Brisbane Living Heritage Network put on a great seminar on Friday 10 May 2013 at Old Government House.
Chair: Katie McConnel Speakers L to R: Jo Forsyth, Terry Gallagher, Rebecca Hazell & Stewart Armstrong
Photo: Leisha Lawrence
Here are my top tips to share:
- Terry Gallagher, Manager Policy & Implementation, Queensland Studies Authority encouraged social history museums and sites to take advantage of the opportunity to make their education programs relevant to the national history curriculum.All students from Prep- Year 10 will study history. The national curriculum is available at http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au Qld P-10 curriculum and resources, that show what students are studying in each year level, can be viewed at www.qsa.qld.edu.au
- Jo Forsyth- Manager QM Loans, Queensland Museum explained how their loan kits link to different year levels of the Australian curriculum including history, biological sciences, earth and space sciences and physical sciences. Teachers can borrow kits of museum artefacts with resources that show teachers how to use these for evidence based learning in their classrooms. See http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Learning+Resources/QM+Loans Let BLHN know if you’d like a session at the SE Qld Museum Conference in October on how to write ‘scaffolding’ material so students can use your objects for their evidence based learning. Read the rest of this entry »
Ever feel like you brain might explode?
Welcome to my world after four days at the Redlands Museum, as part of a MAGSQ internship in the voluntary museum sector.
After a few stops and starts my visit has coincided with the pointy end of Redlands moving their collection into a new, purpose-built, collections store. The move is one stage in the museum’s $1.4 expansion. When their new facilities open at the end of May, Redlands Museum will have additional exhibition, storage, training, childrens and workshop spaces, with provision for a café to be installed at a later stage. In all 800 sqm of internal space and 200 sq m of veranda space has been added to the museum’s existing 1800 sq m facility. Read the rest of this entry »
Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Robert Cavallucci MP, Member for Brisbane Central, officially launched the results of a report that shows Queensland audiences are enthusiastically enjoying their public art galleries, at the Gallery of Modern Art on Tuesday 12 March 2013.
Executive Director, Rebekah Butler, Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) welcomed representatives from the gallery sector and State government to the Launch of Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery?.
The project has been a significant partnership between M&GSQ and Museums and Galleries New South Wales (M&G NSW). Michael Rolfe, CEO M&G NSW provided background information on the project and the partnership.
Assistant Minister Cavallucci officially launched the State Report, then guests heard from M&G NSW General Manager, Michael Huxley who provided an overview of the Report’s findings.
The Guess Who’s Going to the Gallery? Queensland Report is available to download from M&GSQ’s website http://www.magsq.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=957
A Quick Snapshot of Queensland Public Gallery Audiences:
If you have 10 people standing in front of an artwork in a Queensland regional gallery, it is likely that:
• Four of them will be tourists to the region.
• Half of them will have been to that gallery more than four times in the last two years but for three of them it will be their first visit.
• At least three of them will be aged between 35-54.
• At least one of them will speak a language other than English at home.
• Four of them will be from a household earning less than $40,000 pa and only two of them from a household earning more than $100,000 pa.
• At least five of them will be working (full time or part time) and three will be retired.
• Two of them will have a post-graduate degree and two of them will have finished their schooling at secondary level.
• Two of them will have come with their partner, three of them by themselves, with the others coming with family and friends.
• Almost all of them will have rated their visits as “Good” or Terrific”.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body, and is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments.
As part of the Griffith University Social Enterprise Program, M&GSQ has coordinated training workshops for students undertaking social enterprise placements in museums. This year, M&GSQ continues the partnership with Griffith University School of Humanities who provide funding for a training course in basic collection management and preventive conservation.
Curator, Lisa Jones from the Queensland Police Museum and Conservator, Christine Ianna facilitated these workshops on the principles, policies and procedures that describe and articulate a collecting institution’s purpose for students and volunteers.
During 2012, an enthusiastic group of volunteers at the Australian Sugar Cane Railway participated in Museum & Gallery Services Queensland’s Standards Program. http://www.magsq.com.au/_dbase_upl/ASCR%20Profile.pdf Alan Edwards tells of the benefits of volunteering at ASCR.With the help of Reviewers, Christine Ianna and David Mewes, the group identified their disaster preparedness plan as one key priority for future action. Here’s the group in their well equipped training room during 2012.
Then Cyclone Oswald hit and North Bundaberg flooded. Wendy Driver reports: On Sunday 27 January we received an email from the Council’s disaster management committee to advise that the flood level would get to 7m so I rang Tom and he got a crew from the village and they lifted all the gear in the training room as per our plan.
