Vale Robin Gibb 1949 – 2012

Singer songwriter Robin Gibb passed away on 20 May, after a long battle with cancer. Robin, along with brothers Maurice and Barry, was a founding member of the iconic band the Bee Gees. With careers spanning decades, Robin and his brothers received many accolades, including induction into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the ARIA Hall of Fame. The Bee Gees are known for their skilled and soulful harmonies, in which Robin’s sweet and touching voice played an integral part.

Many have heard about the British-born brothers’ early years on the Australian pop music scene. However, few people are aware of their strong connection to Hurstville. The Bee Gees recorded a number of songs at the St Clair Recording Studio which was located on Queens Road, Hurstville. Eight of these were released on the Spin record label, including the now famous Spicks and Specks (which was their first real hit in Australia after years of failing to attain chart success in their adopted homeland). Robin’s death has sparked an outpouring of public grief and sympathy, especially in light of the untimely deaths of his brothers Andy (aged 30) and Maurice (aged 53). You can hear legendary Australian recording artist Col Joye talk about the Bee Gees’ early career in Australia, including their time in Hurstville here.

Home front: wartime Sydney 1939–45 exhibition now on at Museum of Sydney

Home front: wartime Sydney 1939–45 is an exciting exhibition which will be on display at the Museum of Sydney until 9 September 2012. This exhibition explores the experiences of Sydneysiders living on the home front during World War II and how they coped with the uncertainty, loneliness, fear and excitement of war to their changing city. These stories aretold through text, drawings, photographs, objects, film, costume and personal memorabilia. As part of this exhibition, objects were selected by Museum of Sydney staff from Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery’s war collection to form part of this exciting new exhibition. Stay tuned for updates...

‘Why not check out some more of our war collections in our exhibition, 'Living on the Water’s Edge: Stories of St George’. 

Image caption: 'Change over to a victory job' (detail), artist unknown, 1943. Australian War Memorial ARTV01060.

Rockdale Musical Society’s production of Avenue Q

Rockdale Musical Society's Avenue Q program
Image courtesy Emma Williams

Having spent a good deal of time researching the history of Rockdale Musical Society for our current exhibition, Let Me Entertain You, staff from the Museum & Gallery decided to check out one of their productions.

Avenue Q is a musical with a difference! An all singing, all dancing spectacular, it tells the story of a group of outer suburban New Yorkers as they struggle to find their place in the world. The story is told by both human performers and puppets, and is definitely not for children!

Rockdale Musical Society's production of the show was excellent, and despite being put under pressue by a last minute change in venue, both cast and crew did a great job. A good time was had by all who attended and we can highly recommend this performance group.

Have you seen Avenue Q? Or any other Rockdale Musical Society productions? What did you think? Post your thoughts here.

Learn more about Rockdale Musical Society and other famous performances groups and spaces in the St George Region at Let Me Entertain You, an exhibition at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery. On display at 14 MacMahon St Hurstville until Sunday 23rd October. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 4pm, Sunday 2pm-5pm, all welcome!

Let Me Entertain You exhibition now open!

Guest speaker Rick Lum enthralls visitors with his recollections
of playing in the band Hush.

Guests enjoying the audio-visual display in the exhibition.

While Robbie Williams may not have been in attendance, the official opening of Let Me Entertain You last Saturday was a great day's entertainment for all ages.

Special guest speaker Rick Lum, bass player of the band Hush, talked candidly about his experiences performing in suburban Sydney during the 1970s. Rick recalled performing up to three gigs a night and commented that he liked Hurstville Entertainment Centre as 'they had actual dressing rooms'.

Guests were then treated to a showcase of local talent including two vocal numbers by
Katherine Sharpham from Rockdale Musical Society's upcoming production of Avenue Q and dance and singing performances by two students from Harlow School of Dance @ Jump Street.

Exhibition highlights include a large prop jukebox from The Regals' production of Leader of the Pack, original theatre seats from Shopfront Theatre, ephemera from Hurstville Entertainment Centre's civic rock dances, original vinyls from Spin Records recorded in St George, and a Skyhooks costume made from Australian tea towels.

Exhibition on display until 22 October 2011 at
Hurstville City Museum & Gallery, 14 MacMahon St, Hurstville.

Sing-a-long with Repertoire

Repertorie is an exhibition of works at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery by 10 members of the Sing Australia Sutherland singing group. They share a love of self expression through singing, painting, ceramics and photography.

Say goodbye to the stress of the week and connect with others in a supportive and encouraging way through singing.

Come and join members of Sing Australia Sutherland as they sing a variety of classic and well known songs including songs by Neil Diamond, ABBA, Lennon/McCartney, Cat Stevens and songs from musicals and gospel.

Saturday 25 June 2011
11am - 12 midday
Hurstville City Museum & Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville
Free entry
Phone 9330 6444 for more information

Long Weekend Entertainment

The long weekend is fast approaching, and if you find that you have no idea what you are going to do with it; well then, this is the blog for you!
It is now a well known fact that the Hurstville LMG will be (unfortunately) closed for this Easter's long weekend, and the staff will be given a chance to catch up with their reading/movies/music that they have been putting aside for this weekend.

