Vol 5 No 3 Apr-Jul 2009 - Bundaberg Regional Libraries ...

volume 5 no. 3 - APRIL 09 to JULY 09 

bundaberg 

ARTS | COMMUNITY | CULTURE | HISTORY 

in this issue 

BRAG 

Floral Artist 

Authors Festival 

Symphony 

Orchestra

Image: Lesa Hepburn, Stranded (detail), 2006, mixed media 

Cover images (L-R clockwide): Daniel Waswas, Imitating Role 

Model, 2007; Decorative flower wheel by Lonnie O’Dwyer; 

Photo of staff outside Reddan & Mellor store; and detail from 

Turtle Song, Kim Michelle Toft.

table of contents 

Section 

Page No. 

EDITORIAL ……………………………………………………………………………………… 

HISTORY………………………………………………………………………………………… 

A Short History of Early Gin Gin 

ART GALLERY .………………………………………………………………………………… 

BRAG 

MUSIC …………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra 

COMMUNITY EVENT .………………………………………………………………………… 

WriteFest 

AUTHORS .……………………………………………………………………………………… 

Stephanie Laurens 

Kirsty Brooks 

Jason Nahrung 

Kim Michelle Toft 

THEATRE ..……………………………………………………………………………………… 

Mary Duff 

Roman Rudnytsky 

ART .……………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Internship at the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery 

HISTORY ...……………………………………………………………………………………… 

Reddan & Mellor 

ARTIST ...………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Karen Waldon 

LIBRARY ……………………………………………………………………………………… 

Bundaberg Library / Rotary East Book Sale 

BOOKS ..………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Radha Shukla 

LOCAL ARTIST ………………………………………………………………………………… 

Lonnie O’Dwyer 

ART .……………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Creative Industries Training 

PHOTOGRAPHY .……………………………………………………………………………… 

A Peek at Life 

ART .……………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Pacific Island Art 

ART .……………………………………………………………………………………………… 

Symposium 

EXHIBITION NOTES .………………………………………………………………………… 39 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .…………………………………………………………………… 43 

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5 

8 

10 

13 

14 

19 

20 

22 

26 

28 

29 

30 

33 

34 

36 

38 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

EDITORIAL 

Arts Bundaberg started life many years ago as a 

magazine focused exclusively on events, exhibitions 

and programmes at the Arts Centre. While in current 

years it has expanded to include other aspects of life 

and culture, it is fitting that with the rebranding and 

launch of the new Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery 

(BRAG), more than half of this issue is devoted to the 

Arts in all their variety. 

From internships at BRAG, to current exhibitions and 

future workshops, and an in-depth explanation by 

the Manager of BRAG about the rebranding process, 

there is something for all lovers of art in this issue. 

We haven’t forgotten everyone else though – as 

usual, there are some fascinating stories about this 

region’s early history – with a significant anniversary 

at Gin Gin this year, we had to look at the history 

of the town, and its development. In addition, one 

of Bundaberg’s oldest families and their business, 

Reddan & Mellor, is featured and sure to bring back 

many memories. 

The Performing Arts are highlighted, with a look 

at the Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra in their 

anniversary year, as well as future performances at 

the Moncrieff Theatre. And for book lovers an exciting 

new Festival – the Booked Festival of Authors is 

coming to Bundaberg Regional Library in May for the 

first time. Those authors are featured, as well as a new 

voice with our second Youth Book Review. 

We hope you enjoy the diversity and detail in all 

these stories, which highlight our region’s love of and 

interest in all aspects of the Arts, from Community to 

History to Gallery. 

Sue Gammon 

4 FEATURE EDITORIAL TYPE

A short history of early 

Gin Gin 

Bank of NSW Gin Gin 

premises, 1918. 

This year Gin Gin will celebrate its 

130 th birthday. The town takes its 

date of birth from the establishment 

of local government in the area, 

which first occurred when the Kolan 

Divisional Board was formed on 11 

November 1879. As the town and its 

surrounds grew, the Shire of Kolan was 

established on 31 March 1903. 

The Stations 

The beginnings of European 

settlement in the area occurred around 

1847-1848 when Gregory Blaxland 

(youngest son of Blue Mountains 

explorer Gregory Blaxland) and William 

Forster brought 30,000 sheep and 800 

cattle up from the Clarence River area 

of New South Wales. They settled on 

a large property in the southern area 

of the (later) Kolan Shire which they 

named Tirroan. 

Gregory Blaxland was killed in 1850 

and in 1854 Forster left to enter politics 

in New South Wales. The station was 

sold (exactly when is unknown) to 

Arthur and Alfred Brown who renamed 

it Gingin, either because they came 

from Gingin in Western Australia, or 

from the Aboriginal word chin chin 

meaning “thick scrub”. It was still 

running sheep at this stage but the next 

owner, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, gradually 

made the change from sheep to cattle. 

Not only was Tirroan/Gingin Station 

the first settlement in the area, it also 

produced three colonial Premiers. At 

various times Gingin Station was owned 

by William Forster (Premier of NSW, 

1859-1860), Sir Thomas McIlwraith 

(Premier of Qld, 1879-1883, 1888, and 

Main Street of Gin Gin 

1893), and Sir Arthur Palmer (Premier of 

Queensland, 1870-1874). 

In 1849, soon after Blaxland and 

Forster settled Tirroan (Gingin) Station, 

Walla Station was settled by Dr J and 

Archibald McMurdo Thompson. George 

Rankin also formed Wonbah in 1849. 

William and James Landsborough took 

up Tenningering (around the Goodnight 

Scrub) and Monduran in 1850, and in 

that same year J. Blackman settled 

Kolonga. Molangool was also taken up 

around this time, and these stations 

were to define the basic boundaries of 

the later Shire of Kolan. 

Gin Gin Takes Shape 

The original boundaries of the Division 

were the Burnett Range to the west, the 

Dawes and Watalgan Ranges to the 

north, the Burnett River to the south, 

LOCAL HISTORY 5

A SHORT HISTORY OF EARLY GIN GIN 

Gin Gin State School 

and the sea to the east. Geographically 

these were fairly obvious boundaries. 

However, the large area and the 

resulting diverse interests proved 

untenable, and in 1886 the Gooburrum 

Divisional Board was formed from the 

eastern part of the Division. 

A township at Gin Gin was not 

always a certainty as both Walla 

and Monduran were considered 

as sites for the establishment of a 

town. The town of Gin Gin had its 

beginnings in 1874 when the Electric 

Telegraph Department connected 

lines to Bundaberg and Gladstone at 

Gin Gin (which it spelt as two words 

in accordance with Government 

practice, unlike the Station which 

was spelt as one word). Amusingly, 

Sir Thomas McIlwraith objected to 

the Government’s spelling of Gin Gin 

as he was charged for two words in 

his telegrams. He insisted the name 

of his Station was spelt Gingin and 

he should be charged for only one 

word. Incidentally, some sources refer 

to Gin Gin being more correctly, or 

later known as, Albany. Unfortunately, 

solid evidence of the why and when 

in relation to this name, could not be 

located in time for publication. 

Vital in determining the need for a 

town in the first place was the building 

of the railways which enabled access, 

goods transport and settlement by 

new residents. The building of the 

Bundaberg-Mt Perry line (Mt Perry 

being a burgeoning copper mining 

town at the time) during the 1870s and 

1880s boosted the region’s population 

and provided more impetus for the 

establishment of a town as a service 

centre. 

Gin Gin’s Development 

In 1881 the census records Gin Gin 

as a town for the first time, with 35 

residents. By 1886 the population had 

risen to 78 and in 1891 it was 148. 

Gin Gin was growing and was rapidly 

asserting itself as the ‘capital’ of the 

shire. 1901 saw 11.7% (222 residents) 

of the shire’s population living in Gin 

Gin. In 1933 it had jumped to 15.6% 

(450 residents), and in 1954 it was up to 

22.9% (573 residents). 

By 1879 the emerging town supported 

two public houses (pub/boardinghouse) 

due the significant traffic on the 

6 LOCAL HISTORY

arts bundaberg 

Bundaberg-Mt Perry Road and the 

Maryborough-Gladstone Road. And 

by 1900 many businesses had opened 

to support the needs of the area’s 

residents. Businesses present in Gin 

Gin around 1900 include blacksmiths, 

a post office, grocers, a barber, a bank, 

a soft drink factory, nursing homes, a 

doctor, a baker, etc. It was important 

to establish necessary and quality 

facilities and services in order to attract 

even more residents to Gin Gin. 

Further testimony to Gin Gin’s growth 

and future prospects may be seen in 

the establishment of a school at Gin Gin 

to educate the area’s young people. 

The school (later Gin Gin State School) 

opened in 1882 as a one-teacher 

school and was originally in a building 

near the current Gin Gin Post Office. 

It was later moved and has been sited 

in May Street for around 120 years. In 

the early days the school provided for 

both primary school and high school 

students. 

Of course Gin Gin didn’t develop just 

as a business centre. It also met the 

social needs of the district. The School 

of Arts opened in 1883 and offered 

many of the town’s social activities. Gin 

Gin’s first library – the School of Arts 

subscription library – was an important 

service for the residents who patronised 

it well. Sporting activities were also 

catered for with cricket, tennis, and rifle 

shooting some of the first sporting clubs 

to form. 

Milestones 

From small beginnings Gin Gin has 

developed proudly to celebrate its 

centenary in 1979, and in 2009 its 

130 th birthday. The pioneers did a 

great deal in paving the way for Gin 

Gin’s development. Looking back at 

its successful transition from fledgling 

community to vibrant town, one can 

appreciate the sacrifices, challenges, 

and joys which contributed to the Gin 

Gin we know today. 

Gin Gin Hotel Gin Gin Hospital Picnic near Gin Gin 

References 

Dignan, Don. 1964. The Story of Kolan. 