On 1 February, Wendy emailed: Hello from soggy Bundy
Yesterday after seeking permission from the Deputy Mayor following a
meeting of residents and business owners of North Bundaberg Ross
Driver, Graeme Timson, Alan Edwards and Jeff McPherson went to the gardens via Childers and Gin Gin and then back the same way as bridges are closed – nearly 300km round trip.
There they found that the water had got to 9.5 metres- 2 metres more than group prepared for. The speed of the water current had caused extreme damage, even the metal cabinets in the training room are buckled and twisted beyond belief. All records, photographs, training equipment and library were lost. There was nothing left to salvage in the training room. The ticket office for the train rides round the Gardens was flooded to the roof.
The Society is resolved to continue – but for quite some time it will be a static museum.
On 6 February, M&GSQ reached Ross Driver to advise that the Museums Development Officers were available to help if needed. Ross reported need for heavy machinery to clean up twisted tracks, 4 feet layer of river sand preventing shed from opening. Society was keeping focused by restoring a No 3 Fowler boiler that had been moved off site before the floods. Already they were making plans to operate the locos in the Gardens by Easter to keep community spirits up.
On 21 February, Wendy emailed: The Society meeting went well on Monday night – even after all it was a positive meeting. Correctional people are manually digging the mud from the inside of the track so as not to damage (like a mechanical machine would) – they have a big job.
Yesterday the local paper visited for the first time so hopefully that will get out to the locals. Members are working daily – plodding their way into the shed. Today the firm who were to do a building extension are visiting to offer advise on how the training room can be made secure.
There is a working bee on Saturday for those of us who work to have some input – I plan to do morning tea and have asked around some friends for coffee mugs as there is nothing left!! It was decided at the meeting that there is a meeting each Monday for a while so the recovery plan is organised. Ross has prepared that and it will be updated each week. Yesterday he ordered a new computer … He has also drawn up plans and will hand in for a quote today so that it can go to Council for relocation!
Ross has had a very tiring but successful day today with the help of firemen from Beaudesert way. So far the diesel has started!! When Ross rang me at lunch I heard the whistle in the background so it was a boost!!
In the local paper today there was a write-up and a page and a half of picture. The Editorial was the best bit saying about the historic heritage of the locos – all very good.
http://www.news-mail.com.au/news/sugar-cane-railway-may-have-move/1764572/
On 22 February, Ross emailed:
We had the fireys from Beaudesert come down into the shed and hose out rubbish. Karen, the lady in charge, was a great woman who had a great interest in historical equipment. The men with her took notice from her with the clean-up. I took photos of them at ASCR and I was thrilled and proud to be in a photo with them – standing beside these brave people was quite an honour especially after sitting down and talking about some of the experiences while they were here in Bundaberg. This was their last job in Bundy before they headed home – see attachs pics.
The Society appreciates greatly the support you have given us and now especially the donation. Today a new lap top was ordered for the membership secretary and your donation will go a long way towards this purchase – this is for Tommy – as the society’s was lost in the flood. Please tell Christine that the motor from the lathe has been removed and taken off site to be restored. Locomotive boiler for No3 has been fully retubed – luckily it was off site on high ground and the work continued while awaiting access to the facility in the Gardens.
On 23/24 February Ross emailed:
We had 15 members working at the shed today in the flood zone The weather is very oppressive and makes recovery work very hard. Track work was done so we could get Valdora up the restoration line to pull out the frame of No.3 Fowler locomotive.
It was 35 degrees with 100 percent humidity , stench from rotting vegetation, mud contaminated by raw sewerage and flying fox shit. The bats have relocated from the west (Biggenden we have been told) The best that I can say about working conditions is that they are miserable but we all still have our sense of humour intact.
Wendy has been down there in the middle of the muck urging us on. She has been making sandwiches for smoko for all the troops.
The heat is strength sapping so we have been careful with hydration and hygiene
as we have been told the mud contains ecoli, hep b, sewerage and heaps of
other nasty bugs. Add the possibility of lyssavirus from the bats if one gets scratched or come in contact with them; so members have been given strict instructions not to touch a sick one on the ground
No.3 Loco frame was well cleaned and greased while it was outside and one of the pics shows “Valdora” up and running again thanks to the fine efforts of
Charlie Leslie. 
This has been a marvellous achievement when you consider the water went up to the top of the windows.
