contact...contact november - 2015 issue 10 yamba museum - the story house, river street, yamba nsw...
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Contact November - 2015 Issue 10
Yamba Museum - the Story House, River Street, Yamba NSW
Phone 02 6646 1399 - PO Box 100 Yamba NSW 2464
Email: [email protected] - www.pyhsmuseum.org.au
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Hello Everyone
As you read this report, Steve and I are on another
cruise – the Northern Explorer out of Brisbane to
Perth via Darwin. As we haven’t been to any of
the ports of call before, we are very excited and
looking forward to it. Hence, I’m penning this a
little earlier than usual.
Margaret is doing an incredible job as manager of The Old Kirk book-
ings, and we have so many things coming up it’s making my head spin!
The signage we put up around town to advertise our events works amaz-
ingly well and in one day during Robyn Tychsen’s recent exhibition we
had 44 people through – something of a record I think. Already in 2016,
there are bookings for other artists’ exhibitions, yoga retreats, weddings
and film nights, so The Old Kirk really is becoming the venue of choice
for locals, which is wonderful!
We positioned our new banner at Caperberry Cafe last weekend during
the Surfing the Coldstream Festival, and it has now been moved to the
Yamba library. If you know of any forthcoming event where it would be
advantageous to display our banner, please let us know as we would like
to get as much exposure as possible, and as a result, more visitors to the
museum.
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On Friday, 23rd October, we had the opening of Graham Mackie’s latest
exhibition. It was a real coup for Graham to get the reclusive Kay Cottee
to officially open it. The beer and wine flowed freely, as seems to be the
trend with Graham’s openings – and everyone appeared to enjoy the so-
cial chit-chat, as well as the art!
A big thank you to our maintenance men – Jeremy, Bob and Keith
Redman, who this week undertook painting work inside. There are other
small outside jobs to complete, and they hope to have these done in the
next few weeks. Thanks guys!
Please be aware if you are walking around outside the Museum – summer
is approaching and it’s very important to watch where you put your feet.
Not wishing to alarm anyone, but recently, Jeremy and the maintenance
men caught a small brown snake at the front of the building. Jeremy re-
leased it into the bush, so please be mindful – it could have a large ex-
tended family living in the vicinity!
Cheers till next month, Margot
Graham and Kay on Opening Night
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YAMBA YEARS - John McNamara
People and events from Clarence and Richmond Exam-
iner, November 1915 compiled from microfilms held at
Yamba Museum.
Yamba Beach
At the monthly meeting of Harwood Shire Council Meeting, a request for
construction of a pathway from the hill down to Main Beach by Yamba
SLS Brigade was approved and work proceeded on it using money voted
by the Yamba SLS Club. This became “the zig-zag track” which still ex-
ists today.
A motion by Cr. Lawrence was also approved to place a new screen on
the ladies’ dressing sheds on Yamba Beach. It was also decided to erect a
single rail enclosure around the ladies’ bathing shed and that action be
taken against persons trespassing therein.
It was agreed to exhibit, at Yamba Beach, the rules and regulations gov-
erning surf bathing. Cr Morrison expressed concern about men and
women lolling about Yamba beach in swimming costumes which in some
cases were not altogether respectable. The Engineer intimated that an en-
closure for sun bathing would be required to fix the ‘problem’.
It was also decided to ask Yamba SLS Club to appoint a beach inspector
to replace the one who resigned. Harold R Till was duly appointed.
WELCOME HOME
We are so pleased to see Ann Scott and Graham Young back safely after
travelling 24,000 klms to Western Australia via South Australia and the
Northern Territory. Highlights of their trip included lazing in the Infinity
Pool at Lake Argyle, flying over the Bungle Bungles, walking numerous
gorges, and experiencing the Horizontal Falls at Talbot Bay. Ann and
Graham also recommend a visit to The National Anzac Centre in Albany,
WA.
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NEGOTIATING THE COLOUR BAR
- Marea Buist
This is an abridged version of a story first published in Voice (Vol 7,
No. 6, June-July, 2011) a news publication of the University of Mel-
bourne and will feature in our Vision4Change Exhibition which opens
in December.
The Grafton Jacaranda Queen contest, gathered at the Garden Theatre in
Grafton on September 10th, 1968. None, perhaps, was more nervous than
Rachel ‘Dolly’ Mundine, the first Aboriginal candidate ever to contest the
title in the thirty-three year history of the festival.
Dolly, dressed in an elegant sleeveless frock featuring clusters of pearl-
centred flowers on the bodice, mounted the stage with her chaperone for
the judge’s decision. She was greeted by a rousing standing ovation, in
recognition of her “making history” as the first Aboriginal candidate for
the Jacaranda Queen Competition.
Coming only one year after the historic 1967 ‘yes’ vote to include Abo-
riginal people in the census and to centralise responsibility for Aboriginal
affairs with the Federal Government, this attempt to claim Aboriginal so-
cial inclusion was ambitious; particularly given the northern NSW rural
social context, where racism had been widely exposed during the Freedom
Ride of 1965.
