Message from the President Hello everyone October gave us opportunities to link with other heritage organizations. The Small Museums Conference at Ormiston House not only enabled networking but gave us much food for thought on ways in which we might improve our museum. Our visit to Coochiemudlo Island confirmed that the Redlands has a rich history, and we thank the Heritage Society’s hosting of our visit. And, of course, who could forget our Theatre Redlands’ performances in When the Darkness Moves. Welcome to our new members. An exciting month! Best wishes. WHAT'S ON CURRENT EXHIBITION The Lazaret on Peel Island The Friends of Peel Island Association have generously donated books, artefacts, and other items relating to the Lazaret on Peel Island. Over 52 years, about 500 sufferers of leprosy, or Hansen's Disease, passed through the Lazaret. Some died, some went into remission and left, and some returned to the island for a second or a third time. Our talented Exhibition Officer, Rick Thomason OAM, has created a heartfelt exhibition from the donated items to be held in October and November 2020. You won't want to miss it! Small Museums Conference The 2020 Small Museums & Galleries Conference was held at Ormiston House on beautiful spring days from 15-18 Oct. Attendees included Redland Museum volunteers Liz Blumson, Bev Shields, Betty Walker, Sylvia McGarry, Cathy Beadley and Bruce Smith. A tour of Ormiston House was followed by presentations on a range of interesting and relevant topics including Telling Difficult Pasts, Sharing Content Online, The Law and Museums, Working with Volunteers, Heritage Tourism, Preservation & Conservation, Mining Heritage, Oral Histories, Marketing, Funding and Family Histories. Ideas from the conference are being gathered. Morning/afternoon teas and lunches under the trees were delightful. Halloween - When the Darkness Moves Guess who these delightful persons are? Playing the laundress and the beguiling bride are our own Sharon and Jill. And Lord Death and Bruce are having a jolly good time (below left) while the audience is bewitched with Sharon's performance. "When the Darkness Moves", a play written and directed by Jan Nary, of Theatre Redlands, has been delighting audiences this month. Theatre Redlands is a group of Redland Museum members whose focus is to bring to the Redland Museum high-quality theatre events. The goal is that these events support the already fabulous programs running at the Museum – to educate the community and bring to life the history the Museum members work so hard to preserve. In addition, theatrical performances serve as fundraising opportunities for the Museum, encourage undiscovered talent and raise the Museum’s profile. Conversations on the Coffin (below) Coochiemudlo Island Volunteer Trip Seventeen volunteers had a wonderful day on Coochiemudlo Island on Tuesday, 20 Oct. After a short ferry ride, we had morning tea at the Red Rock Cafe thanks to owner, Laura Scurr, who opened especially for us. The group viewed the Society's interesting collection including their amazing Herbarium. Then we had a delicious lunch at the Curlew Cafe and Gallery. Thank you to our hosts -members of the Coochiemudlo Island Heritage Society - and to Liz Blumson for organizing this great day out! The Doll's House - a Tribute to Alf Pepper By Jill Tilson, Volunteer Alf was born in England on 24 December 1913. His mother, and subsequently his step-mother, died a few years later, and he and his brother, Albert, were placed in an orphanage where Alf first learnt to do fretwork. In 1925, Alf's father emigrated to Australia and Alf and his siblings emigrated, alone, a year later. Alf's father remarried and the family settled in Brisbane. Alf left school at age 14 years. He learnt many skills - assembly line work on vehicles, farm work, milking cows, building fences, picking cotton etc. He went to Darwin and later joined the Navy and was in Darwin when it was bombed. In 1943, Alf married Norma and they settled in Brisbane. Their adopted daughter was Leah born in 1949. They lived at Eight Mile Plains and Rochedale where their neighbours were Barbara and John Carter. The Pepper's moved to the Redlands in 1977 followed later by the Carter's. In 1978, Alf joined as a member of the Redland Museum. His skills and knowledge enabled him to repair and create many items including the Push-Up Piano and the Polyphon Disc Music Box. He made the doll's house for Leah just a few years before she died in 2008. She bequeathed the house to Craig Carter who donated it to the Museum. Look inside the house for the amazing miniature furniture and rooms. There are 174 items inside. Alf was made a Life Member of the Museum in 1995 and died, aged 93 years, in 2007. My thanks to Liz Blumson, Betty Walker, and Barbara and John Carter for their encouragement and assistance in finding Alf's story. (Redland Museum Object No. 12669) A Milliner's Masterpiece This collection of dolls in Redland Museum is greatly admired by visitors. Grace James, wife of Cleveland Police Sergeant "Snowy" James, was a skilled milliner and was involved with a number of charities. She created a collection of dolls that could be exhibited at events to assist in fund raising. She made many overseas trips and made dolls in styles authentic to the era or countries she visited. Styles range from c1800 to the 1960s, including movie and historic characters. All dolls were made during the period 1974 to 1984. (Redland Museum Object Nos. 7812, 7844, 7853, 7832, 7841, 7877, 7876) The editors, Sharon Vassallo and Sylvia McGarry, will endeavour to provide you with articles about items in our Collection and historical facts on the Redlands. But we would like to hear from members. What would you like for inclusion? Do you have a story to tell? The newsletter will continue to be sent at the end of each month (except for December which maybe earlier). Editors can be contacted at recollections@redlandmuseum.org.au |