From Wendy Driver 26 Feb:
It is difficult to get resources. Things like gloves and rag are short around town. It was decided to work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday each week until cleaning has been achieved. This gives those who don’t work a bit of a break in between heavy days and those who work the opportunity to assist on Saturday. Ross took over a white board and blue tac today to put up list of priorities. The roller doors were removed today and hopefully when it stops raining the training room will be secured. Once the rain stops I have organised to get a load of hardwood so a light up of the steamer can happen – all the timber and coal went in the flood too!!
From Ross Driver 26 Feb:
We had a meeting(25.2.13) of all members in the flood zone at what was once our training room. It was a grim but determined bunch that sat there with rain pouring into the damaged building. It was decided that flood recovery work days would be Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturdays. 
Everyone was positive and the planning session for the rebuild went well with all members having input. Not a word was spoken of quitting but I tell you mate I would not blame them if they did
The mob are determined that the community of Bundy especially those over North will hear that steam locomotive whistling once more. North Bundy is heart breaking
Today we went a bit further in to the shed at the boilermakers workshop and that is in a hell of a mess, cupboards, tools, welders and grinders strewn around the place by the fast moving waters. We got our generators going for lighting as this is in a very dark spot. The humidity is stifling and even if you stand out in the rain it doesn’t cool you down. The work is exhausting with boots forever sticking in the mud as you just dont seem to be able to get away from the bloody stuff.
Bought a lot more safety equipment today as most of our gear either got washed away or is badly contaminated. Mud is our biggest enemy because of all the bugs in it and members are briefed every morning during the risk assessment session about its dangers. Any cut abrasion or wound has to be investigated thoroughly before the member can continue working down there.
Engineers started today the arduous task of restoration work on our specialised lathe tools see attached pic. 
Fortunately for us the bats were not there today and fingers crossed they have moved back to the west (it was certainly a lot quieter without them)
Contractors started repairs to the track mtce shed and started to build the extension we had planned last year
Our area down there is still classed as an exclusion zone and will be for some time
from Ross Driver 28.2.13:
We got into the tool room and boiler shop today and its in a bit of a mess just like we thought it would be. Smashed our way through old tool cupboards using a 14lb sledge hammer to open up the area so we could start to clean up (no restoration stuff here as it is badly contaminated from mud & sewerage)
When splitting the timber with the hammer the stench that came out of the broken timber was awful as it must have soaked up the contaminated mud
The old cupboard had some history to it as it had been used at QUNABA Sugar mill in their loco shed for storing the loco fitters tools. An old loco driver and myself had installed it in our shed during1987 after the closure of the mill (There comes a point where you just cannot save some of the stuff due to the contamination)
One of our Vietnam Vets Graeme Timson (Timmo) can be seen shovelling the crap into a barrow (don’t mind the rolly) he reckoned a good smoke was the only thing keeping him sane
Timmo and myself took turns at wheeling and shovelling during the day till the heat got that bad we had to give it away (we were both drenched with sweat) It is still opressive weather with 100 percent humidity and more rain expected on the weekend. At present the Burnett is flooding once more and we hope it wont get to the same levels as in January
Graham Mac one of our Engineers has been working on the lubrication system off “INVICTA” and was very happy that he had them all working when we finished in the arvy
Work has continued on our shed extension and when this is complete it should make up a little bit for the training room we lost
Charlie our head mechanic and workshop supervisor has got the Deisel Locomotive “VALDORA” fully operational which has been a great feat done by a very determined man
An old white board borrowed from Wendy the President has been installed in the damaged training room and is hanging by zippy ties. 
Wendy is very pleased with the progress of the extension and it was a big lift to see it going up thanks to the boys from ASCOT buildings
I just had to include a pic of the mud just to remind us of how terrible this stuff really is and what unseen nastys it has in it
Cheers from the Flood Zone
Ross Driver
Secretary Australian Sugar Cane Railway
Planning Engineer
Grad Cert Eng Mtce Mgt
B/Maker
From Ross 2/3/12: Today Saturday was not a good day with rain bucketing down and the river about to flood once more. A hardy crew was determined to continue recovery efforts even though I told em they were bloody lunatics and that they should all go home
Ron & Jeff took over from our previous efforts in the boiler shop and got it cleaned up before we called it quits. The fellers were taking the mud out in the pouring rain and the mud was sticking to their boots as they tried to wheel it out
I gave my drizabone coat to Ronny as he was wheeling out in the rain which was already saturated but he reckoned it was better than bugger all.