You might be wondering just what it is that the Hurstville LMG staff read/listen to/watch in their free time, so I am about to tell you.
I went around and asked the staff what they would be reading/watching/listening to this long weekend, and I came away with a list about five pages long... and that was only HALF of the staff here! So I've shortened the list to some of the top suggestions (although if you want to hear more, just let me know!)

For those parents out thee looking for some good picture books for their children to read this long weekend, some great suggestions would be: It's a Book and The Big Elephant in the Room by Lane Smith; The Legend of the Golden Snail by Graeme Base and the Old Tom book series by Leigh Hobbs.

For the juniors starving for a new adventure, I've been told to recommend: Worldshaker by Richard Harland (also really good for teens!) and the Worst Band in the Universe by Graeme Base.

Teenagers who find themselves with free moments between hanging out with friends this weekend should take a good look at: Maus: a survivor's tale by Art Spiegelman (a moving graphic novel about the holocaust); The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group and The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks and Where the Mild Things Are: a very meek parody by Maurice Send-Up.

For those out there looking for a new author to sink their teeth into, take a good look at: James Patterson; Joyce Carol Oates; Lisa Kleypas; Michael Connelly and J.D Robb - for some wonderful books.

If all you want is a good novel to get you through the weekend, the staff at Hurstville LMG have recommended: Daughters-in-law by Joanna Trollope; Kill Your Friends by John Niven; The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

The non-fiction lovers out there simply must read: The Ghost at the Wedding: a true story by Shirley Walker (to get you in the ANZAC spirit!); It's Not About the Bike: my journey back to life by Lance Armstrong; The Wolf at the Table: a memoir by Augusten Burroughs and one of the many Lonely Planet Guidebooks (taking you on a trip around the world, without ever leaving your chair!)

By way of magazines, among the most popular with the LMG staff are: Donna Hay; Australian Personal Computer (APC) and Practical Parenting.

And if all you REALLY want for this long weekend is a good movie to sit back and enjoy, take a good look at: The Sixth Sense; The Wedding Singer; The Karate Kid; Toy Story 3; The Social Network; A Fish Called Wanda; Long Way Round; the Story of India; The Darling Buds of May; Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version) and Dirty Dancing.

If, when you were reading this blog, you came across something that you really wanted to read/watch/listen to, and then began to worry because the LMG staff have said that they would have it out this weekend - don't fret! After many painstaking hours of bribery and blackmail (not seriously!); I managed to convince my fellow staff memebers to hold off borrowing their weekend entertainment until 8:59pm on Thursday (one minute before closing time) to give you a chance to get down here and grab a copy. But you'd better hurry!

Getting ready to Begin-Again!

The final countdown is on until The Begin-Again and the excitement is building!

If you need reminding, The Begin-Again is a joint project by Hurstville City Council, C3West and Australian artist Angelica Mesiti. The Begin-Again was developed in response to Hurstville City Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Over two nights, from sunset to midnight, Mesiti will bring the streets of Hurstville to life with four site specific video installations and a live performance that invoke the architecture of Hurstville as a backdrop to the stories of the area.

Hurstville City Council staff and staff from the Museum of Contemporary Art have been busy preparing for this marvellous event. Rehearsals have taken place; beautiful promotional material has been spread far and wide and an induction for event volunteers has been held so we’re almost set and ready to go.

We’ve been lucky enough to have a sneak peak at the films too and they are, well….amazing!
Whilst the event is not far off now (only three days to go!) check out our preview video.

For more information visit The Begin-Again webpage

The Begin-Again
Friday 1 & Saturday 2 April 2011
7.30pm - 12 midnight

Seniors Week 2011 - Live Life

Each year in March the Library, Museum & Gallery along with Hurstville City Council celebrate NSW Seniors Week with a series of special events. The theme Live Life encourages Seniors to learn something new, make friends and participate in community activities. Please check the calendar for the full range of events being offered through council.

Leviathan - The Unauthorised Biography of Sydney

A new work that celebrates the colourful, and often dark, history of Sydney is opening at Hurstville Entertainment Centre’s Marana Auditorium on 18 September – Leviathan, based on the award-winning book Leviathan – The Unauthorized Biography of Sydney by John Birmingham.

Leviathan is a sprawling non-fictional examination of Sydney, blending factual recreations of early penal settlement, with brutal accounts of asylum seeking, racism and abuse, and powerful stories of Sydney’s migrant history

Kicking off this year’s Hurstville Discovery Festival of Community Arts, this fantastic show, launched recently at the Marana Theatre by Sydney Theatre Company directors Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton together with our Mayor, Clr Philip Sansom, is being produced by Sydney Theatre Company in partnership with Hurstville City Council and features Sydney Theatre Company’s ‘The Residents’ together with local community groups.

Tickets are now available for LEVIATHAN – The Unauthorised Biography of Sydney
http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingDates.aspx?eid=4972 or by phoning 9330 6084.
There are two shows only in Hurstville on the 18th and 19th of September so book your seats now!

Meanwhile, check out these photos from the Leviathan Media Launch!

Cate Blanchett & Andrew Upton, Artistic Directors of Sydney Theatre Company, at the Media Launch of Leviathan at the Hurstville entertainment Centre in early August

Leviathan Director, Stefo Nantsou with members of the cast from Sydney Theatre Company and the local Community.

(Images courtesy of the Sydney Theatre Company's Leviathan blog. http://leviathanstc.posterous.com/)