Port of Yamba Historical Society
page 2
newsletter
20
summer
Christmas Information- Save the date
It seems to be THAT time of year when the diary starts filling up!
So, please save
Friday 20th December
for the
PYHS Christmas yet together,
12 noon, over lunch at the Wobbly Chook.
Order and pay for your own lunch; we have reserved 4 tables...so please just come and join in some end of year fun together.
Over the summer holidays the museum will be closed from:
2 PM on Sunday
December 22nd
re-opening on
10 AM on Saturday
January 4th 2025
During this time, you may notice some minor changes as part of the ongoing re-vamp of displays, which has been discussed in recent Members' Meetings.
Additionally, there will be some changes to the opening and closing procedures due to the possible repurposing of the file room, and front desk volunteers have been informed accordingly.
As a point of interest, after 40 years, Yamba Museum has now been assigned a street number and is officially located at 36 River St. We hope to see you on December 20th!
Walking Group
Historical Walks brochures are avaliable at the museum, so while the walking group is taking a break, get your self a brochure and learn more about Yamba on a self guided tour.
Stay connected to your emails and the Museum Newsletter to find out when the intrepid walkers return in the New Year - 2025!
Welcome to our New Members
Lynette Harding, Maree Bennie, Damian Bennie, Barbara Roff, Jeanette Williams,
Joanne Enslow and Deborah Brilleman
We are so happy to have you join our community of history enthusiasts. As new members, you play a vital role in preserving and celebrating our shared heritage. Come into the museum and explore the exhibits, attend events, and meet other museum members. Thank you for becoming a member of the museum !
I am Jan Angelo and I was born and bred in Sydney. As I grew up in Leichhardt I experienced the beginning of multiculturalism in Australia when the newly arrived Italian residents shared their culture and traditions.
I was educated at Fort Street Girls High School and Bathurst Teachers’ College. Rick and married when I was 20 so we have shared many interesting life experiences. We have 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl who have challenged and excited us. Grandchildren consist of 2 fascinating young women and 5 teenage boys.
Rick and I moved to Yamba in 1999 when we bought Clarence Press business which Rick still operates. I became Assistant Principal at Grafton Public School. Upon my retirement after more than 28 years of teaching, I realised that although Yamba offered a beautiful environment, I knew no-one. The easiest way to solve that problem was to become involved with the community.
I went to visit Yamba Museum and soon became a member of PYHS as Rick was already a member through being a ‘Friend of the Museum’. I volunteered on the front desk and became involved with a few special interest groups. The following year I was elected to the committee. I was meeting many people and became involved with interesting projects.
CRU3A was another organisation that I joined which offered many interesting activities that I enjoyed eg; Photography, Family History, Scottish Dancing and Singing. Soon I was a member of the committee. Yamba Evening VIEW Club was also of interest to me as this organisation fund raises to support Australian students in need through the Smith Family. Another committee? Yes. Other organisations included ‘Light Up the Darkness’ a support group for mental health issues in the Lower Clarence, Red Cross and Yamba Rotary. To stay fit I have Yoga, Belly Dancing, Line Dancing, Walking and occasionally Gym. I have met so many interesting people and enjoy every day in Yamba.
My work at the museum has changed over the years. My responsibility on the committee now focuses on the Collection Team, working with Denise, Brenda, Nicole and Meredith; we meet every week to ensure that all objects are cared for correctly. The team accepts new donations which are accessioned, photographed and stored or displayed once researched. If you visit the museum on a Wednesday, you may think that there is a party, however it is only the amazing Collection Team problem solving and sharing their discoveries. I also support Brenda with catering and preparations for exhibition openings and coach tours. There is always something to do at the museum from gardening and researching to welcoming visitors. I am so grateful for the many fascinating volunteers who continue to bring the history of Yamba to the locals and visitors.
Volunteer Profile - Jan Angelo
Chart of Terra Australia by Matthew Flinders 1799-1802.
First Surf club Boat "Matthew Flinders"
Video of Matthew Flinders Yamba Bicentenary 10th to the 12th July 1999. Back of video box has ' from Andrew and Amanda'.
Chart of Terra Australia by Matthew Flinders 1799-1802.
Discovering family connections can be a profoundly inspiring experience. The realization that we are linked to others through bloodlines, shared ancestry, or even long-lost relatives can ignite a sense of identity, belonging, and purpose. For some, uncovering a long-lost family history reveals the strengths, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before.
In our next newsletter, we will explore the fascinating connections between Matthew Flinders' life, Yamba and a local woman.
Connections - Matthew Flinders
Discovering an intriguing object in the museum's collection, makes you ponder it's history. What was the object used for, who owned it, when was it purchased and by whom?
Many questions we will never discover the answer to.
Our main question for you to answer is simple:
What is the object and how was it used?
