Saturday, November 25, 2017

Celebrating 50 editions of Ferntree Gully News


With the December 2017 issue my local community paper Ferntree Gully News celebrates the 50th edition.


© Barbara Oehring 2017


I am proud to have been involved as photographer since its inception 8 years ago.


The story of the newspaper cannot be better told than by editor Anne Boyd on page 5 of the celebratory edition:

Carpe diem

The story of a newspaper Community Bank People often ask me ‘how do you make things happen?’ There are a lot of answers to that but one of them is ‘get the timing right’.

With hindsight that seems very true about the start up, in 2009, of Ferntree Gully News.
 In April 2009, just months after Black Saturday, the Ferntree Gully Community (Bendigo) Bank hosted a meeting to set up a new incorporated Village Traders Association and a tabloid newspaper. Membership of the association would be open to businesses and to the community groups that cluster around this historical centre. The association and the paper could be a voice to Knox Council in the forthcoming consultations on renewing the village streetscape.

I was at the meeting to represent Neighbourhood Watch. In the aftermath of the bushfires I was concerned that neither a small Neighbourhood Watch newsletter nor a village newsletter were enough to promote community safety in such a high fire risk area as the Gully. The prospect of a full-scale tabloid newspaper set me thinking.

The meeting ended with a steering group for a new Village Traders Association. Bank Board member (and newsagent) Des Higginbotham would preside; bank manager Tina Leslie would be treasurer. I put my hand up to edit the newspaper and initially to be secretary of the group (a role that was later taken over by Mountain District Learning Centre). The rest, as they say, is history.

The first issue of Ferntree Gully News appeared in Sept 2009, a full colour tabloid with 12 pages and 3000 copies. Formal auspicing of the paper was offered by Mountain District Learning Centre who have maintained this oversight and support ever since. The community owes them a debt of thanks for the stability of governance that has allowed the newspaper to grow to its present stature.
Now, eight years on, we are celebrating the 50th edition of Ferntree Gully News: a 28-page bi-monthly community paper produced and delivered by more than 50 volunteers to 10,000 households and business in the postcode 3156.

From the start Gully News has been financed mainly by local business. The Ferntree Gully Community Bank is the major advertiser/sponsor. Eight small village businesses have advertised from the start. Others have joined in and stayed. They have found that ‘people read this paper’ and support the businesses that advertise. Ray Abley’s Professionals Estate Agency in Mountain Gate is also a major advertiser and Ray has encouraged other businesses in Mountain Gate to support the paper. Support has also come from Knox Council and from local politicians especially State MP for Ferntree Gully, Nick Wakeling, and Federal MP for Aston, Alan Tudge who both sponsor pages. Their early advice, especially, to think beyond the village to the whole of Ferntree Gully, was invaluable.

In 2010 we joined Community Newspapers Association of Victoria (CNAV), the umbrella body for not-for-profit community newspapers. We have attended their conference every year since and have learned a lot from fellow papers in Knox and beyond. We are proud to have featured over the years in all nine categories of award including twice finalist in Best Newspaper. Our formatter, Jens-Kristian Toft Hansen is this year President of CNAV.

I want to thank especially the Ferntree Gully community for being such a special place and for providing such a talented band of writers and photographers. And above all thank you to the wonderful band of volunteers who get the paper out and deliver over 10,000 copies from Scoresby Road to the foothills of the Dandenongs. Many of them have been with us from the first.

People sometimes say that newspapers are dying. It is true that our business model needs volunteer workers but the fact that walkers keep offering to deliver and business to advertise is an indication that we are filling a need. We learnt at the conference this year that the only papers still with rising advertising are the very local community papers. We hope it stays that way.

Anne Boyd


To view the 50th edition of the Ferntree Gully News as well as previous issues please go to

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Mabo Day Celebration in Melbourne



The Koorie Heritage Trust and Federation Square, Melbourne, commemorated the Landmark High Court of Australia's Mabo Decision with a Community Picnic and Celebration on 3 June 2017.

Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo was a Torres Strait Islander who fought to change Australian laws on land ownership. The decision made 25 years ago on 3 June 1992 recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have rights as the traditional owners of their land.

I spent a beautiful winter's afternoon at Birrarung, River Terrace listening to great music performances by the Maza Sisters (Lisa and Rachael Maza), The Jess's (Jessie Lloyd and Jessica Hitchcock), Zenedth Kes Les (John Wayne Parsons, Luke Captain & Fred Gesha) and the Liz Cavanagh Ensemble.


Rachael Maza.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017


Lisa Maza.
Lisa also acted as the MC.