Once inside out of the rain it was still hot and humid so he went from freezing cold one minute to sweating like a rotten pig the next
In the end the rain got too bad even for us die hards so after a smoko with ham & egg sandwhiches made by Wendy and some hot coffee out of thermos flasks we called it a day
From Ross 4/3/13:
This arv (Monday) we had a meeting of members to discuss work activities over the coming week and beyond. It was a very determined bunch of people that sat there in the gloom planning on the best ways to activate railway operations once more
When and if the weather fines up a lot better progress will be made. The gardens complex is still closed to public, the regional council is looking at March the 8th for making it safe enough for public entry (dunno about that one wishful thinking I reckon)
The YMCA 60 & Better group turned up to our meeting to present us with a donation of $600 which was greatly appreciated and this money will go to paying for the safety equipment we lost in the flood (this is one of those real positive outcomes which lifts your spirits)
From Ross Driver 5/3/3:
Tuesday, just another day in the muck but at least it is not raining and the flood waters are receding.
Charlie had a good day with getting the locos going, he and Bevan changed the oil in “Valdora” again (I think this is the third time they have done it and I am starting to lose count)
They also got the Planet loco going and were heading toward the navvy cart when I left (men on a mission and I dunno where they keep getting the energy from)
Graham & Tony continued work on the restoration of tools and equipment and Andrew worked on cleaning out the boilershop with a gurney
We still have to get to No.1 Fowler to clear the mud but only when we can get some dry weather so we can haul them outside
Then we will get the fire brigade to clean out the mess.
From Ross Driver 7/3/13:
Starting to open up the shed a bit more now that we can use the planet & Valdora for shunting duties. Using the planet to get the No.3 loco frame outside we were ale to access the mud still in front of No.1 Fowler Steam loco (this is slow going as the mud is bloody awful over this side and stinks to high heaven) I didn’t think it could get worse but it has; the good thing was that we cleared up the mud to the coupling so will be able to get Valdora up there to shunt it out. Once we get it out we will get a fire truck in to hose it out and that should be the last of the mud. It is good to see two locos up and operational and the cab of No.3 upright once more and cleaned. The cab of No.3 and the side tanks are going to be removed to a local painting contractor for grit blasting and a new coat of paint. The boiler of No.3 has been completely retubed and is ready for installation back onto the frame; we are trying to keep recovery and restoration going together
Cleaning of the frame of No.3 loco was carried out and the pistons & valve chests removed so that all mud and foreign material has been cleaned out (big job but we are progressing well with that task)
The men will be looking at the greasing of the axle bearings this saturday as Charlie was able to repair the air operated greaser and hook it to Valdoras compressor as we are still without power down at the shed (I think it is a tribute to all of the people working down there that they have managed all this work without power and facilities to continue the recovery) 
Working Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays to give people a rest in between and have a break from the very hard work.
From Ross 7/3/13:
The restoration line is still proving a stubborn one to fix (the mud is really bad on this line it glistens in the fluro light mocking us with its sickly smell and determination to stick like poo to a blanket). One success today though Charlie got our chain saw working – he is a marvellous mechanic and I reckon there ain’t a motor that he could not fix!
Today has been the first fine day without rain since the big flood. I took Valdora onto the restoration line and shunted out No. 1 Fowler so we could 
The railway is starting to come into shape once more but not without a lot of hard effort as members claw their way back to starting operations once more
The heat & humidity still continues with light drizzle still hampering our recovery effortrs. We all hope for cooler weather
All of the mud was finally removed last week and we have to thank people like our rural fire brigade from Childers, for without their help we could not have managed. On one saturday when they came over they used approx 60,000 to 100,000 litres of water to get mud out
Getting the last of the mud
Photo: Ross Driver
The fellers have been going through every tool and refurbishing as they go. Christine will be happy to know that the lathe which has been thoroughly refurbished will be operational once more as the electric motor has been overhauled and is ready for installation
Workshops have been cleaned and are now being used once more. Documentation out in service ready for regular operations to start again
Documentation
The old permanent way has been repaired and is ready for opertion unfortunately the new track extension remains badly damaged and is just out of reach for our resources to get going for the present anyway
We are ready to run a limited service with the carriage seats now having been re-upholstered and just fitted today.