Mullett, Joy (comp.). 1979. Centenary Shire of Kolan, 1879- 

1979. 

Rackemann, Neville (comp.). 1986. Gooburrum, 1886- 

1986. 

Waterson, D.B. 2001. Biographical Register of the 

Queensland Parliament, 1860-1929. (2nd revised ed.). 

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online - http://www. 

adb.online.anu.edu.au 

Gin Gin State School Online – http://ginginss.eq.edu.au 

NSW Parliament - Premiers - http://www.parliament.nsw. 

gov.au 

Queensland Premiers – http://www.qld.gov.au 

Peta Browne 

Bundaberg Regional Library 

LOCAL HISTORY 7

ART 

GALLERY 

Bundaberg now has a Gallery to 

about 

A lot of people have heard of BRAG 

and are wondering what it is all about. 

Some know that it stands for the 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, but 

are not sure what has changed from the 

good old Bundaberg Arts Centre, or 

why? Let me try and explain a little… 

The Bundaberg Arts Centre was 

developed and run by the Bundaberg 

City Council and operated for more than 

12 years, growing all the time. Although 

there have been dips and peaks in 

visitation and level of programming 

throughout the years, by the end of 

2008, when it had almost a third more 

public programs and events than any 

year before, attendance had grown 

by more than 3,000. To cope with the 

increase in visitors, an Administration 

Officer, a casual Collections Officer, 

and a part time Marketing Officer joined 

the staff of the Arts Centre. 

So with all this success, why change? 

The answer is that it had to change 

because of its success, rather than in 

spite of it. The Gallery had reached a 

point where it needed to be thought 

about and looked at with fresh eyes. 

Was this the same Gallery that it was 

12 years ago? Was it fulfilling the same 

function and covering the same area? 

The answer to all of these questions is 

no. The Arts Centre had evolved to an 

extent that its old name and image was 

no longer appropriate - they just didn’t 

fit the Gallery anymore and it was time 

to recognize and embrace what the 

Gallery had become. 

The name change to Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery better recognises 

the area that the Gallery covers across 

the Bundaberg Regional Council, 

(and you have to love the acronym 

BRAG). The repaint of the building 

and re-flooring of the main gallery 

were needed due to wear and tear, 

and under these circumstances, why 

not update to a fresh image with fresh 

colours to go with the logo that was 

already in development. The new 

8 ART GALLERY


murals on the Quay and Barolin Street 

sides also make it unmistakably clear 

that the building is a Gallery. BRAG is 

replacing the Bundaberg Arts Centre, 

but will be mixing the new with the 

traditional to ensure that all that was 

achieved and learnt through the Arts 

Centre is not lost. Simultaneously it is 

embracing what Bundaberg needs and 

wants from its cultural institutions now 

and in the future. 

BRAG and its staff, with the strong 

support of the Bundaberg Regional 

Council, have taken these steps to give 

the Bundaberg Region the Gallery it 

needs and deserves. BRAG will be a 

hub of cultural learning and experience 

more than ever before, and will only 

grow in the future. If you haven’t been 

to the Gallery before, or it has been a 

while, now is the time to find out what it 

has to offer. Just this year there will be 

exhibitions of Landscapes, Tattoos and 

Body Art, Pacific Islander contemporary 

art and Heritage exhibits like the recent 

Ned Kelly Exhibition. There will also 

be ongoing Kidz Corner activities and 

displays, workshops for both children 

and adults, and many other exciting 

programs through the year. 

Please visit and enjoy your Regional 

Gallery in 2009 - you will be glad you 

did. 

Andrew Gill 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery 

Preparing the building 

concept sketch 

flooring process 

ART GALLERY 9

ARTICLE NAME 

The Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra: 

Celebrating 

The Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra 

is a group of amateur musicians that 

enjoys making music together. There is 

no audition needed, just a willingness 

to give up Wednesday nights for 

rehearsals and the occasional evening 

or Sunday afternoon for concerts. The 

age range of the Orchestra is from 

20 to 80 and the only requirement for 

joining is that you have left school. Most 

of the musicians in the Orchestra are 

‘revisiting’ their instrument after many 

years of not having the opportunity 

of playing, others have decided to 

learn an instrument as an adult and 

some of the members of the Orchestra 

are music teachers who enjoy adult 

orchestral work. Twenty years on and 

still going strong, some of the founding 

members still actively participate in the 

Orchestra. Ellen Widowsen plays violin, 

Merle Beran had to give up her much 

loved cello but happily plays keyboard 

and founder Heather McCabe is back 

and still playing the viola. 

Beginnings 

When well known Bundaberg 

music identity Heather 

McCabe O.A.M. took up 

residence in Bundaberg, 

she found there was no 

opportunity for adult 

musicians to pursue their 

love of music. 

She called a public 

meeting which twenty like 

minded adult musicians attended. 

From this humble beginning in 1989 

the Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra 

emerged. 

Community focus is what the orchestra 

is all about, the aim has always been 

to bring orchestral music from well 

known and much loved composers 

to the people. Early on, the Orchestra 

played at nursing homes and retirement 

villages, however, membership growth 

has prohibited these individual outings. 

To overcome this problem, each year a 

free concert is given at the Bundaberg 

Civic Centre for these community 

members. 

Conductors 

Under the leadership of 

inaugural 

10 MUSIC


20 years 

conductor Heather McCabe the 

Orchestra flourished, and when she 

retired in 1997, Rosalee Morris was 

appointed. Rosalee continued building 

the Orchestra’s repertoire of interesting 

and challenging music, then in 2000 

she also retired. The baton was then 

handed to Gary Matherson, who was 

at the time lead bassoonist in the 

Orchestra and was ready to take on the 

new challenge as conductor. After six 

years Gary handed over the baton to 

Fred Coleman. 

Workshops 

Conductors the calibre of the 

late Peter Rourke, lecturer at the 

Toowoomba University and Laurie 

Case, Head of Instrumental Music 

with Education 

Queensland, are approached to give 

tuition at weekend workshops annually. 

The orchestra applies for funding each 

year to hold the workshop. 

I interviewed the Bundaberg Symphony 

Orchestra Publicity Officer Chris 

Thompson: 

What instrument do you play and 

how long have you been playing? 

I play the flute and have played 

for about thirty years starting in my 

twenties. 

How long have you been a member 

of the Orchestra? 

I joined late in the founding year…so 

this will also be my twentieth year. 

What do you like best about being in 

the Orchestra? 

I enjoy playing with other musicians - if 

it wasn’t for the Orchestra I probably 

would not have kept playing. 

Most defining moment with the 

orchestra? 

I played Mozart’s flute concerto 

in D major as soloist at our 

last concert, it was such a 

wonderful experience to play 

with an orchestra backing. I 

was very nervous. 

Community Support 

You know the old saying 

behind every great man… 

well in this case behind 

every great orchestra there 

MUSIC 11

THE BUNDABERG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS 

are a loyal band of supporters. Friends of the Orchestra is comprised of non-playing 

husbands, wives and people who love music. They man the refreshment stalls, attend 

working bees, sell programmes and, most importantly, lend moral 

support. Neither age nor musical ability is a barrier for this fun 

group of loyal fans. 

The Bundaberg Symphony Orchestra will hold the 

following concerts this year: 

• Tea and Symphony on June 14 at 2pm @ Shalom 

Performing Arts complex. 

• Annual concert – celebrating 20 years, will be held 

at the Shalom Performing Arts complex August 20 

at 7.30pm 

• Gala Concert Spring Afternoon on September 12. 

• Free Concert at the Civic Centre on October 10. 

If you are interested in becoming a member of the 

Orchestra or becoming a ‘friend’ of the orchestra please 

contact Chris on 07 4152 9750. 

Maria Achurch 

Moncrieff Theatre

COMMUNITY EVENT 

On Saturday 16 th May at CQ University, 

WriteFest celebrates its fifth year as 

the Bundaberg region’s writers festival. 

This full day of workshops and panels 

by industry professionals is essential for 

aspiring to advanced writers who wish to 

further their skills and knowledge. 

Bestselling author Stephanie Laurens will 

run workshops on The essential elements 

of successful genre fiction and Genre 

fiction today. Stephanie has had 37 works 

published, and her last 24 releases 

have been New York Times bestsellers. 

Stephanie’s workshops will address and 

discuss the elements and parameters 

that underpin successful genre fiction 

authorship today. They are designed to 

develop a well-informed mindset so that 

writers with the talent to create genre 

fiction can more effectively hone their 

skills. 

Thanks to support from Queensland 

Writers Centre, editor Sue Abbey 

will conduct an Advanced Editing 

masterclass for more experienced 

writers. This masterclass is intended 

for writers who are writing regularly and 

have some publishing experience. It is 

not suitable for beginner writers. This 

masterclass will provide an intense 

tutor-participant focus and concentrate 

on advancing writing techniques. 

Participants will have a sample of their 

work (10 pages in industry acceptable 

format) read by the tutor prior to the 

masterclass, which has an enrolment 

cut-off date of Friday 3 rd April. 

Participants are limited to ten. 

• Kate Eltham, CEO of QWC, will 

conduct a seminar on Getting 

Published. 

• Crime writer Kirsty Brooks will 

present a workshop on Bringing your 

characters to life. This workshop will 

be held in the morning and repeated 

in the afternoon. Also repeated will 

be dramaturg Peter Matheson’s 

workshop on Story Structure. 

A children’s author is yet to be 

confirmed. 

• Children’s editor with UQP (University 

of Queensland Press), Kristina 

Schulz, will conduct editor/writer 

interviews, and agent Sophie Hamley 

will once again conduct agent/ 

writer interviews. Interviews will be 

restricted to WriteFest attendees who 

have a completed manuscript ready 

for submission. Submissions close 

Friday 3 rd April. 

