Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor: 100 Brooches 100 Women 100 Stories

The Honourable Dame Roma Flinders Mitchell

Roma Mitchell was Australia’s first female judge. Born in Adelaide in 1913, she followed her father’s footsteps and won a scholarship to study law at the University of Adelaide. She was one of only 10 graduates, and the only woman, who successfully found employment during the difficult Depression era.

Roma served as a barrister for 28 years, specialising in matrimonial law and eventually became a partner in a law firm. In 1962, she became the first Australian woman to be appointed Queen’s Counsel, a title recognising her expertise and seniority.  In 1965 Roma became a judge in the Supreme Court. She remained the only women to be appointed a judge in an Australian superior court during her 18 years of service and made many significant contributions to landmark cases and reports.  

Dame Roma Mitchell supported legislative action aimed at the equality of women, lobbied for and chaired the Human Rights Commission and endlessly strove to encourage more women to take up academic appointments. Roma became the first woman to be appointed Governor of South Australia in 1991 and was a well-loved figure.

Katheryn Leopoldseder, Roma Mitchell hair brooch, 2011.
Nylon hair, oxidised 925 silver and stainless steel.
Photograph Rod Buchholz.

Katheryn Leopoldseder created a brooch symbolising the legal wig, exploring the symbolic notion of hair and the way in which Roma symbolically exchanged her own hair for the legal wig and the leadership and authority associated with it. The brooch was crafted using nylon hair, oxidized 925 silver and stainless steel.[i]

Don’t miss your chance to see this brooch and many more!

Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor: 100 Woman 100 Brooches 100 Stories is on show from 26 October - 15 December 2013 at Hurstville Museum & Gallery.

Visit our website for more information.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor is an artisan travelling exhibition, toured by Museum & Gallery Services Queensland.

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[i] Information taken from Franzidis, Evie: Tales of 100 Inspirational Australian Women, in: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor: 100 Women, 100 Brooches, 100 Stories, artisan, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 2011, p. 84.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor: 100 Women 100 Brooches 100 Stories Exhibition

Hurstville Museum & Gallery is opening an exciting new exhibition Tinker, Tailor,Soldier, Sailor: 100 Woman 100 Brooches 100 Stories on the 25 October 2013. 

It is the largest jewellery exhibition ever seen in Australia and was originally created to celebrate the 2011 centenary of International Women’s Day.
The exhibition is an artisan travelling exhibition, toured by Museum & Gallery Services Queensland.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor relates to an old nursery rhyme sung by little girls to predict the profession of their future husband. ‘Not in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that all the professions recited, from priest to lawyers, would one day be occupations for women.’[1]

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor celebrates the professional achievements of 100 Australian women through the creation of 100 brooches, crafted by 100 of Australia’s finest female jewellers. The women featured were chosen by Dr Dorothy Erickson, an eminent jeweller and history enthusiast and their achievements are in every field imaginable – from tinker to tailor; bishop to soldier; bullocky to lawyer. Amongst the famous women included are Saint Mary Mackillop, Cecilia May Gibbs, Miles Franklin and Kylie Kwong.

The exhibition will run from 26 October - 15 December 2013. Don’t miss out on your only chance to see this exhibition in Sydney!

You are welcome to join us for the official opening on
Friday 25 October 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start. 

Please RSVP to (02) 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

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[1] Erickson, Dorothy: What wonderful women, in: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor: 100 Women, 100 Brooches, 100 Stories, artisan, Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 2011, p. 1. 

Drawing for Illustration

Have you always wanted to illustrate your own work? Come and learn how at Hurstville Museum & Gallery’s next workshop, Drawing for Illustration. Our tutor, Felicity Gardner, is a professional free-lance illustrator. You can check out her work here. The class will be held this Saturday 21 July from 1.30pm - 3.30pm. It's for 12 to 18 years olds and costs $10 per person, bookings are essential. Call 9330 6444 or email us to book your place!

High school students – looking for something to do this school holidays?

