Barbara Oehring Photography

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Wurundjeri Stories Interpretive Signage Trail Unveiling Event

I was invited to attend the unveiling of Wurundjeri Stories, an interpretive signage trail, at Pound Bend Reserve in Warrandyte State Park, Victoria.

On Thursday 14 August 2014 Wurundjeri Elders Uncle Colin Hunter jr, Aunty Alice Kolasa and Aunty Kitty Coombes together with Wurundjeri artist Mandy Nicholson took turns in unveiling the signs and reading the stories.

Each sign shares topics that relate to the Wurundjeri history, culture, traditional life and people associated with this sacred site.

Womin-jeka Wurundjeri Biik
Welcome to Wurundjeri Country

Womin-jeka (Welcome) to Pound Bend, a central living and gathering place for the Wurundjeri people from time immemorial. The Wurundjeri people welcome you to the sacred site and in turn ask that you respect and care for this country.

'Wurundjeri Stories' is a yerrin barring (bush path) comprising six interpretive signs located along the river path, moving upstream. This trail has been developed in partnership with Wurundjeri Elders to reflect their history, culture and traditional life at Pound Bend. Each sign includes a section entitled 'Bunjil's Challenge' offering activities for children.

The sign at the start of the trail:
'Womin-jeka Wurundjeri Biik Welcome to Wurundjeri Country' depicts Figures in Possum Skin Cloaks by William Barak, 1898 Courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Frank O'Neill plays the didgeridoo.

Uncle Colin Hunter jr.

Information guides 'Wurundjeri Stories at Pound Bend' were available for visitors to take home.

Some of the gathering.

Aunty Kitty and Aunty Alice unveil the first sign of the trail.

Walking along the trail.

Mandy Nicholson observes a pair of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos above.

Mandy speaks about Wurundjeri Bush Tucker, Medicine and Tools.
Artwork: Traditional Tools and Bush Tucker by Mandy Nicholson, 2014.

Aunty Kitty Coombes and Aunty Alice Kolasa at the end of the Wurundjeri Stories Interpretive Signage Trail Unveiling event.

The project was a collaboration by Manningham City, Wurundjeri Tribe Council, Parks Victoria, Office of Aboriginal Affairs Victoria and Manningham Reconciliation.

Monday, August 11, 2014

David Helfgott @ Montrose

It was a delight to see David Helfgott perform at Montrose Town Centre on Sunday 10 August 2014 and to meet him afterwards. His enthusiasm, personal style of music making and obvious love for people made for a very joyful Sunday afternoon.

Before the show Gillian Helfgott, the artist's wife, gave an introductory talk. She spoke about the program - which included Chopin and Liszt - and also about their recent European tour where David played to a large audience in Turkey and his concerts in Vienna's Mozarthalle and Zurich Tonhalle.

David Helfgott was born in Melbourne in 1947. He is an artist of extraordinary ability. Geoffrey Rush's Oscar-winning portrayal of David's life in the movie Shine made David one of the world's most recognisable classical musicians.

After the concert Gillian Helfgott mingles with the audience.

Smiles and hugs abound.

Malcolm Russell, Yarra Ranges Regional Arts Co-ordinator (urban) and Gillian Helfgott.

The concert was part of Classical Tracks 2014 in the Yarra Ranges Culture Tracks Program.

Monday, July 7, 2014

She'll be right, mate? An Indigenous History in Australian Cartoons

The opening of SHE'LL BE RIGHT, MATE? An Indigenous History in Australian Cartoons was held on Sunday 6 July 2014 at Burrinja Gallery.

The Hon. Heidi Victoria MP, Minister for the Arts, was there to open the show.

Cr Fiona McAllister, Mayor of Yarra Ranges Council.

SHE'LL BE RIGHT, MATE? is curated by Jim Bridges, President, Australian Cartoon Museum and Burrinja's JD Mittmann. The exhibition chronicles issues of Indigenous affairs in Australian society, sports and politics in the last 30 year. The cartoons are drawn from the archive of the Australian Cartoon Museum. Nicholson, Jeff, Spooner, Knight, Leunig, OZ and many more are featured.

Geoff "Jeff" Hook next to his cartoon which appeared in The Sun 13 September 1982.

Sturt Krygsman, The Australian 8 June 1993

Bill Leak, The Australian 28 January 2012

Greens Councillor Samantha Dunn, Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Jim Bridges and the attending cartoonists surround the Minister for the Arts Heidi Victoria.

She'll be right, mate? An Indigenous History in Australian Cartoons

4 Jul - 31 Aug 2014
Burrinja Gallery
Burrinja Cultural Centre
351 Glenfern Road Upwey Victoria 3158
t (03) 9754 8723

Guided Tours
“The History of Everything” with Jim Bridges
Thursday, 10 / 24 / 31 July, 11am
Thursday, 14 / 21 / 28 Aug, 11am
Free Entry, RSVP

Curator’s Floor Talk

Saturday 2 August, 2pm
Saturday 9 August, 2 pm
Free Entry, RSVP

Saturday, June 28, 2014

TarraWarra Museum of Art - Danie Mellor: Exotic Ties Secret Lies

I went for a drive to the Yarra Valley to see the work of the Indigenous artist Danie Mellor at TarraWarra Museum of Art.

Danie Mellor: Exotic Ties Secret Lies, a UQ Art Museum Touring exhibition curated by Maudie Palmer AO, runs from 10 May to 27 July 2014.

This major survey exhibition looks at different elements of the artist's practice and focuses on Australian history, shared histories, Indigenous perspectives. I found Danie Mellor's work haunting, particularly his installations.

TarraWarra Museum of Art also shows selected works from the TarraWarra Museum of Art Collection. I noticed the painting by Richard Bell "Australian art it's an Aboriginal thing" 2006 and "Notes to Basquiat: Totem lesson II 2001 by the recently deceased Gordon Bennett.

Entering TarraWarra Estate.

View from the car park.

Relaxing at TarraWarra Estate Cellar Door and Restaurant.

http://twma.com.au/exhibitions/event/danie-mellor-exotic-lies-sacred-ties/index.html

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Geelong Waterfront

A friend and I enjoyed a stroll along the Geelong Waterfront. It had been many years since my last visit there. I had heard about Darryn Lyons who, after a high profile international career in photojournalism, returned to his home city and was elected Mayor of Geelong in November 2013 on the message of "vision, passion, change".

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Mullum Mullum Festival 2014

The Mullum Mullum Festival celebrates the ecological and cultural values of Mullum Mullum Creek Valley.

The opening ceremony of the 16th Mullum Mullum Festival took place in Mitcham on Sunday 4 May 2014.

Welcome banners greeted the visitors at Yarran Dheran Reserve. The colourful banners were on loan from The Koorie Heritage Trust. They were originally made to decorate the Welcome Place at Federation Square during the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Wurundjeri elder Uncle Bill Nicholson performed Welcome to Country and John Baxter opened the festival.

Proud Latja Latja/Narungga man John Baxter speaks while MC "Den the Fish" looks on. Uncle Herb Patten is in the background and the Auslan interpreter on the left.

Uncle Den Fisher and Michael Bankes.

Traditional Smoking Ceremony conducted by Uncle Bill Nicholson.

Uncle Herb Patten.

The festival continues on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May 2014 with nature walks and presentations.

For details on the Mullum Mullum Festival and to view the festival brochure please go to http://mullummullumfestival.org.au/