Sponsoring an Aboriginal candidate had been a long held ambition of
members of the local Aboriginal community, and the six-year affiliation of
prominent Aboriginal matriarchs with a nearby branch of the Country
Women’s Association (CWA) provided an influential organisation from
which to stage their campaign.
Dolly’s CWA sponsors were optimistic. They described her as an “ideal
representative” and spoke of their pride in her charm, good looks and
poise. Like her brothers Mick and Tony Mundine, who later enjoyed dis-
tinguished careers in rugby league and boxing, Dolly displayed athletic
talent at an early age. Her public profile was built upon sporting achieve-
ments and her prominent role as retail assistant at the Baryugil Store.
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This role signalled Dolly’s ability to negotiate the local colour bar, the
often unspoken codes which denied Aborigines access to certain commu-
nity services, facilities and employment opportunities. Dolly’s social con-
fidence was also confirmed by her membership in a community renowned
for its independence from government control.
It is not surprising that Dolly’s attempt at the Jacaranda Queen title was
unsuccessful, given that one of the Queen’s public duties included hospi-
tal visiting. The attentions of an Aboriginal Queen would have been un-
welcome to many rural white people, who still insisted on racial segrega-
tion for fear of Aboriginal contagion.
Dolly moved to Sydney not long after her Jacaranda Queen candidacy,
establishing herself in the dental unit of the fledgling Redfern Aboriginal
Health Service and bearing two children. Like many Aboriginal people,
however, her life was marred by injustice.
Dolly was diagnosed with leukaemia at a young age and her children were
forcibly removed during one of her treatment periods. She died at age
twenty-eight. Her children have only recently been reunited with their
Mundine kin.
VISION4CHANGE EXHIBITION
The exhibition this year highlights the events
surrounding The Freedom Ride 65
Exhibition dates:
Friday 11th December to Sunday 31st January
The Museum opens at 6.30pm for the official opening
at 7.00pm
ALL WELCOME
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MUSEUM MATTERS - Marea
Buist
In my new role as Curator/Manager I will be
keeping you up to date with news, collection ob-
jects and exhibitions. I begin with a good news
story.
Have you noticed that museums are mostly heritage or old discarded
buildings? I am not alone when I say, just because a building is old, it
doesn’t necessarily make it a wise choice for a museum. The Yamba Mu-
seum, which was once the original Bowling Clubhouse was built in 1937
for a far different purpose than it serves today. Along with its history, the
building comes with inherent conservation issues that we either have to
work around or change.
The main concern is the internal environment of the building. It is critical
in the interest of the collection and the comfort of our visitors, that we
seek a solution. Over the years we have attempted to minimise problems
but we still continue the battle to stabilise humidity and temperature con-
trol, light levels and air pollutants. The intrusion of rust and mould is ever
present.
With this in mind, several months ago I applied for a Building Improve-
ment Grant. Recently, Museums & Galleries NSW notified us that the ap-
plication was successful. Arrangements to have an assessment carried out
will follow in the near future. Any recommendations from the assessment
will need to be carefully considered and discussed on the premise that fur-
ther funding will be essential to make any significant changes to the build-
ing.
Remembrance - The Art of War
The notion of art galleries working with regional and community museum
collections is not generally common. However, over the years the Grafton
Art Gallery has been very active in supporting our museum.
Currently, on loan from our collection is a brass slouch hat inkwell, an
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example of trench art, embroidered postcards and a framed photograph of
Harry Apps mounted onto fabric and embroidered “with love to mother
from Harry”. These objects, collectively displayed with images and sto-
ries from WWI, reminds us of the men and women who served and died
for their country
This latest exhibition at the Grafton Art Gallery is just another example
and opportunity for us to expand our audiences, and networks within the
Clarence Valley. It is open until 6th December and well worth a visit.
Pictures@Clarence Valley
Entering through the door of the Old Kirk you are immediately confronted
by a kaleidoscope of colour and vitality. Undoubtedly, Graham Mackie’s
art and photography compels the viewer to look beyond the picture frames
to feel a strong connection to the history and landscape of the Clarence
Valley. You won’t want to miss it – open during normal museum hours
until 19th November.
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MEMBER PROFILE - Roslyn Greenfield
I have a long association with the Clarence Valley.
My grandparents were married on Palmers Island
and raised nine children whilst living in the Yamba
area. My grandfather, Robert Robertson and my
grandmother, Mary Jane Robertson (nee Bailey)
lived and owned land in Angourie Road. My grand-
father and his sons were all cane cutters in the local
area.
I was born in Toowoomba, Queensland and worked as a team leader at
Weis Frozen Foods for 7 years. I then moved on to work in the Meat In-
dustry as an Occupational Health and Safety representative, and was the
first woman in Queensland to be chairperson for an OHS committee. I am
enjoying my association and work with the Museum.
DIARY DATES - November
Friday 13th Members Meeting - 2pm
Tuesday 17th Summerland Coach Tour
Friday 20th Committee Meeting - 2pm
Close of Mackie Exhibition
Tuesday 24th U3A Film Night - 6.30pm
December
Friday 11th Members Christmas Party - details to be
announced
Opening Vision4Change Exhibition -
6.30 pm