Please see the Bundaberg Writers’ Club 

website www.bundywriters.com or 

contact Sandy Curtis (email novels@ 

sandycurtis.com or phone 4159 1010) 

for details on submitting 

your manuscript partial, as 

well as more information and 

booking forms for WriteFest. 

Sandy Curtis 

Bundaberg Writers’ Club 

COMMUNITY EVENT 13

AUTHORS – 

Stephanie Laurens 

You may be surprised 

to know that one of the 

world’s foremost authors 

of Regency-era historical 

romance novels is an 

Australian. Her books 

appear regularly on the New York 

Times, USA Today, and Publishers 

Weekly bestseller lists. She has been 

writing for more than 16 years and 

her books are published in many 

languages. 

Welcome to the world of Stephanie 

Laurens. 

Stephanie’s introduction to Regency 

romance (set in England in the Regency 

period of approximately the early 

1800s) began reasonably early. She 

became hooked on the genre in her 

early teens, when she borrowed the 

Georgette Heyer novels her mother had 

on loan from her friend. 

After she had earned a Ph.D. in 

Biochemistry Stephanie moved with her 

husband to London for 4 years, giving 

her great opportunity to explore London 

and England’s countryside firsthand. 

Upon moving back to Melbourne and 

running out of books to read Stephanie 

decided to write her own. Much to 

her surprise she actually finished the 

novel and it was good! It became her 

first Regency romance, Tangled Reins, 

which was published by Mills & Boon. 

Eventually Stephanie left the scientific 

world and turned her up-til-then hobby 

into a rewarding and successful career. 

Stephanie is most well known for her 

novels featuring the Cynsters, and her 

novels featuring the members of the 

Bastion Club. 

Cynster novels 

Devil, Vane, Scandal, Demon, Gabriel 

and Lucifer have reputations which 

have earned them their wild nicknames. 

These six rakish brothers and cousins 

form the group known as the Bar 

Cynster. They are handsome, intelligent, 

honourable, rich and very wellconnected, 

notoriously uninterested 

in marriage, and a prime target for the 

ton’s marriageable ladies and their 

matchmaking mothers. 

Devil, or Sylvester as his mother 

named him, is the Duke of St Ives 

and the head of the Cynster clan. In 

Devil’s Bride, the first Cynster novel, he 

14 AUTHORS


happens upon Honoria Anstruther-Wetherby tending to a wounded 

man on the roadside who he identifies as his young cousin Tolly. 

They move him to a nearby cottage but Tolly dies in the night and 

his injuries are obviously the work of a murderer. 

Devil, intrigued by and attracted to Honoria, realises he 

must do, and wants to do, the honourable thing and marry 

the un-chaperoned woman with whom he has just spent the 

night. Honoria, while feeling the same attraction, is 

uninterested in marriage, and is more concerned with 

finding Tolly’s killer and then traipsing off to explore 

Africa. As Devil and Honoria work to find Tolly’s killer 

they grow closer, especially when their search places 

both their lives in danger. 

In the succeeding novels the other members of the 

Bar Cynster, as well as their cousins and connections, 

also meet their matches. Apart from the primary 

romantic plot, each novel contains a clever mystery 

involving the heroine, and from which the hero 

protects and saves her. So, not only do they have an 

independent woman and uncomfortable new emotions 

to deal with, they also have to find the villain who is 

endangering their new love. It doesn’t take them long 

to realise that they wouldn’t have it any other way. 

The Bastion Club 

Stephanie Laurens’ other series is The Bastion Club. A group 

of noblemen, all retired Napoleonic war veterans (who served as 

government spies), have returned home to find they have inherited 

titles and estates, and therefore must find wives to 

ensure their lines continue. 

They are adamant the matchmaking women in both 

their family and the ton won’t dictate whom they marry. 

These men are strong and used to being in command 

and they need an equally strong woman to be their 

partner in life and the mother of their children. Thus they 

form a club, as a sanctuary from which to ensure they, 

and they only, determine their own future. This club is 

their last bastion against a forced or unhappy marriage. 

The Bastion Club begins with the novel The Lady 

Chosen, but there is also a prequel - Captain Jack’s 

Woman. 

Don’t miss your chance to meet Stephanie when she 

visits Bundaberg on 16 and 17 May for the WriteFest and 

Booked Festival, which will be held at CQUniversity and Bundaberg 

Library. 

References: 

http://www.stephanielaurens.com 

http://www.harpercollins.com.au/authors/17367/Stephanie_Laurens/index.aspx 

Peta Browne 


AUTHORS 15

AUTHORS – BOOKED FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS 

Kirsty Brooks 

If you’re a fan of Janet 

Evanovich and you’re 

wondering if there’s an 

Australian equivalent, 

wonder no more. 

Adelaide author Kirsty 

Brooks has created a series of novels 

featuring the Stephanie Plum-like 

Cassidy Blair. And May 16 th and 17 th is 

your chance to meet Kirsty in person. 

Kirsty will be appearing in Bundaberg 

as part of WriteFest and Booked, 

a weekend of events to be held at 

CQUniversity and Bundaberg Library. 

A proud Adelaide native, Kirsty holds a 

degree in journalism and an Advanced 

Diploma in Professional Writing, and in 

2004 was the recipient of the Barbara 

Hanrahan Fellowship, a South Australian 

arts grant. She is also the Director of 

Driftwood Manuscripts, a manuscript 

assessment service for authors. 

The hilarious Cassidy Blair does share 

some of her creator’s interests and 

traits including pet parrots, and a love 

of mystery, romance, secrets and 

expensive lingerie. They also apparently 

share the same level of skill as a 

sleuth: “As someone who runs like [a] 

toddler on acid and is prone to a good 

thumping faint, I am the very model 

of a crap sleuth, so I base 

a lot of Cassidy’s 

misadventures on 

(sadly) real life.” 1 

Cassidy Blair, P.I. 

Cassidy Blair has a $10,000 credit card 

bill, due mainly to buying expensive 

lingerie, and works at a DVD rental 

shop where she earns less than $500 

a week. What’s a girl to do? If you’re 

anything like Cassidy you take on a 

second job which will earn you big 

money for little effort. Such as: $500 for 

flirting with a guy to see if he’s unfaithful 

to his fiancée. Thus begins Cassidy’s 

exciting new career as a private 

investigator. 

Cassidy’s first case is told in The Vodka 

Dialogue, and subsequent cases are 

told in The Happiness Punch, The 

Millionaire Float, and The Lady Splash. 

These novels are guaranteed to put a 

smile on your face. 

See Kirsty’s web site – http://www. 

kirstybrooks.com – for more information 

about Kirsty and her works. 

References 

1 

http://kirstybrooks.blogspot.com/ 

http://www.kirstybrooks.com 

Peta Browne 


16 AUTHORS

Jason Nahrung 

You just know that a 

writer with a website 

titled ‘Vampires in 

the Sunshine State’ 

is going to be a 

bit different. At the 

launch of his debut 

novel The Darkness Within, what else 

would you expect but a coffin with the 

books stacked inside... 

This supernatural thriller began life 

in 2000 as an email story between 

Jason and partner Mil Clayton, with 

each writer ending their section on a 

cliffhanger to see how the other would 

cope. Not the usual beginning for a 

story, but the emails were turned into 

a novella, which then evolved into the 

novel The Darkness Within. 

It’s a new take on the popular ‘Chosen 

One’ theme, with witches, vampires, 

spells and demons, and a young girl 

who discovers her family tree is not 

quite what she thought. Emily Winters 

is given a mysterious journal written by 

her Grandmother, and discovers she is 

part of a long line 

of witches with 

unique powers – 

a bit of a shock 

for a mediocre 

photojournalist. 

With action, 

horror, fantasy 

creatures and a 

classic coming 

of age story, 

The Darkness 

Within is a fun 

fast-paced 

debut from this 

Brisbane author. 

If you like authors 

such as Kelley 

Armstrong and 

Tanya Huff you 


won’t be disappointed with this addition 

to the genre. And hopefully there are 

many more adventures to come. 

Jason Nahrung will be talking about 

his writing, and the influence Stephenie 

Meyer’s Twilight has had on the genre, 

at our first Booked Festival of Authors 

on Sunday May 17 at Bundaberg 

Regional Library. Fans of Paranormal 

and Fantasy fiction don’t miss this 

presentation. 

This is a free event – Tickets to attend 

the Booked Festival are available at 

Bundaberg Regional Library on a first 

come first served basis, so get in early 

and don’t miss out. 

Sue Gammon 

Bundaberg Library 

AUTHORS 17

AUTHORS – BOOKED FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS 

Kim Michelle Toft 

Born in Dalby, Kim 

Michelle Toft started 

her career as a Primary 

School teacher in 

Northern Queensland. 

After five years of 

teaching, she spent 

the next twenty years 

developing her career as 

an illustrator and author. 

Kim published her first 

book One Less Fish, in 

1998, and this picture 

book won the following 

awards: Children’s Book 

Council of Australia 

Honour Book, Whitley 

Award for Best Children’s 

Book, Teacher’s Choice 

Award, Royal Zoological 

Award and the Benjamin 

Franklin Award for 

Independent Publishing. 

Kim’s illustrations for her 

books are silk screen 

paintings with vibrant 

colours and delicate 

illustrations of underwater 

worlds, that enchant 

adults and children alike. 

Describing herself as 

an environmental artist 

and publisher, Kim is the 

author of seven picture 

books dealing with marine 

conservation, and her 

next book Tick Tock, Tick 

Tock,What’s Up Croc?, will 

be released in Darwin on 

May 1 st this year. 

Don’t miss this talented 

silk painter and author/ 

illustrator when she 

appears at the Booked – 

Festival of Authors. 

Sue Gammon 

Bundaberg Library 

18 AUTHORS

In Ireland people describe Mary Duff 

as their very own country girl. 

Mary auditioned and won a guest 

spot on Daniel O’Donnell’s first UK tour. 

