art Studio , a creative space where children and families come to explore art, build confidence, and have fun making something they're proud of.
My background is in working with children. I have worked in special education for over 20 years ,and taught art classes for the past 15 years and in the last few years I worked as an Outside School Hours Care Coordinator, leading programs for children from preschool to Year 6. I loved every part of it — building relationships with families, designing engaging activities, and creating an environment where every child felt safe, valued, and excited to be there.
That experience shaped everything I bring to the studio today.
Blessings by Design
I'm not interested in being the biggest art studio — I'm focused on being the best for the families who walk through our door.
That means small class sizes, thoughtful lesson planning, quality materials, and genuine connection.
When you join a class with me, I'll know your child's name, their favourite colour, what they love to draw, and what makes them light up. I'll celebrate their wins and gently encourage them through the tricky bits. Art isn't just about the finished piece — it's about confidence, focus, problem-solving, and joy.
I'd love to welcome your family into our creative community.
Connect through my public pages
Public information provided by this member.
Share this Portrait
Distinguished and Famous people from Greater Taree
🏉 Danny Buderus
Danny Buderus was born at Taree in 1978 and developed through local junior rugby league before joining Newcastle. A hooker known for work around dummy half and leadership, he became part of the Knights' successful early-2000s side. Representative football brought New South Wales captaincy and twenty-four Tests for Australia. The Dally M player award in 2004 and later Hall of Fame induction recognised a career that also included time with Leeds in England. The greater Taree connection is both birthplace and junior football, before the wider club and representative stages.
🏅 Kasey Brown
Kasey Brown was born at Taree in 1985 and progressed from junior squash success to the national title and Australian Open in 2006. At the Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010 she won three medals: gold in mixed doubles and bronze in both singles and women's doubles. A further mixed doubles bronze followed at Glasgow in 2014. Her winning point in Delhi's mixed doubles also brought Australia its two-thousandth Commonwealth Games medal. Taree is the birthplace behind a sporting career that developed across singles, partnerships and international competition.
🎨 Uncle Russell Saunders
Uncle Russell Saunders grew up at Taree in a large Biripi family and developed a working life across art, education, pastoral care and youth mentoring. His own account records teaching Biripi culture, Gathang language and art in local schools and on Country. He also worked with TAFE, the Department of Education and the Purfleet Aboriginal Lands Council. AIATSIS records earlier accounts of his ceramics and teaching, placing these activities within a long local career. His distinction is cultural and practical: sharing knowledge, encouraging young people and helping keep the region's language and creative traditions active.