New seats for the loco rides
Photo: Ross Driver
The main issue for not running at present is that the flying foxes (bats) have closed down one half of the gardens complex. The council has applied to the state government to move them on and have been given permission to do so
“Valdora” the diesel locomotive is our only engine up and running at present as “Invicta” is still being worked on particularly the safety valves which suffered damage as a result of the flood. We expect to have this loco going by the end of June.
Loco Valdora- operational!
We have finished retubing the boiler of the No.3 Fowler steam loco and will start putting it together once all the cleaning and reorganising of the infrastructure is complete
Our Maintenance Coordinator down at the shed Charlie Leslie has been a great source of inspiration to all of us who work with him.
His enthusiasm and no mucking about and getting on with the job is something to see.
Trying times like this bring out the best in people and those of us priveleged to work with the old blighter just look on in amazement and hope we measure up along side of him
Cheers
Ross Driver
Boilermakers shop
Planning Engineer
Grad Cert Eng Mtce Mgt
B/Maker
2013 Queensland Flood Update
Posted on: 1 February 2013
Museum and Gallery Services Queensland extends its thoughts to the communities affected by the devastating widespread flooding.
In response to this natural disaster, M&GSQ has developed a register of affected organisations is available to download below. M&GSQ will continue to update the register as information comes to hand – go to http://www.magsq.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=954 for updates.
Qld Flood Damage Register – Updated 31/01/13
Should any museums, galleries or cultural heritage organisations require assistance, please also contact M&GSQ on freecall 1800 680 433.
Gayndah Museum
Queensland Maritime Museum Volunteer, Warwick Foote, wins 2012 Gallery and Museum Achievement Award
Posted on: 10 December 2012
This is our fifth and final article featuring stories on each of the Winners and Special Commendation recipients of the 2012 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards (GAMAA) in five categories.
Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) proudly announced the recipients of the 2012 GAMAA at a special event hosted by the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, Caboolture, on Saturday 17 November. Guest presenter, Hon. Ros Bates, Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts congratulated this year’s recipients and presented the winners with a specially-commissioned trophy created by Queensland artist, Donna Marcus.
We announce the GAMAA Winner in the category, ‘Individuals: Volunteer’:
WINNER – Warwick Foote, Volunteer Curator, Queensland Maritime Museum
This category was generously sponsored by Museums Australia Queensland. The Winner receives a prize to the value of $1,000.
Ian Jempson, Queensland Maritime Museum, and James Donaldson, RD Milns Antiquities Museum, honoured in 2012 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards
Posted on: 6 December 2012
We bring you our fourth article featuring stories on each of the Winners and Special Commendation recipients of the 2012 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards (GAMAA) in five categories.
Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) proudly announced the recipients of the 2012 GAMAA at a special event hosted by the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, Caboolture, on Saturday 17 November. Guest presenter, Hon. Ros Bates, Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts congratulated this year’s recipients and presented the winners with a specially-commissioned trophy created by Queensland artist, Donna Marcus.
We announce the GAMAA recipients in the category, ‘Individuals: Paid’:
WINNER – Ian Jempson, CEO of the Queensland Maritime Museum
SPECIAL COMMENDATION – James Donaldson, Museum Senior Administrative Officer, RD Milns Antiquities Museum, University of Queensland
This category was generously sponsored by the Regional Galleries Association of Queensland. The Winner receives a prize to the value of $1,000.
Nina is Gallery and Museum Assistant with Moreton Bay Regional Council.
First week at Grafton Regional Gallery
First day at Grafton I was thrown right into attending the Gallery Goes to School program with Min – enthusiastic, bubbly Min. When we got to the school the impact that the Gallery has on children in the area was obvious, with a boy, Travis, following and helping us at every possible opportunity (even when I am sure he was supposed to be in class!) For the primary school, Min had selected a group of paintings which were either a bit ominous or quirky to go with the How to Make a Monster: The Art and Technology of Animatronics exhibition.The classes came through in grades and were encouraged to select artworks which were discussed as a group, with an emphasis on how the children interpreted them. Following discussions about several of the artworks they created little monsters with clay, paddle pop sticks and pipe cleaners. I found how Grafton Gallery is so relaxed with access to its collection quite astonishing and refreshing. They are able to make art accessible to the region’s fifty-plus schools, including those that are quite remote. It also allows all students to be included instead of depending on families to afford travel costs and sign permission slips. Afterwards I had a great time with Min revising the selection for the high school group she was visiting the next day.
