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Well it had to happen. I thought I was invinceable, but it appears I am not as smart as I thought I was. In other words, I got hacked! How could this happen to someone who knows the games hackers play. Well, it was through empathy. Someone on my Instagram asked me for help.  All I had to do to help them was copy and paste to authenticate their Instagram. 
Well, I thought to myself, "Its not clicking on the link, its just copying on to hers". So I thought, and in seconds BAM my Instagram was gone. I actually saw it happening. First it was a Nigerian phone number and then before I could protest it was also a Nigerian email account. I tried to get ahead of them but I went into panic mode. 
Did I pay a ranson, YES!
Did he give it back NO!
Did I feel like a complete and utter idiot. YES.
Why am I telling you this story. He is now contacting 1950 of the 2050 followers I had. The savey ones have jumped ship and gone to my new Instagram page; @billynyeart.
However, the others are now getting messages pretending to be me and asking for help. Let me get this clear to anyone that knows me. I will never, ever, ever ask for help. I could be drowning and I would try to help myself, I would not ask for help. I don't ask for help from anyone ever. So please please please do not respond for me asking for help.
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All of my social media and websites have had the BN avatar taken off. The new avatar is the one on the right. Please unfollow @billynye_art and follow @billynyeart.
At first I was heart broken and humiliated. Then the hacker contacted me on Whatsapp and thought it would be funny to talk to me, taunt me and be a general smart arse. It was unkind and I blocked him. He then tried to hack me on Facebook and I blocked him.
He then posted on my old instagram that I had bought a new Mercedes........I wish.
Bascially he is me and he now owns the BN avatar. I have let it go and he can have it.
I have learnt a vaulable lesson and that is NOT to trust anyone on social media and to also set up the authentication codes for both FAcebook and Instagram.
This will not happen again. I will never put my bank details on a social app for ads. I will never put my banking details on Paypal. Nothing is safe anymore. The world has changed.

Oh and one last thing everyone, social media is not my identity. When adversity happens, no matter how old you are or how much your life is linked to a social media account, you spit the dummy, scream out loud, feel sorry for yourself, berate yourself and then you stand up, brush youself off and start all over again. Make it happen again and this time do it better.
So be careful friends and take care and remember its just social media and you can do it again and do it better.

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I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for being honored with the Senior Achiever Award for my contributions to the local community and the Mornington Peninsula. Receiving this award has truly been an unexpected and humbling experience.

As an artist and community member, I have always been passionate about promoting creativity and the arts, particularly for older individuals and those with mental health issues. It brings me great joy to see individuals believe in themselves and their artistic abilities, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.

I am particularly inspired by Margaret Olley, Margaret Preston, and Mirka Mora, who continued to create art into their later years and remained active and supportive of their communities. Their legacies have encouraged me to continue my work as an artist and an advocate for mental health.
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Once again, thank you for this recognition, and I hope to continue to contribute to the local community and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Billy

Jeffrey Smart, David Hockney, Chris O'Doherty (also known as Reg Mombassa), and Howard Arkley are all well-known and highly regarded artists who have made significant contributions to the world of art.

Jeffrey Smart was an Australian painter known for his surrealist-influenced urban landscapes. His work often featured stark, geometric compositions and bold, contrasting colors, and he was known for his ability to capture the essence of a cityscape with a few simple brushstrokes.

David Hockney is an English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer. He is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, and his work ranges from colorful, abstract paintings to detailed, realistic portraits.

Chris O'Doherty, also known as Reg Mombassa, is an Australian artist, musician, and clothing designer. He is best known for his unique, surrealist-inspired artwork, which often features distorted, cartoon-like figures and strange, dreamlike environments.

Howard Arkley was an Australian painter known for his colorful, hyper-realistic depictions of suburban life. His work often featured mundane objects and scenes from everyday life, rendered in a highly detailed and photorealistic style.
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Overall, these artists are all known for their unique styles and contributions to the art world, and their work continues to inspire and influence artists around the world.

Olivers Hill Digital Print is ready for sale. I think it is desperate for a real estate office in Frankston. What do you think?

There is a new restaurant/cafe/bar opening on the beach front in Frankston. My digital painting Leaving the Peninsula will be featured in this fabulous new establishment in Frankston. This was the first time one of my digital images was blown up to this large size onto a canvas and framed. I was delighted with the outcome and so was the client. I am looking forward to the cafes opening this May 2022.

This months Mornington Peninsula Magazine (March 2022) features Rosie Batty, Artist Graham Jones and a little story about myself and association with the Frankston Council. Proud to live on the Mornington Peninsula and to be a Frankston girl all my life. Follow this link and read my story! Yes I went to Overport Primary School, Frankston High School, Chisholm Frankston and was also a Rotary Exchange student at the Frankston Rotary Club. How could I not be proud of my roots and the fact that my parents worked hard to support the young Billy Nye whilst working two Frankston Petrol Stations. Always grateful for my upbringing and always proud to be Australian.