From there she went on to tour the world 

with Daniel as his special 

guest, building up her 

own extensive fan base 

along the way. Her solo 

tours have become very 

successful and Australia 

has welcomed her with 

open arms. Her decision 

to tour some of regional 

Australia has a two fold 

purpose - Mary can see 

more of our beautiful 

THEATRE 

MARY DUFF - 

Irish Country Singer 

country, while treating us to a little bit of 

Ireland. 

In her professional country music 

career Mary has established a wide 

audience base and has accomplished 

many things along the 

way. In 1997 she was Best 

Irish Female Vocalist of 

the year. In 1998, 1999 

and 2000 she was voted 

country music’s Best 

British Female Vocalist. 

Mary will be performing 

at the Moncrieff Theatre 

on Wednesday April 8 at 

8pm 

ROMAN RUDNYTSKY – 

Internationally renowned Pianist and Virtuoso 

An internationally 

active concert 

pianist of Ukrainian 

background, 

Roman Rudnytsky’s 

performances take 

him all over the 

world - to every continent and places 

in-between. He tirelessly strives to 

bring the world of classical music to 

audiences which seldom experience this 

type of music in live performance. 

Born in New York into a prominent 

Ukrainian musical family, he began the 

study of piano at age 4 and gave his 

first full recital at age 7. He is a graduate 

of the famous Juilliard School in New 

York and also did additional studies at 

the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, 

Maryland and at Masterclasses in 

Austria (the Mozarteum) and Italy. 

Rudnytsky has won some of the most 

prestigious awards for piano - the 

International Leventritt Competition 

(New York) and International J.S. Bach 

Competition (Washington) and in Italy, 

the F. Busoni and A. Casagrande 

International Piano Competitions. He has 

also appeared as a soloist with many 

orchestras around the world, as well as 

giving the British, Latin American and 

Australian premiere performances of the 

recently-discovered Liszt “Concerto No. 

3 in E Flat” in 1993. 

Roman Rudnytsky is appearing at 

the Moncrieff Theatre on May 30 at 

3pm. 

Maria Achurch 

Moncrieff Theatre 

THEATRE 19

ART 

BRAG Intern Jenny Gilbertson with Prep St 

Joseph’s Primary School students acting 

out a landscape scene. Outcomes from 

this school visit were used in the Land + 

Scape exhibition at the Gallery. 

BRAG Intern Jenny Gilbertson assists a Year 5 St 

Joseph’s Primary School student in describing 

an artwork to her friend who had to then draw it. 

Outcomes from this school visit were used in the 

Land + Scape exhibition at the Gallery. 

BRAG Intern Jenny Gilbertson explaining to Year 

5 St Joseph’s Primary School students what 

landscapes are. Outcomes from this school visit 

were used in the Land + Scape exhibition at the 

Gallery. 

20 ART 

Internship Program at the 


As an artist I am always striving to 

take hold of opportunities, to further 

my knowledge and involvement in the 

visual arts world. So when the chance 

arose to undertake an internship at 

the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery 

(BRAG), I accepted. 

My name is Jenny Gilbertson and I am 

a visual artist, specialising in works on 

paper, canvas, pottery and sculpture. I 

completed my fine arts studies at TAFE 

NSW and the Canberra School of Art at 

the Australian National University. I have 

lived in Childers for the past 10 years, 

and have been an active member of the 

Firehouse Potters, and the Childers Arts 

Council for much of that time. 

Following my completion of a 

Regional Arts Development Fund 

(RADF) supported residency program 

in the USA in 2006, and a number 

of successful exhibitions in 2007 at 

three regional galleries (including the 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery), I 

decided to broaden my awareness of 

ART 

the creative industries and extend my 

studies. 

I enrolled in the newly established 

Bachelor of Creative Enterprise (BCE) 

at Central Queensland University, 

Bundaberg in 2008. The BCE 

program provides students with an 

understanding of technologies and 

strategies for the 21 st century workplace, 

including aspects of innovation and 

entrepreneurship. In particular the 

course enables students to pursue their 

own specialist areas of interest, through 

electives and industry placement 

options. 

Through discussions with the 

University and the Bundaberg Regional 

Art Gallery, an internship position was 

developed. This placement has allowed 

me to apply my studies in a work 

situation, and to be involved in many 

aspects of the running of a gallery. 

My first involvement was with the 

demounting of the Ned Kelly: Fact and 

Fiction exhibition, from the National


Jenny Gilbertson, Intern with the BRAG explains to Prep children at St Joseph’s Primary School how to use the touch boxes. Children 

guessed at the hidden contents based on landscape images they were provided with. Comments from the children were used in the Land + 

Scape exhibition at the Gallery to help younger audiences connect with the works. 

Museum of Australia. Working with 

professionals from the Museum and the 

Gallery’s Exhibition Officer, I gained 

valuable skills in artefact handling. 

Specific projects I have since worked 

on include gaining experience in 

researching copyright laws, and their 

application to the use of images held 

within the Bundaberg Regional Council 

Collection. I have also been involved in 

conducting and transcribing interviews 

with artists, whose artworks we hold in 

the Collection, for the purpose of adding 

information to our records, helping us 

to understand more about the artist and 

their works. 

With the upcoming Land + Scape 

exhibition at the Gallery, which will 

see 106 Landscape artworks from the 

Collection, go on display for a special 

2 week period, the Gallery was keen 

to involve the younger members of the 

community for their thoughts on these 

works. 

As part of this process I helped design 

and conduct a series of workshops for 

students at St Joseph’s Primary School. 

Children from Prep to Years 5, 6 and 

7 took part in activities ranging from 

matching mystery objects in boxes 

to items in artwork images, building 

an abstract landscape using angular 

shapes, writing postcards to friends 

describing landscapes, and partnering 

with a friend to describe and draw 

landscapes from the collection. 

Many of these students have been 

the first to see our newly acquired 

landscapes never before seen by the 

public! Our thanks go to the teachers for 

their assistance and enthusiasm with this 

project. Children’s comments gathered 

from the workshops were incorporated 

into the Land + Scape exhibition as part 

of the interpretive text. 

With the Gallery looking to 2010 

already, I have compiled information and 

images on Landscape works held within 

the Gallery’s Collection. As this subject 

matter has become the Gallery’s main 

collection focus we are looking to share 

these fabulous works through a future 

calendar. 

At the conclusion of the Land + Scape 

exhibition, I will work with BRAG staff to 

evaluate the success of the exhibition 

and associated public programs. 

I have enjoyed my internship over 

the past two months, and consider it a 

rewarding and valuable experience. 

Jenny Gilbertson 

Independent Writer 

ART 21

HISTORY 

The Reddan Family 

and Reddan & Mellor 

Mention the words Reddan & 

Mellor to any long-term Bundaberg 

resident and be prepared for the wave 

of reminiscences that follow. This 

Bundaberg institution was an important 

part of the lives of people for generations, 

marking the purchase of material for 

the first school uniform, or the first pair 

of school shoes, or even, (although few 

details are given), the first bra… 

At the time of its closure in 1985, the 

firm Reddan & Mellor had been trading 

for almost 100 years, and had evolved 

from a Drapers store to an emporium that 

sold not just material, but also clothing, 

footwear, and what is often mysteriously 

referred to as ‘specialty goods’. 

Michael Reddan 

Michael Reddan was not from 

Bundaberg – he was born in Penrith, 

New South Wales in 1860, and after 

finishing school at Marist Brothers, 

Sydney, he apprenticed as a store clerk 

with the large Sydney firm 

of Anthony Horderns. By 

the time he left in 1882, 


had a thorough 

knowledge of the 

drapery business, 

and was in charge 

of the Country 

Order Department. 

Deciding to move 

interstate, he travelled 

to Maryborough and 

worked for Stuparts 

for a year, then accepted a position with 

Buss and Co. Michael Reddan arrived in 

Bundaberg on the 26 th June 1883, on the 

steamer Governor Blackall. 

While working for Buss and Co., 

Michael Reddan became close friends 

with another employee, William Buxton 

Mellor. The two young men decided to 

try their luck with their own business, 

and signed a partnership for a Drapers, 

to be called Reddan & Mellor, on 1 st 

May 1886. Each man brought capital of 

£350 to the business, which was located 

in premises in Bourbong Street. The 

decision of where to situate the shop was 

left to Michael Reddan, and according 

to Doreen Reddan, he chose the area in 

the second block east of the Post Office, 

because he believed the town would 

develop in that direction. Of course, once 

the Burnett Traffic Bridge was built in 

1900, the development in fact extended 

west down Bourbong Street. 

Early Years 

The Ledgers from 1886 record that both 

men paid themselves a salary of £13 per 

month, and Living Expenses for Michael 

Reddan for the years 1886-87 were 

22 HISTORY


£201, and William Buxton Mellor £185. At 

this time, Michael Reddan was living in 

premises on Targo Street, but like many 

other early families, decided to move 

to safer ground after the 1893 floods. 

A block of land was purchased at 268 

Bourbong Street, and in 1908 Reddan 

House was built. 

Some of the first entries in the Reddan 

ledgers describe the cost of fitting out 

the new shop premises - approximately 

£188, which included such items as a 

Perfume Stand, twelve chairs, window 

chandeliers, boot racks and hat stands. 

The most expensive item was the Milner’s 

cast iron safe, which cost £35. 

The stock records show 

that the major item listed 

was Clothing, Woollens 

and Mercery. (Mercery is a 

French term, which originally 

referred to silk, linen, and 

textiles imported to England 

in the 12 th Century. The term 

later came to mean goods 

made of these materials, and 

the sellers of those goods). 

Other stock listed included 

HISTORY 23

HISTORY 

Millinery, Boots and 

Shoes, Dresses, 

Manchester 

and ‘Fancy and 

Hosiery’. 