Grafton Gallery also has a great relationship with its libraries and we went out to the Grafton Library to do story/art time. Dave Funnell, who creates the quirkiest of suitcase art, also came with us. The group was mostly 2-4 year olds. We found a book called Monster Hug which we read to the children with silly actions like stomping on bridges and hiding behind furniture and throwing cars (Rose and I are terrible actors!)
They then made air drying clay monsters. Examples below….
I was amazed at how many school Groups were booking to attend Monster tours, with usually more than one a day and Rose constantly fielding phone calls for additional bookings. The Grafton Galleries Loft Space was a great space for the children’s activities to be set out. It allowed plenty of room for children to spread out without interrupting the viewing of the main part of the exhibition.
The final children’s program I attended during the week was the Kiddies Cushion Concert which is a partnership between the Gallery and the Conservatorium. The children who came had a ball playing instruments and dancing; it also helped to expand the idea of creativity outside of visual art. They did a monster theme and included songs from Phantom of the Opera and Puff the Magic Dragon. One little boy came dressed as an alien vampire with face paint and all. And the sweetest looking little girl, who was about two-and-a-half, monster-roared so loudly into the microphone that she gave everyone a start. It is obvious that Rose has worked quite diligently to create and maintain these relationships with schools and groups throughout the community. By having staff dedicated to developing engaging community and youth programs, they can be something quite highly valued and appreciated.
During the time between these events I was given the privilege of looking through past exhibition and program files to gather new ideas. Ideas such as creating a facilitator database and engaging in partnerships with local Kindys or art stores etc. are some of the ideas I would like to apply to my own projects. Hopefully I will learn some more in my second week !!!
Second week at Grafton Regional Gallery
My second week at Grafton was designed to be an extension of the first week’s project of designing activities for the JADA Family Fun Day. The start of the week focused on collecting and organising the materials required to run the activities I had initially developed with Rose. It was great to bounce ideas on what works best for different activities, and I learnt many tricks which I can apply to projects being run for G.A.M.E. – Gallery And Museum Explorers at Moreton Bay.
Rose was also very patient about showing me basic design and drawing skills in Illustrator and Photoshop – although I had done courses in Photoshop before, these were an eon ago and I was quite rusty! I had fun creating a mask outline, isolating images from photographs to be used for a Rebecca Bladen activity, and warping a carpet template on which the children use doggy crayons to draw skid marks. Rose was quite amused by my drawing techniques, which completely overlooked the many possible short cuts available to complete these images much faster.
The Family Fun Day was great and the private courtyard at Grafton Gallery was a lovely setting for the event. The children started streaming in almost as soon as the doors opened, and all volunteers and staff were on hand to assist and entertain our visitors. I had the pleasure of running two of the Tot Tours for the day-see photos.
We had swirling, singing Row your Boat, and as usual enjoyed the unique insights that children always seem to provide when looking at art works. One boy in particular observed that Jodi Daley’s work appeared to have a story – ‘where was the rider?’ Touch-box experiences gave them a chance to express the textural qualities of an art work and fun was had taking in turns to place items into a still-life design to reinvent 5 Forms 1 by Ken Smith. The level of interactivity with this predominantly under-6 group was surprising, and I feel encouraged to explore the possibility of a toddlers’ day at the Moreton Bay Galleries or Museums.
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M&GSQ’s 2012 Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program is funded by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a joint Queensland Government and Local Government partnership to support local arts and culture.
See M&GSQ’s website, www.magsq.com.au for more information about the Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program.
Museum organisations from Mackay and Chinchilla regions honoured in 2012 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards
Posted on: 30 November 2012
We continue our stories on each of the Winners and Special Commendation recipients of the 2012 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards (GAMAA) in five categories.
Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) proudly announced the recipients of the 2012 GAMAA at a special event hosted by the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, Caboolture, on Saturday 17 November. Guest presenter, Hon. Ros Bates, Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts congratulated this year’s recipients and presented the winners with a specially-commissioned trophy created by Queensland artist, Donna Marcus.
In our third article, we announce the GAMAA recipients in the category, ‘Organisations: Volunteer Run’:
WINNER – Pioneer Valley Museum at Mirani, Mackay Historical Society and Museum, Mackay Regional Council Library Service Heritage Collection, Greenmount Homestead and Sarina District Historical Society and Museum for their collaborative project, Sugar Strike: The Impact of the 1911 Sugar Strike on the Mackay region.
SPECIAL COMMENDATION – Chinchilla Historical Society Inc. for Making the Museum More Relevant to the Local Community.
This category was generously sponsored by Archival Survival. The Winner receives archival goods to the value of $1,000.
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