Sue,s Crochet - good start.

Awash with wool

The Wool has arrived for Homespun Project

Wool glorious wool. Come along to Friday night art tonight. 7.30 pm Dunnart Studio Gallery, Dunn st Ravensthorpe. All welcome

ORDINARY PEOPLE – EXTRAORDINARY STORIES

Emotions were stirred in Ravensthorpe on Sunday as 50 people attended a special showing of ‘Lady Soldiers’ a film by visiting Historian Lyn Dale, organised by the Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council at the Red Room.

The pre-ANZAC screening told the stories of 17 Lady Soldiers who served in the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps between 1950 and 1970.  A majority came from rural Australia, including June Pearson from Hopetoun.

A remarkable aspect of the film was the pragmatic belief by those featured that their experiences were ordinary, when in fact they were anything but.

Their calm recollections brought smiles and tears to an appreciative audience. They told of enlisting, travelling to distant training camps, meeting and living with complete strangers, parade ground training, and being assigned to tasks and places that defied the expectations of a glamorous uniformed experience.

They also told of falling in love, marrying and, sadly, being forced to resign from the WRAAC as a result.

A special supporting event was the Qualup Choir which preceded the film with a stirring rendition of GrIeg’s Finlandia, in preparation for a further presentation at the Ravensthorpe ANZAC day ceremony.

Another highlight was the presentation by local Terri Pens who told the story of her grandfather James (Jimmy) Wood, a recipient of the Victoria Cross in World War 1. Terri told of the extraordinary bravery shown by James in singlehandedly defending a position against a company of German troops until Allied forces could be advanced to secure an Allied victory. Her grandfather’s Victoria Cross was exhibited during Terri’s excellent presentation.

The evening concluded with supper during which the audience had the opportunity to exchange wartime and military service stories with Lyn and her Lady Soldier friend Cheryl Burrows, Terri Pens, and members of the Qualup Choir.

 

Friendship Quilt

At the quilting workshop in Hopetoun.

The writing workshop at the Ravensthorpe Community Resource Centre.

 

Homespun project launches at Hopetoun markets

Crochet,knitting, felting and spinning are becoming a lost art. Homespun seeks to reintroduce these crafts to a new generation through informal and formal workshops and social events from may to September this year.
We are hoping to construct over 2000 flowers to be used in a large scale art exhibition during the ravensthorpe wildflower show from 7-17 September

Here we are launching the project at the handmade or homegrown markets.

Come along to our first few events:

Fri 17 may 7pm Dunnart studio gallery come and learn to crochet with leoni de haas from one more stitch

Sun 19 may 10-11 morning tea at the Toun Beach Cafe

A basket of wool and needles will be placed at ravensthorpe and Hopetoun crcs and the Toun beach cafe so that anyone can get involved

Also every Thursday 3.30 pm at Ravensthorpe Community Resource Centre come along for a coffee and crochet session.

Wool, buttons and needles can be collected and donated at ravensthorpe iga and the Toun beach cafe

The project also raises awareness of the decline in the local wool industry with the wool day no longer featuring in the ravensthorpe calendar. All wool used must be up cycled or pre-owned to reflect the make do and mend values of yesteryear or if newly purchased it must be 'Australian made' wool which supports our home grown industry.

The overall project and planned exhibition comments on the cycle of our local economy - from farming, to mining and tourism. Subversively our flowers are 'not made in china', 'do not require water, batteries or ongoing care and maintenance' and will reflect the resilience and sustainability of our community despite experiencing mine closures. The final community art exhibition will also be a visual metaphor for the town's ability to be fruitful and creative despite dry conditions, much like the wildflowers that we are famous for. During the festival we are hoping that visitors to the region will take a flower with them as a means of thanks for contributing to our local economy.

Lyn Dale Event 21st Aril

Ravensthorpe Regional Arts Council Presents

“Lady Soldiers”

A documentary by WA Historian Lyn Kane Dale

Lyn has a passionate interest in telling the stories of ordinary Australians. In 2011 she received a grant from the Department of Veteran Affairs to produce ‘Lady Soldiers’, which tells the stories of 16 women who served in the Australian Army during the period 1950 to 1990.

 Sunday April 21^st

Ravensthorpe Community Centre Red Room from 3:30pm to 6:00pm

A viewing of the film, followed by an alfresco BRING-A-PLATE meal after which audience members are invited to share their own family service stories and show any family memorabilia. 

Cost $10.

Bookings at Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun CRCs.

Inquiries to Fay Obrien on 9838 3271