After 3 surfing exhibitions, the Yamba Museum has well and truly embedded surfing culture as part of our history and heritage. Even though the special exhibition has now been dismantled, many of the photos and DVDs will become part of the permanent museum collection. For those who missed the Surf Cult exhibition or the previous ones, you can still access photos and information on our website or come to the Museum to view our permanent “Ride the Wild Surf” exhibit, including a shark-bitten surfboard!

All are invited to the flag-raising ceremony which starts at 9am. It will begin with a welcome to country by a Yaegl elder and will be followed by a free barbecue for all. The museum will also be open, showcasing several revamped displays, a refurbished model train exhibit, new Kids Deck area and the current special Surf Cult exhibition in the Old Kirk

You may have missed out on seeing the 1960′s surf-wagon and caravan that was only on display at the opening and Saturday 30 Nov, but there is still time to experience the multimedia surfie vibe on display in this exhibition – it will be open most days until Monday 3rd February for just $5 per adult, with free entry for accompanied children. This modest fee includes entry to the rest of the museum which now includes a special Kid’s Deck. See you there!

President Marea Buist was delighted to receive our third IMAGinE award from Museums and Galleries New South Wales. This 2013 award was for Education and Audience Development by a volunteer-run organisation based on our very successful VISION4CHANGE exhibition and public program held earlier this year.

This exhibition was….

• A first-time collaboration and sharing between four local museums – Grafton, Lawrence, Maclean and Yamba.
•  A first-time collaboration between the Port of Yamba Historical Society and Clarence Valley Aboriginal Elders. The sense of bridges being built was very strong at the “Meet the Elders” afternoon.
• A first-time mixed media exhibition at this museum – juxtaposing original artworks, historical photographs and contemporary video interviews to convey a powerful vision for change that moves us all towards reconciliation.
• The first time that Yaegl Elders have been filmed in interview. The DVD has since been shared on the MGNSW blog by the exhibition curator and photographer, Debrah Novak:http://mgnsw.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/yambas-exciting-exhibition.html
• The first time that the four Aboriginal women artists have met and worked together. Frances Belle Parker, Jessica Birk, Danielle Gorogo and Elsie Randall are Aboriginal women who share their own personal and unique journey in very different styles but with a common sense of pride and beauty in their culture captured on canvas.

This award follows on the heels of our 2012 IMAGinE award for another successful exhibition, “Ghosts of World War 1 – 101 local heroes”, the short-listing of our 2011 Nursery Rhymes exhibition and an inaugural  individualIMAGinE Award for Excellence awarded to Marea Buist back in 2005.

This enviable record is entirely due to the hard work of all our members – congratulations, again!!

Curator for the exhibition Debrah Novak said, “the museum was really looking forward to exploring some of the elements that make surfing the lifestyle choice of millions of Australians today. Locally we have some amazingly talented people who have contributed enormously to the Australian and international surfing culture revolution through film, journalism, clothing and the graphic arts.  These creative game changers like Grant Dwyer, Roger Mclean, John and Paul Witzig and many others rode the crest of a wave pioneering the brand of surfing for it to later emerge into a billion dollar industry worldwide.

This third surfing related exhibition will feature retro Fandango swimwear by Grant Dwyer, legendary films from Paul Witzig and local vintage beach culture photographs taken around the turn of the century.

This year, for something different, we will be hosting a literary supper and will be in conversation with acclaimed authors John Witzig and Tim Baker who have recently launched their new surfing books”.

 Before the museum puts the exhibition to bed though, they are interested in any old surfing footage, photos and graphic art of the area plus any surf related treasures people may have stored in their sheds for consideration for the exhibition.

If you have anything you think may be suitable contact Debrah Novak – Surf Cult Exhibition Curator, m: 0402 404 606 fb:Surf Cult Exhibition e: debrah@debrahnovak.com.au.

The exhibition runs from the 30th Nov-2nd Feb 2014 at the Yamba Museum.

The book launch took place after the Annual General Meeting and it was a fitting finale to an extraordinary year of achievement for PYHS. At the launch Rob introduced the book by recalling family trips to Yamba for holidays back in the late 1950s. His description of holiday times in Yamba – the swimming, the fishing, the exploration and the lazing in the sun resonated with the audience. These images were reinforced when Lindal Lucas (née Black) spoke about growing up in Yamba. She had so many anecdotes to share –for instance, she had us in fits of laughter as she described the haircuts available for boys and girls at Jack (affectionately known as “Hacker Jack”) Coonan’s Hairdressing Shop.  His shop was on the site of what is now “Osteria Martini” (in an earlier incarnation “Beachwood” and earlier still “Scott, Smith and Sullivan”).

Lindal’s family has lived in Yamba for five generations and she said that, as she was looking at the old photos, she realised that the images in front of her were the very ones her father and grandfather (and earlier) would have seen. “I was looking at them through my grandfather’s eyes,” she said. She predicted that the book would become a real “discussion starter” for older residents, provoking numerous “Remember when…..?” questions and endless reminiscences.

The book itself is a real “then and now” compilation. From its earliest years under the guidance of keen photographers Jean and Arthur Bultitude, PYHS has built up an enviable photographic collection of Yamba as it developed. It was a treasure house for Rob to use for the “then” photos. The “now” photos were largely taken by Rob himself with valuable contributions from our members Debrah Novak and  John McNamara. Interestingly, many of the older photographs were from the collection of Osric Notley who took that famous photo of Tommy Walker surfing at Main Beach in 1911 and who we featured in an exhibition “A Click in Time” in January this year.

As you would expect from a surveyor, Memories of Yamba Through Pictures is meticulous in its detail. A double page spread shows the location of the photos (about 220 of them) on a map of the town, and a detailed index makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.

An innovative feature of the book are the QR codes that can be scanned into your mobile device. These codes link into our mobile history tour which can be downloaded from our website:  http://www.pyhsmuseum.org.au/historytours/index.htm

At $25 our newest publication is very reasonably priced and would make an ideal gift for all who know and love Yamba and its history. It can be purchased from the Museum or orders can be placed via phone – 6646 1399.

Thanks to PYHS Member, Gary Whale, for this report.

In keeping with this pictorial theme, all the museums of the lower Clarence Valley will be running a Scanfest.

Students, teachers and the general public are invited to visit their nearest local museum on Tuesday 10 September with historical photos of this region. These will then be scanned, (at no charge) and they can take away a digital copy (please bring your own storage device). The original photo can be taken home, or donated to the museum. Digital copies of all the scanned photos will then be distributed to a relevant local museum, depending on the topic of each photo, thereby adding to our local history records.

This photo for example, shows people enjoying the Tim the Bream angling competition; an event that used to happen at the local swimming pool that has since been filled in to create the carpark area at Turners Beach, Yamba.

The following Clarence Valley Museums, including the Yamba Museum of course, are looking forward to seeing your old photos!

Grafton Museum (Schaeffer House), 190 Fitzroy St., Grafton.  Ph: 6642 5212
Lawrence Museum, Merton Street, Lawrence.  Ph: 6647 7255
Maclean Museum, Corner of Wharf and Grafton Streets, Maclean.  Ph: 6645 3416
Yamba Museum, River St., Yamba.  Ph: 66461399

http://mgnsw.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/icing-on-cake.html

http://mgnsw.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/yambas-exciting-exhibition.html

They were fortunate to be in one of the small groups that she spoke to, and on hearing that Marea and Laura were from Yamba, she told a couple of anecdotes about her honeymoon at the Pacific Hotel.  They found her to be very warm, charming and gracious.

The Governor-General then made a brief speech to the delegates on the value and importance of the work we do in preserving Australia’s history.