Mystery Item
What's happening in Summer 2025
DECEMBER
Mon 8 - Committee meeting - 9.30am
Fri 20 - Christmas Party - 12.00pm
Sun 22 - Last day open
JANUARY
Sat 4 - Museum re-open
Mon 6- Committee Meeting - 9.30am
Fri 10 - Art Opening - Glitching Out
FEBRUARY
Sun 2 - Exhibition closes
Mon 3 - Committee meeting - 9.30am
Fri 7 - East West Art Exhibition
GLITCHING OUT Artworks by Monty Webber .... 10 January - 2 February 2025
Monty Webber in his studio,
photograph Graham Mackie
Monty Webber hails from a renowned artistic family - both parents Diane and John Webber were sculptors, aunts and uncles were all photographers or artists. So it is not surprising that he has finally rekindled his own talent for the pen and brush after many years with an exhibition ‘Glitching Out’ opening at The Old Kirk, Yamba Museum, 5:30pm Friday 10th January, 2025.
After winning the end-of-year photography and painting prizes at Cranbrook High School in 1978, Monty attended East Sydney Technical College in 1979, receiving his Diploma in Art in 1981. He completed his post-certificate and won the ESTC Sculpture Prize in 1982. In that year, he also received an Apprenticeship Grant from the Visual Arts Board to work with sculptor Michael Snape for six months.
Between 1983 and 1987, Monty’s drawings, paintings and sculptures were included in many group art exhibitions, including the Rex Irwin Gallery, Art, Empire, and Industry, and the Bondi Pavilion Gallery. In 1986 he held his one and only solo exhibition of sculptures in the rear courtyard of the Australian Centre for Photography.
Over the next four decades, Monty focused his creative energies on surf filmmaking and writing for Tracks surfing magazine. During this time, he won both national and international awards for his filmmaking and self-published 12 books, including short story collections, novellas, a trilogy of novels, and his autobiography.
Now, as an empty nester, he has the time to dedicate to his first passion - abstract drawing and painting. This series is primarily black and white (framed and unframed) culminating in twelve months work.
Asked about his greatest influence he responded: “As a primary school pupil at Rose Bay the headmaster had unveiled a print of Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ which was in black and white and so dramatic it left a lifelong impression.”
Also on display and available at the January exhibition will be Monty’s new book ‘Glitching Out’ which is a collection of 13 science fiction stories.
Adam Courtenay (son of writer Bryce) said this of the new release: “I'm in love with the crazy, incredible worlds he creates. Of the many short stories he’s written, these are my favourites. I liked them so much I wondered if it was just me - so I gave my very discerning literary type wife the first short story - and she said she absolutely loved it. If he can get my wife on board (trust me, not easy), then he must be doing something right. I don’t know where he gets the ideas for these tales, but a weirder, wackier or more outlandish bunch of stories I have not read for years. I loved all the apocalyptic visions he conjured, and the way he uses the near future to give the story an immediacy. It’s Twilight Zone meets Lost in Space with a dash of Kurt Vonnegut.”
East West - art works by Jillian Bowles and Belinda Laurie .... 7 February -9 March 25
East to West explores the diverse essence of Australia through the eyes of two artists, Belinda Laurie and Jillian Bowles. Grounded in the east, where Belinda captures its subtle tones, the exhibition journeys to the dramatic landscapes and vibrant colours of the west, recently explored by Jillian. Together, their work weaves a rich narrative of contrast and connection, celebrating the unique interplay of light, colour, and form across the Australian landscape
Artist Jillian Bowles
Painting is my complete happy place—a sanctuary where I express who I am and bring my creativity to life. My art reflects flow and movement,
transforming landscapes into a symphony of shapes, levels, and angles. For me, colour is joy, embodying energy and motion.
I create both in the studio and directly within the landscape, exploring and reinterpreting traditional formats in unique ways. My passion lies in painting bold and large, embracing experimentation with composition, style, and colour. Each piece represents my ambition to live a big life, and my artwork comes along for the ride.
Artist Belinda Laurie
I’m a visual artist based in Palmer’s Island. I primarily work with painting, print making, using mediums such as acrylic, oils, and inks, as well as venturing into sculpture. Living on the beautiful NSW east coast, I am constantly inspired by the ever-changing landscapes and seascapes that surround me. Through my art I aim to capture the raw and rugged beauty of the coastal region, portraying its wild and untamed energy. I invite you to join me on this journey as I explore the depths and intricacies of the east coast landscape, one brushstroke at a time .
Thank you for taking the time to read your museum newsletter! Hopefully over the summer holidays you visit, maybe bring friends, or family to the museum to learn more about where we live.
Staying informed about our latest exhibitions, events, and historical insights, is helping us spread awareness and appreciation for our local heritage. We look forward to sharing more fascinating stories and updates with you. Thank you for being a part of our museum community!