The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Thank you for allowing a newcomer to start finding her way to the stories of Moreton Bay. When I arrived, I discovered I actually lived in the Moreton Bay area, rather than Brisbane, which meant I was eligible for assistance from this fund. I was a successful with a grant application for concept development of a project.
Mapping the stories: Inspiration
I was inspired by friends in Scotland who have made an interpretive map, click on a location and you can hear a story. I have provided a link here to Map of Stories.
In my research I found out this was a collaborative project with a team called Transgressive North, Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland and Rectangle with Mary Wintour), supported by Creative Scotland, EventScotland as part of the Year of Stories 2022.
I started looking for stories, but realised it will take a team to pull off a project like this.
Nonetheless, Moreton Bay has a number of History Museums, historic collections (including State Library of Queensland’s John Oxley collection) and more. When people heard what I was up to, several referred me to this book:
Tom Petrie's Reminiscences of Early Queensland
(Dating from 1837)
Recorded by his daughter (Constance Campbell Petrie)
The book is available online at Gutenberg – https://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks20/2000451h.html
As with many books written by early white settlers in Victoria, (where I've moved from) I cringed at the following:
... The aborigines of Australia are fast dying out, and with them one of the most interesting phases in the history and development of man. Articles such as these, referring to the old Brisbane blacks, of whom I believe but one old warrior still remains, are well worth permanently recording ... they show an intimate and profound knowledge of the aboriginals with whom they deal, and if only to show with what diligence they have been written, the native names are correctly i.e., rationally spelt.
However, the book is a signpost to first nations, peoples, places and place names and worth further investigation. Once again, I acknowledge its limitations.
Visiting Museums
The Seaside Museum on Bribie Island ...
Here I am in front of a photo of the Bribie Island Jetty circa 1920. Fabulous adventure and what a view of the Glasshouse Mountains, incredible mystic quality to the Mountains. So many possible stories, what are the important ones. Cook sailed passed naming the Glasshouse Mountains and Matthew Flinders first white explorer to go ashore. Some great stories here thanks to Bribie Island Historical Society. The story that intrigues me is ... how did it get its name?
A Kippa Making Ceremony at Samford Bora Ground
On permanent loan from the Queensland Museum, is the diorama of the Samford Aboriginal Bora Ground.
Comprehensive information on the advent of the preservation of the Samford Bora Ring by Dr Elizabeth Nesta Marks can be found at this link:
I was immediately intrigued by this display, they are terms I've not heard of. I have a trip planned with Uncle Alan Parsons, a first nations storyteller to start further investigation. I have gathered lots of notes. Of course, as you can see, it is a place for celebration and corroboree.
Pine Rivers Heritage Museum
The Pine Rivers Heritage Museum is currently being refurbished, it will soon reopen to explore the stories and significance of the district throughout history.
When I visited, I was surprised to find it nestled next to...
"Old Petrie Town, an historic township situated on 52 acres of gardens and light bushland. Housing a working Steam Museum, foundry, blacksmith and Fire Museum there is plenty to do for the whole family. On Sunday the town comes alive with markets, and there is heaps to see and do. Will look forward to exploring more when it opens."
Was this timber country?
Photo of me inside Pine Rivers Museum ...
Was this image and prop from Cloudland's dance Hall?
Redcliffe Anywhere Festival: Down to the Sea
Fell in love with Redcliffe and thrilled to announce I'll be performing at the Anywhere Festival: Down to the Sea ... more details to follow. Hoping to connect with Redcliffe's many history buffs.
A few photos detailing Redcliffe as Queensland's first White Settlement and home to the Bee Gees ...