Each of the men 

took on different 

roles within 

the business – 


was the Business 

Manager and 

often seen on 

the floor of the 

shop chatting to customers, while William 

Mellor ran the office. The business was 

prosperous from the start, and by 1916 

employed thirty staff in various areas. The 

wages of the staff ranged from 3 pounds, 

10 shillings per week down to 7 shillings 

per week. 

The customer lists in the ledger for 

1887-88 mention such well known names 

and businesses as Walter Adams, H. T. 

Christsen, J. F. Davies the Ironmonger, 

the Fleming family who owned the 

gasworks, W. H. McCann of the Custom 

House Hotel and D. F. Johnston of 

Colanne Station. Other names listed 

as customers include Peter Neilson 

of the Royal Hotel, William Redmond 

of the Queens Hotel, Miss Partridge 

(Dressmaker), the Sisters of St Joseph 

Convent and Alexander Walker of Gin 

Gin. 

Over the years, Reddan & Mellor 

flourished, and became well-known 

throughout central Queensland, with 

customers in all the major regional 

centres close to Bundaberg. The two 

men remained partners in the store until 

the death of William Mellor on Dec 23, 

1926, and several months later Michael 

Reddan passed away on April 20, 

1927. M. J. Reddan left his shares in 

Reddan & Mellor equally to Esme and 

John Reddan, and by that time, the next 

generation of the Reddan family was 

working in the family business – son 

John Reddan. 

John Cyril Reddan 

After leaving Brisbane Grammar 

School, John Reddan had started his 

retail employment as a shop assistant 

with McWhirters, in the Valley. After 

several years there, he returned to 

Bundaberg and the family business, 

where he worked until enlisting with 

the A.I.F. in the First World War. John 

Reddan served in France, and was 

awarded the Military Medal at the 

French village of Villiers Carbonel. After 

returning to Bundaberg, he built a large 

residence on Woongarra Street in 1920, 

and named it Carbonelle in memory of 

his war experience. 

While suffering from the effects of 

gassing during his war service, John 

Reddan still took over the management 

of the family firm, and unlike his father, 

was active in both local 

business and community 

development in 

Bundaberg. He was 

a founding member 

of the Bundaberg 

Rotary Club, a 

President of the 

Bundaberg Racing 

Club and an early 

member of the Bargara 

Golf Club. John 

24 HISTORY

Reddan handed over the business to his 

son Jack Reddan at the end of World 

War II, and after a long illness, died in 

hospital in December 1953. 

Mayor Fred Buss, in a letter of 

condolence to his widow Lily, wrote of 

“...his high courage in war and through a 

long illness, his exemplary service to his 

City, his loyalty to friends who will miss 

him sorely and above all, his abiding 

love for his ‘own folk’ .” 

Jack Geddes Reddan 

J.C. Reddan retired from the business 

in 1945, and his son Jack took over the 

running of the store after he came back 

from serving in the Second First Anti- 

Aircraft Regiment in the SW Pacific area. 

At this time William Luth Mellor was still 

also working in the store, although he 

was the last of the Mellor family to do 

so. William was the grandson of William 

Buxton Mellor, and worked in the store 

for 44 years before leaving in 1976. The 

Mellor family sold their shares in the 

company to the Reddan family, however 

the business kept trading as Reddan & 

Mellor, at the request of Jack Reddan. 

Jack ran the business and was often 

seen behind the counter in the Men’s 

Department. He was a third-generation 

trustee of the Bundaberg racecourse, 

as well as a third generation member of 

the Burnett Club. Jack was involved in 

various capacities with the Bundaberg 

Surf Life Saving Club, as well as being 

a President of Bundaberg Legacy. He 

finally retired in 1979, and the fourth 

generation of the Reddan family took 

over as Store Managers – his daughters 

Mrs Cary Honor and 

Mrs Megan Potter. 

Jack Geddes 

Reddan passed 

away on December 

26, 1981 and Reddan 

& Mellor remained 

in business until 

1984, but the long 

hours and demands 

of family began to 


make the business less viable. When the 

Reddan family announced it was closing 

the doors of Reddan & Mellor at the end 

of February, 1984, it was for family, not 

business reasons. The closing-down 

sale was a huge event, with hundreds of 

people crowding into the store. According 

to the News-Mail of 1 st February, the 

crowd was so bad at one stage the 

staff had to close the doors and admit a 

person as a person exited the store. 

After the store closed, the 2000 square 

metre property was auctioned by 

Brisbane agents A.V. Postle and Co. on 

5 April, and a century of trading by one 

of Bundaberg’s oldest family businesses 

came to an end. 

While Reddan House is no longer 

standing, the house built by J. C. 

Reddan, Carbonelle, is still as elegant 

and well-kept as when it was built in 1920 

– a reminder of a family and business that 

was a Bundaberg institution for almost 

100 years. 

Acknowledgements 

Many thanks to Doreen Reddan for 

information and access to the Reddan & 

Mellor ledgers and documents. 

All photographs are part of the Picture 

Bundaberg collection, donated by 

Doreen Reddan. 

References 

Bundaberg Daily News and Mail, various issues, 

1926 – 1927. 

Bundaberg News Mail, various issues, 1950 - 1985. 

Lyons, Trevor. 1984. From Two Pens. 

Sue Gammon 


HISTORY 25

ART 

Interview with an 

ARTIST 

Forty years ago American author Eric 

Carle wrote the book The Very Hungry 

Caterpillar. Who could have predicted its 

massive worldwide success? At age 4 

the book became a favourite for a little 

girl, who unbeknown to her, would one 

day re-create this story in a unique way. 

Karen Waldon, a textile artist in 

Bundaberg was that little girl. In 2008 

Karen pursued an idea to quilt The 

Very Hungry Caterpillar story for the 

enjoyment of children and families. After 

obtaining permission from the publishers 

this dream has become a reality. On 

the 15 th July 2009, Karen will open her 

quilted installation in the Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery’s Vault. 

What prompted you to choose this book 

for your upcoming work? 

I remember reading the book at preschool, 

that was the one that really stuck 

out the most, and the holes in the book 

made me very curious. I remember 

thinking how sick you would feel after 

eating all that food! It was just a favourite 

book that has stuck with me over the years, 

and I just thought well I’ll ask if I can have 

permission to quilt it! 

What was the process for obtaining 

permission, and do you have any 

conditions you have to adhere to? 

I contacted the publishers in writing and 

asked if I could have permission to quilt the 

book, and waited in anticipation. I received 

a reply back saying that I had a one off 

permission to create the artwork. In terms 

of the conditions, I have to send a photo of 

This was the first quilt ever created by Karen, and was 

made as part of a course the artist undertook. 

the installation for their records, and I am 

not allowed to sell or produce anything in 

relation to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

Did you read the book to your children 

when they were little? 

Yes it’s been a favourite with all 3 of my 

daughters; I actually bought the book for 

my youngest Grace which prompted the 

idea for the installation. 

What can people expect to see when 

they view your installation in July? 

When visitors enter The Vault they will be 

able to read through the story pages in an 

intimate space. I have created 9 quilts, one 

for each page in the story. The story begins 

on the left hand side of The Vault, while the 

back wall will have one long quilt from the 

page with the range of food on it, and then 

the quilts continue around the walls. In the 

26 ART


Country Window is an artwork 

that resides in the artist’s kitchen. 

Created in 2001 from a pattern 

adapted from the Australian 

Quilters magazine Karen added 

her own touches including beaded 

sunflowers and buttons. 

Kalos – eidos – skopein was 

entered in the Bundaberg 

Art Festival in 2005. Inspired 

by kaleidoscopes this piece 

allowed Karen to experiment 

and re-interpret the subject 

matter. 

With an interest in dragons 

Karen found a pattern for 

one from the Internet and 

then altered the colours 

to create her own Lucky 

Dragon in 2002. 

middle of The Vault I will have a number 

of items suspended, such as a caterpillar, 

crystals, beads, butterflies and food items 

from the story. 

How would you describe your style of 

art? 

I think contemporary, I enjoy traditional 

styles but I really like exploring how to 

work in contemporary ideas with traditional 

ones to make it bolder. 

Are quilting and sewing skills that run 

in your family? 

Sewing started off just through my 

mother, when I was growing up there 

was a Singer treadle that used to sit out 

in the sunroom and I used to just come 

and play with that and try not to get my 

fingers caught. My grandmothers gave 

me support and enthusiasm for quilts. 

Knitting, crochet, sewing, millinery and 

painting were talents possessed by both 

my grandmothers in my family. 

What part of your art do you 

think you’re still working on and 

developing? 

I’m trying to work more on the 

sewing machine and develop those 

skills a bit more. I really want to use 

more contemporary ideas in my 

work. 

This witch was made by Karen from a pattern 

she had held onto for 15 years. Six years ago 

Karen finally decided to make it. This is a good 

luck kitchen witch which Karen made over one 

weekend with the help of her daughters. 

What do you hope to achieve in the 

short and long term with your art 

practice? 

I joined the Queensland Quilters last 

year and I hope to be able to get to some 

of their workshops, and I’d love to learn 

some new techniques. In the long term 

I would like to approach another idea to 

exhibit at the gallery. 

What will you do with the story at the 

end of its showing at the Gallery? 

I hope that it could be circulated through 

schools or shown at libraries. After 

working on it for 6 months I hope that 

children can continue to enjoy it, rather 

than packing it away in a box and keeping 

it at home. 

How do you hope for your 

installation to be received by the 

public? 

I hope audiences will enjoy 

and immerse themselves in 

the imagination of The Very 

Hungry Caterpillar, maybe 

recalling their own childhood 

experience relating to the 

book. 

Roana O’Neill 

Bundaberg Regional Art 

Gallery 

ART 27

LIBRARY 

Bundaberg Library/Rotary East 

Book Sale 

The Book Sale is on again, and this year promises to be bigger and 

better than ever! The Bundaberg Regional Library Service, with the 

assistance of the Rotary Club of Bundaberg East, will be holding a 

massive book sale at the Bundaberg Civic Centre on 

Saturday 

June 20. 

