About Recollections 
Recollections keeps Museum members, supporters and others informed about the Museum's public programs and other activities.  We take pride in being a cultural hub inviting everyone to explore and learn about our heritage, as well as exciting your imagination through interesting exhibitions, lively entertainment, and educational opportunities.  

What's On 

by Jan Nary, Volunteer

Redland Museum’s collaboration with theatre began in 2007 when Terry Annesley, producer of Theatre Genesis, discussed producing Reedy River with local journalist Linda Muller. Reedy River is based on the shearers’ role in the 1891 national strike. Written by Dick Diamond, it is a classic Australian musical play rich in bush songs and history.  Linda suggested staging the iconic play on Australia Day at Redland Museum.

Terry discussed the idea with the Museum’s Past President, Kath McNeilly, and later with then President, Ross Bower, and they agreed that the blacksmith’s shop would be a perfect backdrop for an open-air performance. Ross was aware that, to survive in the modern community, museums must offer a broader range of culturally oriented events to attract attendance. Better ways of raising funds were also becoming more important.

Australia Day 2008 saw the first Theatre Genesis/Redland Museum production of Reedy River. Museum members suggested it be staged as a dinner show under the stars. It was a runaway success, including impromptu appearances by possums on the roof of the blacksmith shop, and established the Australia Day play and dinner as a significant ongoing event and major fundraiser for the Museum.  Terry Annesley directed the show as well as playing Brodie the squatter.  Chad Sherrin and Jan Nary were also part of the cast and went on to perform in other productions. 

Terry Annesley died in 2014.  Theatre Genesis’ sixth and last “solo” production in 2015 was the show with which it had opened, Reedy River, chosen to honour Terry’s huge contribution and his passion for nurturing and handing on Australian language, traditions, and songs through the magic of theatre. This production saw Chad re-create the role of Thommo and Jan Nary step into the role of Director.  It also drew in significant new members - Sharon Vassallo in the lead role of Mary and Debbie Spearritt as Rose the barmaid.  

The Australia Day play and dinner has been held every year at Redland Museum since 2008 except in 2013 when the Stage 8 building extension was under construction.  In 2015 Theatre Genesis merged with MATES and became MATES Theatre Genesis and agreed to honour the Museum’s Australia Day Play tradition, extending its plays beyond the bush theme of the earlier productions. 

As we head into the Museum's Golden Jubilee in 2022, the plays are still enjoyed by hundreds of patrons and raise much needed funds for the Museum.  

Truly a triumph!

The First Australia Day Play - Reedy River 2008
Shearers & Drovers: Chad Sherrin played Thommo with others cast members, Mirko Grillini, Frank Stoove, Jamin Samios, Peter Jones & Dan Saye, outside the original Blacksmith's shed.

On this day in 1918, an armistice (ceasefire) treaty was signed at Le Francport, near Compiegne, France, between the Allies and their last remaining opponent in World War I, Germany.  This armistice treaty came into force at 11am on 11 November 1918 and effectively ended World
War I (WWI).   Armistices had previously been agreed with other opponents - Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Armistice of Compiegne was extended three times while negotiations took place on the conditions for a peace treaty - The Treaty of Versailles - signed on 28 June 1919. 

One year after the 11 November ceasefire, commemorations were held across Commonwealth nations to mark the ultimate sacrifices made in WWI.  It was known as Armistice Day.  An Australian journalist, in a  letter in the London Evening News in May 1919, suggested that a period of silence (for reflection) would be appropriate to mark these commemorations.  This suggestion reached King George V who proclaimed on 7 November 1919 that people should observe two minutes' silence on Armistice Day.  This was taken up by many other Commonwealth nations including Australia.  

By the end of World War II in 1945, Armistice Day had grown into a day to honour all those who had fallen in war.  This evolution brought a change of name - REMEMBRANCE DAY - and the two minutes' silence initially requested by King George V became one minute's silence. 

In Australia, Governor-General William Patrick Deane proclaimed on 30 October 1997 that "(a) 11 November in each year shall be known and observed as Remembrance Day; and (b) all Australians are urged to observe, unless impracticable, one minute's silence at 11.00 am on Remembrance Day each year to remember the sacrifice of those who died or otherwise suffered in Australia's cause in wars and war-like conflicts."

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, staff, members and visitors in the Museum at the time stopped for a minute's silence to reflect on the sacrifices made by others.

