From the President, Bruce Smith
The highlights for March were two great events. We thought the rain might wash out the Heritage and Harmony Fiesta, but instead, with over 1400 guests, it exceeded our expectations. Thanks to a grant from Multicultural Affairs Queensland, we created a vibrant, entertaining, fun, and exciting day for the community. We also held another production of Women of Their Word with audiences wowed by the brillance by Theatre Redlands. A huge thank you to staff and volunteers who made these events happen. Best wishes.
April School Holiday Painting Packs
Take the fun home!Decorate your own Easter egg by creating unique designs and patterns! Create a beautiful Easter egg to decorate your room!Each pack costs $6.00 and includes one free child's general admission pass to the Redland MuseumGet in quick before the packs run out!- Pick up only -
escape to a different world at Redland Museum
HERITAGE AND HARMONY FIESTA A day to escape around the world
by Volunteer Paul Ledington
It was grey outside, the field was at least damp and soggy was approaching rapidly. The weather forecast was RAIN (perhaps!). The solution was to put the Heritage and Harmony Fiesta under the roof. Clear out all the horse and carriages, reposition the Cobb and Co coach and put in a stage, a sound system, flags, decorations, chairs, and create a dressing room area for the performers. It would seem like that is all in a day's work for the amazing event crew (staff and volunteers) at our Museum. The crew put the sunshine under the roof and kept a smile on their faces. The fiesta was all systems green! People were knocking on the door well before the start time. Smack on time, our MC, volunteer Jim Gilbert, got things underway introducing President Bruce Smith followed by Kim Richards MP (representing the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Leanne Linard), and Mayor Karen Williams. Councillor Paul Bishop and Karen's husband, Peter, completed our VIPs.
Josh Walker provided the Quandamooka Welcome to Country incorporating an indigenous welcome dance with parents joining in encouraged by their children racing to get on stage. It was a rousing start and provided a great foundation for the rest of the day.
Then Dance Kaleidoscope performed the Sword Dance which dates back to the 1700s in Yorkshire, England.
I really thought there was not much you could say about Punch and Judy, apart that the kids love it as, after all, they are not yet politically correct. Between performances, children were encouraged to try juggling and plate spinning. Even with plates with hollowed out centres, it’s no mean feat to keep the plate spinning on the end of a stick. So imagine our puppeteer's surprise when one little tot who appeared to be still learning to walk managed to spin a plate with each hand, no problem. Even dad could not have been prouder. So Punch and Judy, crayons and paper, model trains, and a ride around the field on the land train - heaven is made of this
if you are 4 years old. Older children journeyed round the world identifying a multitude of country flags, and getting their "passport" stamped.
The exhibition, Brought from Abroad, was amazing. Mostly owned by our Exhibition Officer, Rick Thomason, objects were from Myanmar, China, Japan, Cambodia, India, Kashmir, Indochina, Persia and the Middle East - truly multicultural!
And if the exhibition, dancing and music wasn't enough for you, you could take a break and have your name written in artistic swirls by calligrapher, Ruth Venner, see the Spinners and Weavers, visit the blacksmith’s or printers' workshops, talk about your ancestry with Redlands Genealogical Society, learn about the plight of refugees with Redlands for Refugees, or view the textile display.
But back to the dancing, this time Dance Kaleidoscope had the grace, elegance, and etiquette of Sense and Sensibility, in full period dress. The one space we had unoccupied was the entrance area just after reception - the space where volunteer Owen Friar makes the pianola sing, joined on this occasion by our receptionist, Jill, on clarinet. The talents of my colleagues never fail to astound me! Luckily the dancers brought their own music and in the large space danced, as it should be, up close and personal to the pressing crowd, just as a fashionable drawing room would have been in the day - dance and polite conversation
underpinned by romantic intrigue. A truly fascinating experience.
In between all this frivolity, people got hungry. Our hard-working kitchen volunteers served Aussie Sausage Sizzle and sandwiches, Indonesian Prawn and Sweet Corn Fritters, Chinese Steamed Pork Dumplings, Malaysian Vegetarian Top Hats as well as Malaysian Rolled Coconut Crepes and Devonshire teas/coffee. Yummy! Large round colourful lollipops were the hit of the day at the Sweets Shop. Children just lapped (or is it licked ?)them up.
The energy ramped up again in the main arena with the colourful Ruby Phoenix Tribal Belly Dancers followed by the high intensity Baysamba which brought the exciting sounds of Brazilian street carnivals. Then the Fiesta finale was rounded out by the very energetic Bollywood Reconnection with the pulsating rhythm of this popular Indian dance sensation.
462 photographs later I was ..... but, at the end, the legendary event crew simply took it all apart and put it all away! A great day for everyone who attended.
RAFFLE Volunteers Alan Ghidella and Shirley Mahon
sold raffle tickets by the bucket load. 1st Prize - $60 voucher Bay Gourmet Meats,
Birkdale - won by Helen Rosner
2nd Prize - $40 voucher Fresh Sensations,
Capalaba - won by Diana
Stojanovich
3rd Prize - $20 tickets Cineplex, Victoria
Point - won by Shirley Mahon
explore and learn at Redland Museum
Harmony Day is observed annually in Australia on 21 March and is a celebration of cultural diversity promoting respect and inclusion. Orange is used to signify social communication. Initially celebrated in 1999, Harmony Day coincides with the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Thank you to the organizers, performers, staff and volunteers, caterers and participants who made the day memorable.
A special thank you to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Leanne Linard, for providing grant funds to make the day possible.
Photos by Paul Ledington &
Sylvia McGarry
JOIN US NEXT YEAR FOR ANOTHER
GREAT DAY OUT AT THE HERITAGE AND HARMONY FIESTA AS PART OF THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE MUSEUM'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
excite your imagination at Redland Museum
And that's a wrap! Thank you to all who came along and saw Theatre Redlands' wonderful production of Women of their Word written and directed by Jan Nary with music direction by Donna Magrath. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers at Redland Museum who ran Front of House, sold raffle tickets, served drinks, prepared and served cheese platters and Devonshire Teas as well as those who set up and cleaned up before and after the event. Thank you Greg Pope for the wonderful photos. What a truly wonderful example of community and support for the Museum.....Did I mention it was
WONDERFUL? AND thank you to our amazing cast & crew. Three amazing performances. Thank you for all the hard work and rehearsal time spent on perfecting these amazing shows. We received lots of amazing comments about the shows and the quality of the performances. Did you get that we think you are all AMAZING?
By Sharon Vassallo
Photos by: Greg Pope Below: Textile display by Jan Banks and her team showcasing women's fashion through the ages!
CLARIFICATION In last month's Recollections, we inadvertently omitted to mention that the
School Curriculum Kits were initiated by volunteer Fiona Eastwood. In the story on Don Neil, Arthur Smith’s farm ‘Beaconsfield’ was located on Moreton Road, Thornlands. Don Neil’s father’s farm was located opposite the Dance Palais on Cleveland/Redland Bay Road at Thornlands. Thank you to Gordon Davidson for clarifying
this for us.
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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
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