Fitting Finale

Parking on the Bondi foreshore and running through the pouring rain wasn’t quite the end I had envisaged for our night out of ‘Culture.’ But it turned out to be quite perfect. Accompanied by the Sirius Ensemble, my friend Spike Mason launched his new album Flying at Scots College where he currently works, a wonderful collection of jazz compositions based around a poem I wrote a few years ago. He and the nine-piece ensemble had recorded the album in the same theatre as the launch some time ago, and the whole project had finally come to the point where it was being sent out into the world.

After surviving the trauma of reciting the poem, definitely do not like being up front, not one little bit, we were able to sit back and be transported by Spike’s music to another place. Spike wrote the whole album while in the air on his weekly commute from Launceston to Sydney and back, and as I closed my eyes, I really could feel a definite sensation of flying. I was tempted to spread my ‘wings’ right there in my seat, but thought that might look just a little too weird.

The music had an emotive language all its own, gently rocking and almost lulling us to sleep as it drew us along on its journey. My son commented that what would have made his night complete was for a bird to fly in to the theatre, glide effortlessly around with the music, then land and simply join the audience. If it had happened I don’t think anyone would’ve batted an eyelid.

All too soon it was over and we stepped out into a wonderful wet night after what had been a horrendously hot day. With the rain soon turning into a torrent, obscuring the lane markings in the reflected lights from cars and buildings on the road, we put our faith in the GPS and wove this way and that, as you’re wont to do in Sydney if you want to get anywhere, finally arriving at our destination in one piece as the GPS lady had promised. But not before the most spectacular streak of lightning lit up the harbour and the Bridge in one of those brilliant bolts that crackles as it splits the heavens from one side to the other.

And the running in the rain? Well, that was just in search of a Messina ice cream, not just any ordinary ice cream mind you. Mine was coffee. Delish. A lovely way to end a week away.

Flying in

drawn by the music

tuning in

A Most Necessary Expedition

Christopher Robin

saved and reawakened by

Pooh Bear and his friends

Canvassing the Village

Forty canvases

colour and diversity

of our common life

The Web of Community - Anita

The Poatina Tree - Jo

Forty canvases. Forty depictions of community life in the Poatina: This is your Life art exhibition were unveiled yesterday as entrants, residents and visitors gathered for the opening in our village’s gallery in rural Tasmania. With entries from toddlers right through to pensioners, it was fascinating to see the variety of subject matter central to each picture.

Sunrise - Eva aged 7

Paintings, drawings, collages and multi-media adorned the canvases, and what I especially enjoyed discovering was the quality of some of the children’s works, easily mistaken for adult entries. For some, their relationship to the landscape and natural environment was foremost, whereas others portrayed aspects of community life important to them, or challenged us to consider the ramifications of European colonisation on Australia’s island State.

The Year of Living Simply - Tabitha

Sharing this space with only a hundred other people means we interact with each other on a very regular basis, be it in passing at the store, post office, gift shop, school or cafes, or at the various community events designed to bring residents together. Not only do such activities provide opportunities to get better acquainted, but long lasting relationships are often formed as we work alongside each other fulfilling roles that keep the village running, as well as relating to visitors as they break their journey, or come to stay for conferences and retreats.

Living in a small rural community is not to everyone’s liking, but themes of sharing, contemplation, caring, appreciation, fun, exploration, family, unity, and vulnerability were foremost in the art works, saying plenty about how much this committed group of people has invested in its common life. And with the beauty of the bush and the mountain as a backdrop, who wouldn’t want to be here.

Exploration - Luke

I'm not who you think I am - Chris

Untitled - Keith

Contemplation - Suzanne

You see, I feel - Wynsome

A Robin's Blessing - Jill