Glenreagh Memorial Museum’s annual art and photography exhibition, ‘Cedar and Steam’, will be held in the Glenreagh Hall on June 16-17.

A special section this year is APRONS. Over thirty colourful, creative aprons have been entered. Aprons made from recycled denim jeans and trimmed with lace doileys and bling, to elegantly painted gold roses on a black fabric will be on display.

Many children have decorated their plain calico aprons with potato prints, and some have made their own aprons and embellished them with lace, ribbons and trims. There will also be an historical display of aprons collated by Glenreagh’s ‘living treasure’, 101-year-old Bessie Webb.

The highlight of the official opening on Friday 16 will be the launch of a book about stories of heroism and survival in Glenreagh’s big flood in 1950. Ninety-four-year-old Zettie Carten will be present to receive this book which has recorded her harrowing tale of being rescued from the roof of her flooded home, when she was 21 years old, with four other family members and three local men. An Indigenous man, Jimmy Fisher, bravely launched a boat into the raging Orara River and battled his way through the turbulence and floating debris to the Darwin’s house. Jimmy’s brave actions allowed the three older women to be safely rowed to the railway line. He was too exhausted to continue the rescue, but others quickly followed suit until all were rescued. A ballad has been written about this incident and the poet, Charles Dunn, will be present at the opening of the exhibition to recite it to Zettie.

All the five sections of photography, painting, drawing, fibre and sculpture have received a good number of entries so that Glenreagh Hall will be overflowing with an eclectic mix of creativity. Two young lads have entered interesting sculptures that will hang from the ceiling of the Hall, above the sculpture section. Mac has made a gigantic jellyfish and Lennox has made a school of fish from plastic water bottles.

The Orara Valley primary school students have capably and creatively entered their artistic expression on the theme of ‘My Best Friend’. From buddies to budgies the children have painted, drawn and collaged an expression of their best friend.

Cedar and Steam is open on Friday evening from 6-8pm with a light supper of hearty country soups served at a cost of $5 per person or $20 per family. The official part will be at 7pm with the book launch and prizes awarded to the top entrants in each section. The doors are open from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, so come along to enjoy an arty experience, encourage the artists and support the Glenreagh Museum.

For any enquiries please do not hesitate to contact Wilma Towells on 6649 2136 or Honi Reifler on honireifler51@gmail.com

Honi Reifler