Old library stock, donations which are 

not needed, magazines, Audio books, 

CDs and DVDs will be on sale, with 

prices starting at 50c. 

In addition, Jigsaw Puzzles, Records, 

Posters and Collectible Children’s books 

will be available on the day. 

Funds raised from last year’s book 

sale have been used to develop the 

new Disability Kits for children and to 

purchase IC Recorders for Oral History 

projects. Last year’s book sale is also 

funding this year’s new Author Festival 

in May – the Booked Festival of Authors 

(see articles earlier). 

The doors will open at 

8:00am, and the sale lasts 

until 3:30pm. 

Tea, coffee and light refreshments will 

be available for those die hard book 

enthusiasts who like to spend hours 

browsing. 

Mark the date in your diary, and be 

early to get the best bargains! 

Sue Gammon 


28 LIBRARY

Alpha Force #1 - 

Survival 

by 

Chris Ryan. 

Alpha Force is an elite team consisting 

of five teenagers who carry out covert 

missions in which using adults could 

compromise the target. These targets 

vary from: terrorists, poachers, child 

slavers, drug barons and many more 

villains. With their high training and 

individual skills (acquired at a young age), 

Alpha Force can triumph against the 

odds. 

The birth of the team takes place in the 

novel Survival in which Alex, Li, Paulo, 

Hex and Amber are put together as a 

watch crew, aboard a sail-training ship 

with only self interest in their mind. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, 

the team becomes stranded on an 

uninhabited island with little chance 

of rescue. They soon realize their only 

hope of survival is if they join together 

and toil their way through. The team 

battles against dangerous enemies and 

predators such as killer komodos, great 

white sharks, ruthless pirates and those 

pesky mosquitoes! Using their special 

skills to overcome obstacles, they form a 

close knit group and are inseparable by 

the time rescue arrives. 

They go out into the world to fight for 

many different humane issues that can be 

read about in Rat-Catcher, Desert Pursuit, 

Hostage, Red Centre, Hunted, Blood 

Money and Fault Line. 

The novels captivated my senses and 

they made me keep reading until I could 

see a definite resolution. Of course then I 

jumped straight to the next book for more 

thrills! Your imagination will be working to 

the fullest, while you wonder how they will 

survive the latest mission. 

I would recommend these books for 

teenagers or young adults who like an 

action packed, high danger but very 

classy novel. These books are not all 

fiction, they have a lot of interesting facts 

and they might just help you one day! It 

is a great story of teamwork and bonding. 

Survival is just the beginning! Are you 

ready for ALPHA FORCE? 

Radha Shukla 

13 years 

YOUTH BOOK REVIEW 29

LOCAL ARTIST 

Welcome to 

my studio - 

Lonnie 

O’Dwyer 

Florist’s shops have a wonderful fusion 

of scents which fill your senses the 

moment you walk through the door. 

The showroom is a collage of colourful 

flowers and foliage that lift the spirits and 

give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Even 

that didn’t prepare me for the surprise I 

had when I walked into the welcoming 

functional studio to be greeted by bold, 

bright walls, benches filled with vases, 

tools, supplies and works in progress. 

On the floor were random splashes of 

colour in the form of buckets of flowers 

and props, while music played in the 

background adding to the ambience of 

the surroundings. 

Welcome to the world of floral artist 

Lonnie O’Dwyer. 

Art that Lonnie creates: 

Floral arrangements and displays 

How did you get into floral art? 

Growing up in the small town of Katunga 

there wasn’t a lot of career choice - it 

was stay and work on the farm, work in 

the local Kraft cheese factory or head 

to the city. I headed to Melbourne and 

got two apprenticeship interviews-one 

as Jeweller and the other a florist. I 

did a three year apprenticeship with 

Box Hill College of TAFE, which is the 

only recognised Floral Art school in 

Victoria, and worked for a corporate 

flower company for seven years. I was 

fortunate in that the companies I worked 

for offered such varied experience for 

me, as they catered for major hotels 

and restaurants, and had the contract 

for the Melbourne Cup and Channel 

10 functions. The experience this 

afforded me fed my creative need for 

challenge. 

What inspires you? 

Growing up on a farm my mum 

loved to make floral arrangements 

for our home. During the drought 

when nothing grew apart from 

Mum’s roses, (which seemed 

to thrive for some mysterious 

reason), she would create alternate 

arrangements with whatever 

nature provided - berries, twigs, 

dried leaves etc. This had quite an 

influence on my perception of floral 

art. 

Lonnie believes the key to floral art is 

30 LOCAL ARTIST

found in the elements of design (rhythm, 

form, colour, texture and harmony), and 

the principles of design (height, width, 

balance and focus). Whether you are 

arranging a fruit bowl, floral arrangement 

or landscaping a garden, the elements 

and principles of design should be 

applied to give an overall appealing 

effect. Practice is the only way to master 

the principles and elements. Once 

mastered, you can play around with the 

rules to give you a quirky alternative 

effect. According to Lonnie, “All good 

florists and floral artists keep upgrading 

their skills to enhance their styles, in the 

way that athletes need to keep honing 

their skills.” 

The artist in her own words: 

I am an artist who uses nature as a 

medium. At high school my focus 

was creative arts such as woodwork, 

sculpture, painting and photography. 

These skills have been extremely useful 

for my floral art, sometimes I can’t find 

exactly what I am looking for so I have 

to create it. Just recently I could not find 

Black Boys for a display I was doing 

so I made them and blended them in 

with the live plants. I believe to create 

floral art you need a happy environment. 

I encourage this in my studio, as I 

believe your mood is reflected in your 

work. That is why I play upbeat music, 

spontaneous dancing is allowed, singing 

however is not overly encouraged. I love 

a challenge it gets the creative juices 

flowing. For a Sex in the City movie 

fundraiser I created a huge stiletto 

shoe out of flowers…it smelt good too. 

When I was working in Melbourne I 

helped create a huge spiral staircase 

arrangement for actor Jerry Lewis’s 

birthday when he was visiting Australia. 

Floral art is a wonderful way to express 

yourself, bring joy to others, while using 

materials nature provided. My job affords 

me a rare satisfaction, the ability to bring 

a bit of joy to people’s lives. 


LOCAL ARTIST 31

LOCAL ARTIST: WELCOME TO MY STUDIO - LONNIE O’DWYER 

Handy tools of the trade: 

• Traditionally floristry was done with 

a small floristry knife, but in Australia 

we have a lot of hardwoods, and 

florist snips make short work of the 

hardwood. The bonus is they are 

much cheaper and more accessible 

to buy. 

• Metal rose strippers for de-thorning 

stems 

• Wire to support top heavy flowers 

and for trail bouquets 

• Parafilm which covers wire - in 

arrangements and displays 

Lonnie’s tips for cut flowers: 

• When arranging flowers in a vase, 

place the foliage in first as this acts 

as a base then insert the flowers 

through the foliage. 

• A couple of drops of bleach in the 

water will keep it fresh. 

Favourite Flowers: 

Tropicals: they are colourful, exotic and 

beautifully perfumed like gingers and 

orchids. 

Workshops: 

I conduct a workshop during the year 

because I feel it’s a great way for people 

to experience and understand the skill 

it takes to enhance something from 

nature. The workshop takes the format 

of classes. An introduction to Floristry 

for Beginners and a more advanced 

class for those already familiar with the 

basic principles and design of floristry. 

This usually happens mid year at the 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. 

If you are interested in floral artistry you 

can contact Lonnie at her studio on 

07 4153 6499 or call in at 12b Barolin 

Street. 

Maria Achurch 

Moncrieff Theatre 

32 LOCAL ARTIST

ART WORKSHOP 

Bundaberg and District is fortunate to 

have such a diverse collection of artwork 

forming the collections of the region, 

which are cared for by the Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery (BRAG). However a 

Collection - whether it is big or small, in 

a Gallery, a Museum, or privately owned, 

must be cared for correctly if it is to 

endure the years - for not only our own 

enjoyment but for future generations. As 

the Collections Officer, part of my role 

is to help educate interested volunteers 

and students of the Bundaberg Region, 

to understand the correct procedures 

and preventative conservation practices 

in caring for our collections. 

To assist with the care and 

preservation of our collections, this year 

the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery is 

running the Creative Industries Training 

Program. This program is free to cultural 

volunteers and students. The training 

program will run the third Thursdays of 

March, May, June and September and 

is designed to expose and engage the 

region’s cultural sector to current art 

gallery practices. 

Bianca Acimovic (Exhibitions Officer) 

and I will take classes through such 

topics as: collections, exhibitions, 

correct handling of artworks, display 

design and the visitor. As a specialised 

training program with limited numbers, 

the program is only open to cultural 

volunteers and educational institutions 

specialising in the arts. Classes are an 

hour and half in duration from 8.30 am to 

10.00 am. 

For further enquiries or bookings 

please contact the Bundaberg Regional 

Art Gallery on 4130 4750. With numbers 

for the training limited, early bookings 

are recommended. 

Christine Spence 


1. Discover the 

aesthetic and 

curatorial decisions 

behind exhibition 

display, design and 

layout in Exhibition 

Environment, a special 

May presentation 

at the Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery 

2. Participants will 

learn how to care for a 

collection in the first 

course titled Collection Care which runs in March 

3. Learn practical techniques and industry standards for caring for artworks in the Creative Industries training 

program 

ART 33

PHOTOGRAPHY 

A PEEK AT LIFE 

Neale Maynard had the shock of 

his life when he opened Ray Peek’s 

self-published coffee table book of 

photographs drawn from 60 years of 

work in and around Bundaberg. Staring 

from the first page of the fascinating 

collection was his great-grandfather Bill, 

taken near Mount Perry in 1967 when he 

was 90. 

