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: yambamuseumnsw@gmail.com - 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