Moonambel Arts & History Group

Historic Walk signage refurbished

26/4/2024

Photo by Peter O'Rourke in the Pyrenees Advocate.

But these things come at a cost and expert manufacturing was required.

Bendigo Bank came to our rescue
with an $800 grant and Signarama in Ballarat
created the beautiful signs for us
coming $2 under the grant for the whole project.

We are so fortunate to have these two businesses within our reach and can now plan
to put more signs on our walk in the future.

One of the signs erected near the 3 churches in town which share borders in Humffray St..

Our latest venture has been about
the historic side of our group.

Unfortunately, the information signage placed strategically around
the Moonambel historic walk
showed signs of aging and needed refurbishing.

We were fortunate to still have
the artwork originals
created by Noreen McAdam
so only needed two additional signs
to be added.

Thank you to Peter O'Rourke for putting our project in the local Pyrenees Advocate Newspaper.

Another successful Art Exhibition!

4/12/2023

At the 'Meet and Greet' on Sunday

We had many comments
on how well the exhibition was curated
and the wonderful exhibition space.

Not to mention the beautiful work on display.

Both Russell and Sanne
gave us a fantastic art exhibition.

Thank you to both of you.

Catacombs - A Memoir by Russell Drever

Pastorale by Sanne Malkaer

Fortunately,
the weather was kind on Saturday morning for our market.
There were 10 stalls with many crafty items for sale.

The market getting ready for the action!

Thank you to all who supported our event.

'Spring into Summer' Art Exhibition & Sale

24/10/2023

We are proud to showcase two of our own Moonambel artists in the upcoming
'Spring into Summer' Art Exhibition & Sale.

Russell Drever lives in Moonambel
and last exhibited with us in 2010
with a solo show called
'Images, at Moonambel'.

Back then the poster said...

Described at his exhibition in
Cannibal Pierce Galerie, Paris as master colourist, Russell Drever
is an artist with an international
trajectory and representative
breadth of work that belies his
quiet unassuming presence
tucked away in tiny Moonambel.
With over nine solo and eight
group exhibitions, Images, at Moonambel realises the master
colourist at work again.

Come along to see if you agree with such a wonderful description!

Sanne Malkaer started her mosaic career
the same year by helping to cover the walls
of the Moonambel Recreation Reserve
amenities blocks with quirky mosaics...a community event where all locals were
invited to 'have a go'.

Sanne hasn't stopped 'having a go' and
her work is in demand around the region.
Sanne's 3D mosaic sculptures can be seen
at local Pyrenees art spaces such as the
galleries at Avoca and Beaufort.

There will also be our traditional market on the Saturday.
Check the posters for all the details.

Remembrance Day, 2023

24/10/2023

Once again we are inviting
the community at large
to join us at our annual
Remembrance Day service.

This year, we are privileged to have
the Pyrenees Chorale perform for us.

We hope to see you there.

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder.

22/3/2023

For the first time in 4 years
photographic art came back
to Moonambel.

On the 12th and 13th November
we held a photography competition
and exhibition.
There were 159 adult entries
and 12 entries from children
12 years and under.

Photo Comp & Market are nearly here!

4/11/2022

Come and join us on Saturday for the market or Sunday for the 'Meet and Mingle'
or come BOTH days.
Prizes will be announced at the
'Mingle and Greet'

Time is approaching for our wonderful photo exhibition.
We thank all those wonderful people who entered their photos to make this quite an exciting event.

See you there!

Remembrance Day in Moonambel

4/11/2022

Once again,
a Remembrance Day Service
will be held
at the Moonambel Memorial.
Please feel free to join us.

'Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder' photo comp.

30/9/2022

We are hoping that people are willing
to come out again after enduring
quite a long Covid hibernation.

This is our first photo competition since 'Capturing Character' in 2018.
So here is the flyer
calling for entries.
If you cannot download
the entry form below
please contact Jennifer.
Her details are on the poster

The Children in the Moonambel Lock-Up

22/5/2021

The Lock Up in its new place at the Common.

