AGM 2017

President's Report.​

This is our sixth Annual General Meeting but also the fourteenth year since the first Arts Event with the inaugural Easter exhibition. We have won a National Volunteering Award in the past and prove to still be a strong volunteer group committed to bringing art to the area for the community to enjoy. The history component of our agenda is also being addressed.

Since our last Annual Meeting we have been involved in the following activities:

July 2016:

• MCTC entertained us with Steve Lane and Gwynn van den Bergen's production of 'Cole to Cole' celebrating music of Cole Porter and Nat King Cole.

September 2016:

• 'Celebrating Colour' Art Exhibition & Sales at the Recreation Reserve. A very colourful and vibrant exhibition was enjoyed by all who attended with ten actual styles of work on display. We saw landscapes, abstracts, caricatures, quilting, mosaics, photographs, prints, collages, wood carving and sculture.  The public was given the task of choosing a favourite artwork which was

        'Moonambel CBD' by local artist Maggie Barnes-Oake.
November 2016:

• As part of our history component, we held our second Remembrance Day service at the Moonambel Memorial. Over 40 people attended which is amazing for such a small community.

• The local newspapers gave rave reviews for the MCTC pantomime 'Little Red Riding Hood'.The players once again showed their acting ability and had the audience wondering what was going to happen next. Not quite the way we remembered the tale but quite amusing in its interpretation. Steve Lane and Gwynn van den Bergen were once again the producers.

March 2017:

• The booklet 'Heritage Walk of Moonambel' was updated thanks to
  financial help from the Pyrenees Shire. This makes our finances last for other activities we have happening in the future. The newly printed booklets are available from various businesses around the area as well as the Information Centre in Avoca.

April 2017:

• Open Studio @ Maggies Place saw our local artist, Maggie Barnes-Oake, present an Open Studio experience at her mud brick house.
  She invited various local artists to also display their amazing artistic talents.
  The artists are very different in their styles and it was well displayed throughout Maggie's home and garden.

• 'Break & Make' 2 Day Mosaic Workshop saw seven enthusiastic participants led by well known mosaic artist and MAHG member, Sanne Malkaer, through the stages of creating their own individual pot stand tiles.

May/June 2017:

• Our second workshop, 'A Raku Happening', saw MAHG member Adrian van den Bergen hold a second Raku pot making session for the town but this time at the Moonambel Primary School utilising the nearly completed Moonambel Community Ceramic Centre. Future workshops are planned as well as making a joint Primary School/MAHG Ceramic sub-committee to manage the Ceramic Centre.​

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Our website mahg.org.au keeps our activities documented for all to see.

Market stalls, barbecue and devonshire teas continue to be a drawcard when we have events staged at the Moonambel Recreation Reserve. 

Projects on the go...

• The Moonambel Lockup project at the Common. We are determined to see this happen! Once again we have been unsuccessful in attracting financial support through grants, but plan to create an historic area one step at a time within our means. We are currently researching different mediums and themes to make this an important historic site for the town.

 

• The Moonambel Community Ceramic Centre nears completion. Once the plumbing of the donated kiln happens and the Shire gives approval, the structure will be enclosed.                      

Our Centre was made possible by funding from FRRR and Pyrenees Shire, the approval and support of the Moonambel Primary School Council and the enthusiasm of MAHG member Adrian van den Bergen.

• Art workshops in varied media.

 

• Installing historic information plaques around the township.

    Once again our small team of dedicated workers make our projects work. The creative members need the level headed art & history lovers to make these things happen and vice versa. We have built up a wonderful reputation in the Pyrenees district basically due to our respect of our team and supporters. Well done all.

Our future projects, whatever they may be, are almost guaranteed success due to this dedication and wonderful harmonious community team spirit. I thank you all.

Garry Hutton.