Why not come to the Museum & Gallery for a 2-session workshop on Stencilling, where you will create stencilled graffiti style artworks on canvas or paper. The workshop will run over 2 weeks on Wednesday 4 July & Wednesday 11 July, and each session runs from 10.00am to 12.00pm.

Where: 14 MacMahon St, Hurstville
Ages: 12 - 18 years
Cost: $10 per session ($20 for the workshop)

Places are limited! Contact the Museum & Gallery on 9330 6444 or via email to book. Booking information and conditions available here.

Painting With Collage at the Museum & Gallery

Participants at our recent Painting With Collage workshop created ‘paintings’ of a very different kind. Our presenter Annabelle demonstrated how to use recycled coloured paper to create a bright and colourful work, and you can see the lovely results in Lisa P’s creation shown below.

What kind of creative workshops would you like to do at Hurstville Museum & Gallery? Post your suggestions below or contact us on 9330 6444 or via email.

Creative Workshops for Young People

Want to explore your creative side? Hurstville City Museum & Gallery is running a series of creative workshops for young people aged 12 – 18 years.

Upcoming topics include:

Saturday 21 April
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Painting with Watercolours
Enhance your painting repertoire with a session focusing on watercolours.

Saturday 19 May
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Self Portraits in Charcoal
Look at the fine art of drawing the human face, and create a portrait of yourself in charcoal and pastels.
NB: Each participant should bring a photograph of themself to work from.

Saturday 16 June
1.30pm – 3.30pm
Silk Painting Basics
Create your own design and learn how to paint it onto a silk scarf using silk paint and gutta.

Each workshop explores the basics of a new medium or artistic practice with qualified tutors, and materials are provided (unless otherwise stated). Participants will learn new skills and techniques and create their own original artwork to take home.

Workshops are $10 per person per workshop and bookings are essential. For more information and booking details, visit our website or contact the Museum & Gallery on 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au.

Tell us what kinds of art and craft activities YOU'D like to see at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery. Post your responses here!

Celebrating 125 years

Saturday 25 February was the official opening of our Hurstville Celebrates:125 years exhibition. Clr Steve McMahon, Mayor of Hurstville City Council gave a fantastic opening speech at it was a fun day for all involved.
To celebrate the official 125th anniversary of the proclamation of the Council, Hurstville City Museum & Gallery will be hosting special activities on Sunday 25 March suited for all ages.
Activities will include rare historical footage, free children's craft activities and highlight tours around our exhibitions. Visitors to the Museum & Gallery are encouraged to donate photographs of the local area to our local studies photograph collection.

Creative Cards for St Valentine's Day

Participants at recent our Be My Valentine workshop spent an afternoon decorating a card and envelope for Valentine's Day. Also on the agenda was the fine art of weaving paper hearts, which turned out to be quite tricky (until you got the hang of it)! As you can see, the class came up with some beautiful and imaginative designs.

What kind of art and craft activities would YOU like to see happen at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery? Post your thoughts here or contact the Museum & Gallery at museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Be My Valentine

It's nearly Valentine's Day! Join us at the Museum & Gallery for a fun afternoon of papercrafts and make a handmade card for your Valentine. Participants will take home a handmade card, envelope, and a small woven paper gift basket.

Sunday 12 February 2012
2.30pm - 4.30pm $5 per person
Hurstville City Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon St, Hurstville

Ages 12 to adult
Refreshments and materials provided, places are limited
Bookings on 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Image courtesy Bing Wu

Celebrate the festive season at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery

The festive season has arrived at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery are you are invited! Join us for an afternoon of Christmas crafts with experienced art teacher Bing Wu. Participants will be shown how to make their own decorated Christmas cards and other Christmas items.

The Christmas Creative Workshop will be held at 14 MacMahon St Hurstville on Sunday 11 December between 2:30pm - 4:30pm. All welcome, ages 12 to adult, and it's okay if you're a beginner. The workshop is $10 per person and refreshments and materials will be provided. For more information or bookings please contact the Museum & Gallery on 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Tell us what kinds of art and craft activities YOU'D like to see at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery. Post your responses here!