The Children in the Lock-Up

Back in 2003, the Moonambel Arts and History community, under the guidance of Jan Curtis and Merri Hogan, embarked on a journey
to last 18 years.

It was then that the community discovered that the lock-up at the original Moonambel police house was one of only five remaining portable police lock-ups in Victoria. At the time of discovery, it had been used for hay storage and as a chicken coop among other things. In 2003 Moonambel art and history community applied for and received a grant from Victorian Heritage to relocate the lock-up
to the Moonambel Common and then restore it.

Jan Curtis relating the history leading to the event. Photo: G Akers

Many years of research accessing original police records and the original Moonambel Police Charge Book from years 1883 to 1914 revealed 53 persons, including three children, were held in the lock-up. Under the guidance of Secretary, Jan Curtis, the research and development of the Historical Police Precinct continued.

Original sculptures of the children
were created by local artists Merri Hogan and Barry Fox and placed in the lock-up.
Over time these had become degraded and derelict. MAHG had taken the plight of the children to their hearts and decided they needed to have new interpretations made. MAHG Secretary, Jennifer MacKay, had seen photos of wire sculptures of ‘ghost soldiers’
in an English churchyard and with the suggestion from Merri Hogan
she presented to the MAHG committee the proposal for the new sculptures
to be made by Clunes artist Tom Ripon.

At last....we see Tom Ripon placing the wire sculptures in situ. Photo: S Malkaer

We assumed that was the end of a very sad story as the children were committed to the Department of Neglected Children.

Fortunately, Jennifer continued the story with the help of the Genealogical Society of Victoria.
She found a descendant of the eldest child
Edith Octive Dean. In finding this, it was also revealed that Edith Octive and Alice Louisa were sisters and the one year old Constance was a half sister.

The granddaughters of the 3 children relating their memories. Photo: G Akers

On 20th May, 2021,Tom Ripon, the sculptor, and Eileen Ryan, the descendant, unveiled the sculptures in the lock-up. Eileen, with her sisters, Val and Marion, entertained the crowd with stories the sisters related of their grandmother, Octive (Ollie) and their Aunt Connie.
Alice had died at the age of 21.

The ladies had no idea of the plight
of their grandmother and dear Aunt Connie
all those years ago. This was something that was never mentioned and the circumstances of which Eileen is eager to explore.

We would like to thank Ann-Maree Richardson of the Genealogical Society of Victoria research team who helped Jennifer to trace the descendant of the eldest child,
Edith Octive Dean.
Also, we acknowledge the Pyrenees Shire for funding the project.

The Children in the Lock-Up. Photo: G Akers

Life After Covid....nearly.

16/4/2021

Lock-Up before sprucing.

What a torrid time we have had over the last 16 months.
All thoughts of an exhibition were put on hold and are
still awaiting a safe time to put things into action.
So apologies for the length of time between blogs.

Although we are in strange times, we have continued
with the history aspect of our group by concentrating on
the installation of 'The Children in the Lock-Up'.

With the help of finance from the Pyrenees Shire,
we commissioned international sculptor Tom Ripon
to create images of the three children who were
detained in the police Lock-Up for their own safety.
Hard to believe you would be safer in a dark room
with no window and a solid door.

But times were harsh in Moonambel in 1896.

The lockup has been painted in preparation for the installation. More history on the incident has been discovered and we are hoping to have the formal opening in May.

We thank Merri Hogan and Barry Fox for the mannequins which have been in the Lock-Up for some time now. Unfortunately, time has been unkind to the figures and they became quite dilapidated. Hopefully the new figures will stand up to the elements.

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Our website was created December 2012. The History page lists activities from 2003 to 2012.

Coming Events

2024

Workshops in Floral art and suncatcher making.

We will keep you informed as these projects develop and of any new projects which arise...

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