The portrait rekindled memories from 

his childhood, and the quality of the 

work, taken in the bush more than 40 

years ago without artificial props or aids, 

amazed Maynard. He is On-line News 

Editor of The Courier-Mail and a highly 

accomplished aviation writer; his greatgrandfather 

was a gold miner, panning 

the creeks west of Bundaberg. Although 

Bill found gold, he never quite realised 

his dream of a big strike before he died, 

aged 96 years and 11 months. 

Typical of more than 150 works 

presented in this book, however, the 

picture also is part of a story and Peek, 

who wrote brief captions, is able to tell 

most of them. 

Ray Peek was born at Gin Gin. Apart 

from a few years at Tully and Innisfail 

when he was a youngster and time 

at Ayr State High School he has lived 

in Bundaberg. Here, as a teenager, 

he began working in a darkroom 

processing amateur film. He bought his 

first camera then and found he had a 

natural affinity for technique. Although 

he retired from business in 1997 he 

reveals in A Peek At Life he 

has no desire to retire from 

photography and vows he 

never will. 

His people studies show an 

uncanny knack for drawing 

people into his confidence 

and an ability to capture 

something of their character: 

ex-premier Joh Bjelke- 

Petersen at ease sitting on his 

wood pile; former Bundaberg 

Sugar Co boss and great 

character Roy Deicke, a 

subject comfortable with his 

authority; a pensive portrait 

of artist and teacher Jenny 

McDuff; the Spinaze girls 

at music practice in a shot 

which also reveals a glimpse 

34 FEATURE TYPE 

Clive Bauer on his horse.

of Peek’s sense of humour; an awardwinning 

photograph of Morris Dingle and 

his grandsons about to go mustering; 

and one of the most difficult of mood 

shots – a group of women peeling 

scallops when the Keppels processing 

plant operated in Bundaberg. All 

represent a part of the region’s rich and 

often colourful history. 

As well, Peek’s skill in composition 

is represented in photographs which 

owe their impact to the fact a good 

photographer who understood the value 

of the moment was on the spot at the 

right time. Two studies of David Helfgott 

at concert in Bundaberg demonstrate 

this talent. So does the photograph of 

an unknown milk-maid and a nanny 

goat beside the road as he travelled 

past. Former long-serving News-Mail 

editor Ron Harvey wrote carefullyresearched 

accounts of pioneer-day 

events which helped shape life in the 

Burnett. Peek has captured its people 

in a more contemporary period. 

Without technological enhancement or 

manipulation, a selection of his original 

photographs and negatives has been 

carefully reproduced in high quality 

coffee-table format for a result which 

also demonstrates the changing lifestyle 

of the region over a half-century. 

Along the way of chronicling local 

history through its people, Peek has 

made friends as well as acquaintances 

and gathered admirers of his work. 

Those who turned up at the launch 

of his publication included a regional 

councillor whose wedding photograph 

he took in 1965. Among the informal 

wedding photographs which 

characterised a significant part of his 

earlier work was one of Moira Frauca, 

daughter of prolific Bundaberg-based 

author and naturalist the late Harry 

Frauca, whose photograph is also 

included. 

Peek understood audience – local, 

national and international. He knew 

when he had a photograph which would 

interest readers of his local newspaper 

just as he understood the preferences of 

national magazine editors. 

This book is a wonderful collection. It 

is one of the first publications which we 

can say truly celebrates Queensland’s 

sesqui-centenary – however 

inadvertently, as he had intended 

publishing at the end of last year (the 

vagaries of self-publishing). But it should 

be acclaimed among the contributions 

to the State’s 150 th birthday. 

Greg Chamberlin 


Photographs reprinted by permission of Ray 

Peek. 

A Peek at Life 

is available to 

purchase from 

the Bundaberg 

Regional Art 

Gallery 

Images Top (L-R): Mrs Maslen in the main street of Eidsvold; Ken Nagas 

topping cane; Jack Thompson; Togo O’Neill at a barbershop in Targo Street; 

Worker at Millaquin Sugar Mill. 

PHOTOGRAPHY 35

Pacific Storms is Pacific now 

Living in a contemporary society 

that is culturally diverse and rapidly 

changing, means it is important that the 

Arts of these contemporary societies 

embrace and reflect these changes. It 

is through this understanding and mode 

of practice that the Bundaberg Regional 

Art Gallery will undertake one of its 

most challenging and broad curatorial 

projects. 

This project, Pacific Storms, will bring 

to regional Queensland an exhibition 

that aims to challenge perceptions, and 

question our understanding of Australia’s 

closest neighbours, the Pacific Islands. 

Rarely does the smallest island in Tonga 

or Tuvalu have significant collaboration 

or engagement with the regional hub of 

Bundaberg. However over the past 18 

months these and many other Pacific 

Island countries have been forging 

closer affiliation with the Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery. Co-curating 

with Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, 

Pacific Curator Joycelin Leahy will bring 

together artists from ten Pacific Island 

countries in an exciting exhibition. 

The aim is to question the present, 

highlight the now and draw viewers’ 

attention to what lies under leis, 

sunshine and the stereotypical view of 

Pacific Islands as underdeveloped and 

creators of predominantly primitive art. 

Through this unique perspective, display 

and interpretation of Pacific art, it is also 

hoped that this exhibition will provide an 

opportunity for Australians to develop a 

better understanding of Pacific nations 

and their cultures. Within this context 

the exhibition will showcase over 50 

artworks by leading Pacific artists never 

before shown in any Australian Regional, 

State or National Art Gallery. 

Just over 18 months ago we began 

working on the representation and 

display of Pacific artists. With 

Joycelin’s involvement and experience 

in the Pacific art, and my community 

engagement and grassroots approach 

to curatorial practice, Pacific Storms 

embarks on a journey that will bring to 

Australian shores a new thinking and 

approach to Pacific contemporary 

arts. This exhibition and its associated 

programs strives not to stereotype 

Pacific arts, but aims to capture the 

viewer and draw attention to Pacific 

culture in the contemporary sense, as 

seen through the eyes of the artists. 

Crossing international borders and 

time differences, Co-Curators Joycelin 

Leahy and I recently discussed some of 

the finer points of the exhibition. Joycelin 

Leahy commented: 

We want Australia and the world to 

see our art from a different perspective. 

Our traditional heritage and customs 

remain within us and can be interpreted 

36 ART 

Image Top: Daniel Waswas, Imitating Role Model, 2007, acrylic and varnish on canvas. Images (L-R): 1. Eric Bridgeman, 

Miss Muffett Balloon, 2008, video still. 4. Untitled, Joycelin Leahy, 2008, commercial thread weaving. 5. Daniel Waswas,


through our values and 

our sense of place. We 

are also the children of the 

now generation and we are 

affected by global changes. 

We have views and we 

are concerned about 

significant changes that are 

happening in our societies. 

Global issues are our local 

problems. In the past, 

Pacific contemporary art has 

been viewed largely as a 

style drawn from traditional 

legends, tribal markings, 

national identities, and 

ancestral heritage. 

The exploration of 

contemporary issues in this exhibition 

will introduce a new art style where 

Pacific artists are conscientious of 

their local issues, and through their 

contribution, they are documenting 

major social and environmental 

concerns of the Pacific People. 

In addition to the exhibition’s 

international significance, the region of 

Bundaberg has a long and rich history 

with the Pacific nations, with many of the 

Pacific countries forming the diverse labor 

force that established Bundaberg and 

the surrounding Queensland east coast. 

Launching this exhibition in Bundaberg 

is a means of our contemporary societies 

acknowledging the significant influence 

that the Pacific nations have had on the 

Bundaberg region. 

This exhibition is an opportunity to 

re-enforce the relationship, affiliation 

and collaborations of contemporary 

Australians and Pacific people. In 

upholding this desire to instigate, 

reaffirm and enforce these relationships, 

Pacific Storms is engaging with a 

diversity of community organizations, 

including the Bundaberg House of 

Prayer and United Pacific Islanders 

of the Wide Bay. Pacific Storms is 

everyone’s opportunity to come together 

to identify our current social and 

environmental concerns. 

Pacific Storms will be exhibited at the 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery from 

the 3 June until 12 July 2009. 

Bianca Acimovic 

Exhibitions Officer 

Black Mary Gapa, 2008, type c photograph. 2. Mystic (detail), Yvette Bouquet, 2008, acrylic on canvas. 3. Eric Bridgeman, 

Look Within, 2007, oil pastels and shellac on canvas. 6. Eric Bridgeman, Billy Boo Boo, 2008, type c photograph. 

ART 37

ARTICLE NAME 

ART 

Growing Your 

Practice Symposium 

For several years, artists from the 

Bundaberg region have expressed their 

desire for professional development 

opportunities. Thanks to a State 

Government grant and the support 

of the Bundaberg Regional Council, 

a two day symposium is planned for 

September this year. This will provide 

a unique opportunity for artists to 

access information directly from peak 

bodies and experienced practitioners 

not normally presented in regional 

Queensland. 

The Growing Your Practice Symposium 

was an idea conceived by Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery (BRAG) Exhibitions 

Officer Bianca Acimovic, in response 

to the needs expressed by artists. 

The main aim of the symposium is to 

assist and promote practicing artists’ 

professional development primarily 

in the Wide Bay region, although the 

opportunity is open to any artists from 

the state wishing to attend. 

The key professional development 

issues identified in the study conducted 

for BRAG in 2007 (Inter-Artz, 2007) 

and observations from BRAG staff are: 

documenting work; writing an artist’s 

curriculum vitae and an artist statement; 

professional conduct in the arts industry; 

websites; regional, commercial and 

artist run spaces; touring an exhibition; 

applying for an exhibition space; safe 

movement of work; engaging children 

in your practice; living as an artist; 

running a small business; product 

commercialisation; funding and legal 

issues. Presenters drawn from various 

areas of our region and South East 

Queensland will be brought together 

to provide quality, relevant information 

addressing these issues. 