Handing out  information on Mabo Day by Torres Strait Islander Elder Ellen Jose.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017


John Wayne Parsons with Jessica Hitchcock and Jessie Lloyd before their gigs.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017


Artist Clinton Nain led children's activities.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



Local Meriam chef Nornie Bero gave a cooking demonstration making traditional Torres Strait Islander sweets.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017


The Jess's.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017


Zenedth Kes Les: Fred Gesha, Luke Captain and John Wayne Parsons.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017


Mabo Day painting - a collaborative effort by the children.

©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017


©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017



©  Barbara Oehring 2017




Sunday, June 11, 2017

Peter Singer


I am pleased that the philosopher Peter Singer has chosen my photographic portrait of him for the cover of the Polish edition of 'Pushing time away. My grandfather and the tragedy of Jewish Vienna.' 

My copy of the just released book arrived in the mail from Poland last week.



©  Barbara Oehring 2017






Ponad czasem is published by Wydawnictwo Akademickie SEDNO.
www.wydawnictwosedno.pl



Friday, April 21, 2017

AddOn - Head On Photo Festival 2017


I am delighted to again participate in the AddOn exhibition of Head On Photo Festival in Sydney.

AddOn will run from 6 - 14 May 2017 at Paddington Town Hall.







For full details please go to: https://www.headon.com.au/exhibitions/addon-2017

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Louise Hearman Survey at TarraWarra Museum of Art

Last week I went to see the first survey of the work of Australian artist Louise Hearman curated by Anna Davis at TarraWarra Museum of Art. Through conversations with the artist the curator focused on feelings and sensations rather than a chronological or thematic configuration.

I have been intrigued by Hearman's paintings in the past. This beautiful exhibition includes more than 50 oil paintings and 25 works on paper from across her 25-year practice. I was surprised to also find in the survey two more recent larger-scale digital prints.


Louise Hearman, installation view, TarraWarra Museum of Art, 18 February – 14 May 2017
Exhibition organised and toured by the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Photo: Andrew Curtis





On Saturday 18 March 2017 I attended the Meet the artist: Louise Hearman event. A lively discussion was held between the panel.

The panel left to right: Anna Davis, Fiona Gruber, Louise Hearman
Photo credit: Barbara Oehring 2017



Visitors to the exhibition have the opportunity to watch a studio video interview between the curator Anna Davis and the artist Louise Hearman about her work practice.

Photo credit: Barbara Oehring 2017



I ventured outside the gallery space into the wonderful grounds of the TarraWarra Estate.

Photo credit: Barbara Oehring 2017




Photo credit: Barbara Oehring 2017




Photo credit: Barbara Oehring 2017



For up-to-date information please visit:

TarraWarra Museum of Art






Monday, February 20, 2017

GAIA Exhibition


I am delighted to again take part in the annual Women Photographers' exhibition in Melbourne.

GAIA - Mother Earth is the theme for this year's show in which 19 women photographers are participating. The exhibition will be held at Magnet Galleries, Melbourne from 2 - 25 March 2017.
It promises to be a wonderful event.





MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
A great opportunity to meet some of the exhibitors in GAIA and discuss their work.

SATURDAY 4 MARCH
Amy Feldtman               1-4pm

SUNDAY 5 MARCH
Wendy Currie                11am -3pm
Carmel  Riordan            1- 4pm

SUNDAY 12 MARCH
Barbara Oehring            1 - 4pm










Friday, February 3, 2017

Belgrave Survival Day 2017 - The Photos

The 10th Anniversary of Belgrave Survival Day was celebrated by a wonderful crowd of people on 26 January 2017. The many volunteers did a marvellous job both preparing for the festival and making sure the event ran smoothly.

I am following up my previous post 'Belgrave Survival Day 2017' with a selection of photos I took on the day.


Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Bill Nicholson gave a powerful speech.

© Barbara Oehring 2017


The crowd at Borthwick Park.

© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017



Getting the fire ready for a smoking ceremony.

© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017


Entering the healing smoke.

© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017


Borthwick Park playground.

© Barbara Oehring 2017


Gnarnayarrahe Waitairi (Uncle Joey), a regular performer at Belgrave Survival Day.

© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017


Aurelio Denasha and Uncle Bill.
© Barbara Oehring 2017


There were information stalls and displays about Indigenous culture.

© Barbara Oehring 2017


© Barbara Oehring 2017




© Barbara Oehring 2017



 
© Barbara Oehring 2017

MC Tim Kanoa.

© Barbara Oehring 2017


The performances by the Mullum Mullum Choir and Hip Hop crew were much appreciated.

© Barbara Oehring 2017


© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017



© Barbara Oehring 2017


Mandy Nicholson again led her Djirri Djirri Dance Group.


© Barbara Oehring 2017


© Barbara Oehring 2017


© Barbara Oehring 2017