WILLIAM COOPER Re-enactment Walk

 

William Cooper (1860-1941) was an Australian Aboriginal activist of Yorta Yorta decent. He was also a man who stood up for persecuted Jews.

On 6 December 1938 William Cooper and members of the Australian Aborigines League walked from his Footscray home to the German Consulate in Collins Street, Melbourne. They tried to present a resolution condemning the treatment of Jews on Kristallnacht but were refused.

I was fortunate to witness a re-enactment of this walk on 6 December 2012. It was led by William Cooper's grandson Alf (Uncle Boydie) Turner.

Aboriginal and Jewish Community members were welcomed at the William Cooper Justice Centre in William Street by the Acting Director, Court Services, Jon Cina.

The building 223 William St (on the corner of Lonsdale St) is named after William Cooper. It is part of Melbourne's legal precinct.



William Cooper Justice Centre
 Melbourne
© Barbara Oehring 2012
 

William Cooper's great-grandson Kevin Russell gave a speech to the gathering at the William Cooper Justice Centre.


Kevin Russell
© Barbara Oehring 2012
 

Alf (Uncle Boydie) Turner then led the party on the walk to Collins Street for a re-enactment of the handover to Germany's Honorary Consul-General in Melbourne, Michael Pearce SC.



Uncle Boydie
© Barbara Oehring 2012


 



Alf 'Boydie' Turner with copy of William Cooper's petition,
descendants and members of the Aboriginal and Jewish communities
Collins St, Melbourne
© Barbara Oehring 2012

 

 

Michael Pearce SC
Germany's Honorary Consul-General in Melbourne
© Barbara Oehring 2012

The German Embassy fully supported the commemoration, Michael Pearce said. "I feel it's been an opportunity to right a wrong from the past".

Birding at Lilydale Lake Wetland

On a hot spring evening I stopped at Lilydale Lake Wetland for a short bird walk.


I was delighted to discover a Buff-banded Rail



Buff-banded Rail
Gallirallus philippensis
© Barbara Oehring 2012




and very surprised to find a Pink-eared Duck - a single bird (drake) on a post with a nesting box.



Pink-eared Duck
Malacorhynchus membranaceus
© Barbara Oehring 2012



 Next was a Great Cormorant,


Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
© Barbara Oehring 2012 

a male Superb Fairy-wren




Superb Fairy-wren
Malurus cyaneus
© Barbara Oehring 2012

and at the end of my walk I saw a pair of Purple Swamphen bathing.



Purple Swamphen
Porphyrio porphyrio
© Barbara Oehring 2012

 

Reception at Government House for Osteoporosis Australia

I was honoured to be a guest at a reception hosted by Mrs Elizabeth Chernov in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall on 7 November 2012.

Camilla, wife of Prince Charles, is President of the National Osteoporosis Society (UK). Her Royal Highness told the gathering she was determined to hold an osteoporosis reception during her tour of Australia.The issue of osteoporosis was very dear to her heart as both her mother and grandmother were sufferers.

 

The event was attended by leading Australian bone experts, researchers, patient groups, society and corporate identities as well as representatives of Osteoporosis Australia.

I was one of two representing the South East Melbourne Osteoporosis Support Group of which I was a founding member.




Government House Drive
© Barbara Oehring 2012





Entrance
© Barbara Oehring 2012
 



Ballroom
© Barbara Oehring 2012


 



Dr John Hewson (Osteoporosis Australia Chairman) with Aide-de-camp to Governor
© Barbara Oehring 2012



Maxine McKew
Barbara Oehring 2012

Maxine McKew, former politician and journalist, has served as patron of Osteoporosis Australia.

AROUND THE SHEDS - Book Launch

 

ANDREW CHAPMAN'S Around the Sheds, a photographic record of life in and around the woolsheds, was launched today by Alan Attwood. Alan has also written the foreword 'A labour of love - and light'.

Around the Sheds is a follow-up to Andrew's best-selling Woolsheds.




Alan Attwood and Andrew Chapman
© Barbara Oehring 2012
 

It was the last day of the photographer's long running exhibition Nearly a Retrospective at Burrinja.

A large crowd of around 200 people gathered for the book launch in the gallery.

The Five Mile Press, publishers of AROUND THE SHEDS and WOOLSHEDS were represented at the launch by Juliet, Janet and Julia.




Andrew with The Team
Juliet Willcocks (Publishing & Marketing Coordinator), Janet Stearns (Marketing Assistant) and Julia Taylor (Commissioning Editor)
© Barbara Oehring 2012


 

Bruce Ilsley, the young man who on Anzac Day 1977 shook Malcolm Fraser's hand in Andrew Chapman's photograph at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, attended today's book launch with his wife Glenda. Through a string of coincidences Bruce found out about the photo of him in Andrew's exhibition. He brought along the same jumper he was wearing in the photograph a long time ago.

In my image below Bruce in his jumper and Andrew are recreating the "handshake".



Andrew Chapman and Bruce Ilsley with Andrew's 1977 photograph of Malcolm Fraser and Bruce shaking hands
© Barbara Oehring 2012







Cottage No. 8

The Cottage at No. 8 The Avenue
© Barbara Oehring


 

The Cottage at No. 8 The Avenue, home of the community paper Ferntree Gully News, has also become a gallery. I am delighted that my 'Year in Ferntree Gully' photographs have found a permanent home in the Cottage.


The October Newsletter of the Mountain District Learning Centre (publisher of the Ferntree Gully News) reports:

"Recently we hung high on the walls most of the photographs of Barbara Oehring's beautiful 'Year in FTG' exhibition. As we did so the rooms took on a new dimension. The power of the photos began to make themselves felt. Now our gallery rooms can be a place for delight, reflection, history, all taking inspiration from the pictures on the walls."


Gully News office/gallery: 8 The Avenue, Ferntree Gully
Open Tuesdays 10.00am to 3.00pm or by appointment
Telephone  9758 3056 or contact MDLC 9758 7859
Email: gullynews@gmail.com

Wandin - Silvan Field Days Photo Competition

I am pleased to announce that I have won 1st prize in the Open Category of the Wandin - Silvan Field Days 2012 Photographic Competition.

Competition theme: "Farm Machinery & Equipment"




Ashley with Strider, Tammy & Felicity
© Barbara Oehring
 

My winning image ASHLEY WITH STRIDER, TAMMY & FELICITY was displayed at Wandin East Hall during the Wandin - Silvan Field Days on 12 and 13 October 2012.

From 16 to 31 October 2012 it will be on view at the Wandin Seville Community Bank.

Napoleon in Melbourne

NAPOLEON: Revolution to Empire, a Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition was held at NGV International, St Kilda Road from 2 June to 7 October 2012.




© Barbara Oehring 2012
 

A detail of the 1803 painting by Jacques Louis David 'Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul, crossing the Alps at St Bernard Pass, 20 May, 1800' graced a wall of the National Gallery of Victoria.

In one of the many exhibition rooms of Napoleon: Revolution to Empire this impressive painting could be enjoyed in full.



A striking display featuring the Bee - traditionally associated with the sovereigns of France - and which Napoleon chose as the symbol of his empire.

 



© Barbara Oehring 2012



© Barbara Oehring 2012




© Barbara Oehring 2012

An erhu player entertaining the passers-by.


© Barbara Oehring 2012