Together with Creative Regions, 

BRAG has been successful in 

receiving financial assistance from the 

Queensland Government through Arts 

Queensland. The Bundaberg Regional 

Council has also been generous in their 

support for the project. Currently BRAG 

and Creative Regions are working on 

a further funding application to ensure 

that the cost for those attending the 

symposium is kept to a minimum. 

The dates tentatively set for this 

symposium are the 25 th to the 27 th 

September 2009. Anyone interested 

in putting their name down to receive 

information about the symposium when 

it is finalised, can email the project 

coordinator Shelley Pisani at shelley@ 

creativeregions.com.au 

Shelley Pisani 


38 ART


Arts Bundaberg - Exhibition Notes 


11 March – 26 April 2009 

Tattoos and Piercings: A Human 

Canvas 

Glass House Regional Gallery 

Port Macquarie 

Gallery One 

Developed and curated by the Glass House Regional 

Gallery Port Macquarie, Tattoos and Piercings: A Human 

Canvas presents a balanced overview of trends in tattoos 

and body piercing and covers the good, bad and ugly 

side of body decoration. It is a photographic survey of the 

sub cultures associated with tattoos and body piercing. 

Images range from detailed close ups of piercings, Celtic 

designs, Bandido bikers, and tattooing application to 

fashionable glamour subjects. 

In proud partnership with Bundaberg’s Everything But the 

Bike, 57 Bourbong Street. 

Links 

Bundaberg Region’s Incorporated Multi Arts Groups 

Gallery Two 

Links is the 2009 Bundaberg Region’s Incorporated Multi 

Art Groups Exhibition, which explores the reformation 

of Queensland regions, with a particular focus on the 

Bundaberg Region one year on from the local government 

amalgamation. Responding to the stimulus of Links, this 

exhibition will explore and highlight the links that make up 

a larger chain within the Bundaberg region. 

Derek Hastie, Tom, 2005, inkjet 

print on paper. 

Photographer: Chloe Camilleri 

Disturbance 

Tamara Sladojevic and Tobias DeMaine 

The Vault 

Disturbance utilizes modern technology to let the audience 

interact with this unusual installation. 

Creatures that appear to live in the walls of The Vault will 

react to sound, movement and the numbers of people in 

the room. Sometimes they will hover peacefully, sometimes 

hide, allowing the viewer to suspend belief within what is 

real and what is generated. 

Tamara Sladojevic and Tobias 

DeMaine, Still image from 

Disturbance, 2008 

EXHIBITION NOTES 39



29 April – 31 May 

In Your Dreams 

Curated by Helen Sanderson 

Gallery One 

In Your Dreams is an artistic and cultural exchange that 

fosters mutual understanding and respect for individuals 

and their cultural groups. The exhibition is comprised 

of works by thirty artists from Australia, Canada and 

Germany who have each produced an artwork in a box 

which explores the theme ‘In Your Dreams’. The artists 

come from greatly differing art disciplines, encompassing 

painting, print-making, sculpture, jewellery and textiles. 

Lene Rose Gruner, Dream Your 

Dream, 2005, mixed media. 

Colour My Day 

The Bundaberg Photographic Group 

Gallery Two 

Colour My Day is a photographic exhibition by the 

Bundaberg Photographic Group, which highlights 

colour within the everyday. Through the photography, 

the exhibition will present a colour burst of creativity 

interpreted by a diversity of artists. 

Colour My Day will be exhibited at the Bundaberg 

Regional Art Gallery during Autumn, and will encourage 

colour to be embraced in the approaching Autumn 

months. 

Cynthia Hoogstraten, Pink, 2004, 

digital image. 

Blibs and Blobs 

Angela Rossitto 

The Vault 

Blibs and Blobs deals with the notions of love, artificial 

life, and the human desire to create and procreate. 

Children and adults alike will love this interactive 

installation by Artist Angela Rossitto, which is made 

exclusively from second hand materials, from bed sheets 

and pillow wadding to socks and gloves. 

Angela Rossitto, Amor Gravatus, 

2008, textiles and found objects. 

40 EXHIBITION NOTES



3 June – 12 July 

Pacific Storms 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery and 

curator Joycelin Leahy 

Gallery One 

Co-curated by Pacific Island Curator, 

Joycelin Leahy and the Bundaberg Regional 

Art Gallery, Pacific Storms is an exhibition of 

visual artworks drawn from the regions within 

the Pacific Islands and exhibited in regional 

Queensland. The exhibition is situated within 

the context of the ‘now’, bringing to light 

‘what is’ rather than ‘what was’ through multi 

art forms including cutting edge digital art, 

textiles, painting and sculpture. The Pacific 

Storms exhibition explores some of the 

critical social and cultural issues affecting 

Pacific countries at the present time. 

Eric Bridgeman, Lik Lik Mary Muffatt, 2008, 

type C print 

Pacific Storms Public Programs Calendar 

3 June, 6.00pm —6.30pm 

Pacific Welcome 

In partnership with the Bundaberg House of Prayer, the Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery will present a 

musical assortment from the Solomon Islands. The unique Solomon Island band will officially welcome you to 

the opening of the exhibition Pacific Storms. 

7 June, 11.00am—12.00noon 

In Conversation with the Curators 

Co-curators Joycelin Leahy and Exhibitions Officer Bianca Acimovic discuss the elements of the exhibition. 

9 June, 10.00am—11.00am 

In Conversation 

Papua New Guinean printmaker Daniel Waswas talks with New Media artist Eric Bridgeman about his 

contemporary art practice. 

14 June, 11.00am—12.00 noon 

In Conversation - Prisca Chant 

Polynesian national Prisca Chant discusses her in-depth knowledge of Visual Arts within the Pacific Island 

Nations and the Diaspora of Pacific Island contemporary art in Australia. 

23 June, 11.00am—12.00noon 

In Conversation 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery’s Exhibitions Officer, Bianca Acimovic discusses the exhibition Pacific 

Storms. 

29 June, 7.00pm—8.30pm 

Night Film in the 4th Dimension 

A digital projection of the film Agnus Wedding by Papua New Guinea artist Martin Maden, projected under 

the stars. 

The Gallery encourages viewers to bring along seats and mats to sit and lie on. 

EXHIBITION NOTES 41


Eden’s Child 

Nicole McBride 

Gallery Two 

Eden’s Child is a reflection of the time that 

artist Nicole McBride spent living on a tropical 

island in Papa New Guinea as a young child. 

The mixed media works on canvas draw heavily 

on memories and dreams of this time, and 

reflect how childhood experiences form a clear 

narrative. This narrative ultimately moulds and 

shapes our adult perceptions. 

Nicole McBride, Waiting to Launch, 

2008, mixed media on canvas. 

Trawling 

Lesa Hepburn 

The Vault 

The artist specializes in artworks made from 

natural fibre papers, natural fibres and found 

objects, making abstract and symbolic artworks 

derived from the natural environment. In Trawling, 

Lesa looks at the way memories sometimes float 

to the surface like strange creatures from the 

ocean depths. 

Lesa Hepburn, Stranded (detail), 

2006, mixed media 

42 EXHIBITION NOTES

TEXT 

Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery, Bundaberg 

Library, Moncrieff Theatre, individual artists 

and acknowledged authors 

DESIGNER 

Worldwide Online Printing—Nadene Jones 

PRINTER 

Worldwide Online Printing—Bundaberg 

COPYRIGHT 

© Bundaberg Regional City Council, 

individual artists 

Published by the Bundaberg Regional Council 

Volume 5 No.3 Edition of 4000 

BUNDABERG REGIONAL ART GALLERY 

An Arts and Cultural Initiative of the 

Bundaberg Regional Council 

1 Barolin St (Cnr Quay St) 

PO Box 3130 Bundaberg Qld 4670 Australia 

Phone: 07 4130 4750 

Fax: 07 4151 2725 

Email: artsc@bundaberg.qld.gov.au 

Web: www.brag-brc.org.au 

OPEN HOURS 

Monday to Friday 10am-5pm 

Saturday, Sunday and most public 

holidays 11am-3pm 

Closed between Christmas and New 

Year, Good Friday, Easter Sunday 

Closed for 3 days prior to each exhibition 

opening, for the installation of 

exhibitions 

SPONSORS 

The Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery is 

proudly sponsored by: WIN Television, 

Lonnies Floral Art Studio, Bundaberg 

Radiology, Dontors Professional Hospitality 

Suppliers, and The Old Bundy Tavern. 


BUNDABERG REGIONAL LIBRARY 

49 Woondooma St (opp. Central State School) 

PO Box 885 Bundaberg Qld 4670 Australia 

Phone: 07 4130 4136 

Fax: 07 4151 0895 

Email: library@bundaberg.qld.gov.au 

Web: http://bundaberg.qld.gov.au/library 

OPEN HOURS 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & 

Thursday 9:30am-6pm 

Friday 9:30am-5pm 

Saturday 9am-1pm 

Sponsors 

Bundaberg Regional Library special events 

are proudly sponsored by: Friends of the 

Library & Dymocks Booksellers Bundaberg. 

MONCRIEFF THEATRE 

Your local entertainment centre 

in the heart of the city. 

177 Bourbong St 

PO Box 1229 Bundaberg 

Qld 4670 Australia 

Phone: 07 4130 4100 

Fax: 07 4130 4110 

Email: theatrem@bundaberg.qld.gov.au 

Web: http://bundaberg.qld.gov.au/moncrieff 

OPEN HOURS 

Monday – Friday 9am-7pm 

SPONSORS 

Moncrieff Theatre is proudly sponsored by: 

Classic Hits 4BU. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 43

undaberg

Vol 5 No 3 Apr-Jul 2009 - Bundaberg Regional Libraries ...

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