Associated with this day is the traditional emblem of red poppies which covered the barren, muddy battlefields in Western Europe during WWI.  The bright red flowers grew in their thousands.  Redland Museum's blacksmiths now make metal poppies - red representing the blood of the fallen, purple for the many animals that were victims of war, and white promoting peace.  They are available in the Museum's shop.

LEST WE FORGET

References: www.shrine.org.au and www.airforce.gov.au/.../remembrance day.

by Sandra Davis, Volunteer Research Officer
On 15th October this year I received a query from a couple  relating to the underpass in Bloomfield Street. They had travelled to Cleveland by bus and alighted at the Donald Simpson Centre. They wondered how they could safely cross Bloomfield Street and called in to the Centre, where they were told about the underpass, which comes out at the Motor Service business at 113 Russell Street.  Below is the western end of the underpass. Russell Street is to the left.

On 9th November I accessed this edition on microfiche at the Library, but a 2½ hour search failed to locate the item. I discovered on 12  November that we do not have this edition in our collection of Bayside Bulletin at the Museum, but I DID locate an interesting article in the 10 November 1987 edition  which appears to suggest where the $600,000 cost of the project came from.   It was reported that, as a result of representation by Redlands Minister Paul Clauson, approval was given for Redland Shire Council to borrow $2,632,130 from a Federal grant of $642.5 million allocated for works projects.   Mr. Clauson said the funds would be used by Council “on a variety of sewerage  treatment, water supply and roadworks within the Redland Shire”.  The underpass was included in this. 

By May Sheppard, Volunteer

Members of the Redland’s Creative Alliance are holding their 4th exhibition in Redland Museum's Cliff and Irene Dunn Wing Gallery - and yes it’s called ‘Summer’.  On 5 November, Councillor Paul Bishop officially opened the exhibition with guest speakers May Sheppard, President of the Alliance, and Bruce Smith, President Redland Museum.

With 80 people attending, we were entertained by the Nuages Duo, a light jazz band with their guest artist Vicky McDonald on flute, and dancing by Ruby Phoenix. Museum volunteers served drinks and COVID regulation food plates.  It was a successful night from a sales perspective with two sculptures, a pelican painting, and a two-koala photograph (the latter by Museum member Phil Robinson) being sold. Phil also sold some of his photographic publications.

Alliance artist members were asked to illustrate what they do in summer, the colours and 'feel' of summer - flowers, blue sky landscapes, lovely places we might visit in summer - the rest was up to them. The artists in the exhibition are featuring acrylic, oil, watercolour and mixed media paintings, enamelling, mosaic, sculptural, photography, and a wide variety of subject matter. There are 35 artists displaying 67 artworks.

Please visit the exhibition and cast your vote for People's Choice.  It is a way to encourage our Redland's creatives. Once votes are counted at the closure of the exhibition, there will be a presentation of a prize of $150 and a $50 framing vouch from Kuhl Picture Framing.

Redland’s Creative Alliance Inc. exhibitions are open to members with all levels of experience without submission selection or restrictions or talent levels other than being a member of the Alliance. It is a special event in which local aspiring artists are able to see their work hanging in a lovely environment that is the best of venues, Redland Museum.

The Alliance is a not-for-profit group based online as they do not have home base premises. Where possible, they exhibit in local Redland spaces when they are available thus exposing more local artists' creations to the public. The Alliance serves to broaden public awareness of arts and culture and promote the arts within our community and wider area of South East Queensland.

The exhibition closes on 7 January 2022 but note that the Museum will be closed from 23 December to 4 January. 

Peel Island Carvings

In a fragile condition the originals are protected in the collection of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The replicas have been created by Redland sculptor, Troy Robins, who described the originals as ‘very significant little pieces, a definable link to Redlands history’.

Troy has replicated the old weathered totems' original appearance by ‘hand rendering casting cement known as Ciment Fondue over steel armatures’. He said that it ‘was a privilege to acknowledge the artistic skills of Bob Pela demonstrated by creating the totems with limited tools and from timbers not particularly suited for carving’. The replica totems have now been placed in the Museum garden close to the Blacksmith shop.

Words and photos by Paul Ledington, volunteer.

Sometimes words can't capture the story.

Sometimes even the photographs struggle.

Sometimes you just have to be there! 

The editors, Paul Ledington and Sharon Vassallo will endeavour to provide you with articles about Museum events and activities, Collection items, 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 may be earlier). Editors can be contacted at recollections@redlandmuseum.org.au