Feb-March, 2013: Fairfield Museum & Gallery: "Echoes from the Past"

Jo Mulholland aka Ozcloggie was Joop Mul

.......and so, like sand through the hourglass...........

Jo Mulholland - Ozcloggie. 

Letter to Sydney. (From my aunt regretting the state of the town hall of Gouda. ( In verse ).

My mother on the left. Sister Juul in the middle and younger sister, Bep (Elisabeth) on the right. 

It is Bep who loves poetry. 

Loves to make text rhyme! 

My mother on the left. Her sister Juul, on the right and their friend, Greet, in the middle. 

When my aunt lamented, in verse, the deterioration of the town hall of Gouda. ~ A postcard to Sydney.

IF YOU READ DUTCH, I hope you appreciate:

http://oudgouda.nl/website/2012/12/16/een-kaart-van-tante-bep-uit-sidney/

Emigratie toen (1956) ~ Tijd voor MAX tv.

Tijd voor MAX. 

Emigratie toen (1956). Mvr G. van Hoorn-Otto en dochter vertellen............

Our migration experience told to MAX TV, in the Netherlands

Tijd voor MAX - Emigratie toen en nu! 

As told by Mrs G. van Hoorn-Otto and her daughter. 

http://www.hebikietsgemist.nl/aflevering/137250/nederland-1/tijd-voor-max/emigratie-toen-en-nu-.html

Absolutely happy to be here BUT .......no "spin", please!!!

"Footprints as stepping stones" figuratively representing the exploration by Europeans, like the Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and English laid down, to seek better opportunities for commerce, all those years ago to enter Australia and to eventually help the take-over of Australia from the original inhabitants,  ..............just continues to bother me. 

Why? 

Because I sense "spin" that is used to continue to support the interests of the sellers to the detriment of the "factory fodder", the buyers and associates. 

Yes. My perspective had its roots in the AJC (Youth organisation set up based on 'socialist ideals', in the Netherlands.) 

Trigger for this "rant" this time?!? .......

I've had my ups and downs supporting a 'project', called: "Echoes from / of the Past". 

Starting off with an idea, artist, Frances Larder, to have marionettes tell the story of Dutch heritage brought to Australia through songs, dancing and story-telling by these "puppets"-in 'National costumes', it resulted, after 5 years of voluntary work, by 30 people, in a static display made up of backdrops, 'shadow boxes' and marionettes in those national costumes, serving a wonderful purpose as an insight into the roots, the heritage of Dutch-born Australians.  

I understand perfectly well that we stay alive because of economics. We need goods and services. We need farmers, manufacturers, business women and men, governments to keep it in order and their representatives in each others' countries.

When representatives of the Dutch government, in Australia, get in touch with we Dutch-born immigrants, I understand our position in the 'scheme of things', and I have received, through the years a nice annual diary. Past consuls-general, here in Sydney, have at least known who I was. We are more likely to support the interests of the Dutch. Here it comes. You knew it would: "We ARE those tulips under the gum tree."

I am disappointed that the second launch of the "Echoes of the past project", this time in Fairfield, a Sydney suburb, could apparently not attract a representative of the Dutch government to "do the opening", i.e., 'launch' the exhibition in the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.
After all a previous ambassador was there to open the Dutch Australian Centre in the Abel Tasman Retirement Village all those years ago, to mark the fact that immigrants from the Netherlands and others could hopefully count on suitable accommodation in the presence of a "beating heart" of Dutch origin, when the time came to be looked after in old age.

Driven by economics and those who had influence, Australia attracted 'workers' like my parents, while the Netherlands solved 'housing shortage' by encouraging people like my parents to go and then found that "guest workers" were needed when the economic pendulum swung again.

"Echoes from the Past" represents the heritage and culture that was transferred to the other side of the world. The governments and their representatives played a significant part in it.  I hope this "project" is appreciated by them.

*In Gouda (only a small city), the 40s and 50s there was no way my mother was to work any more (as she had done so well as a teenager in the candle factory). It would have seemed to fellow citizens that my father wasn't capable of supporting her.
Once we found our selves in Sydney, my mother briefly sewed Bonds underwear; worked in the migrant hostel dining room and then in the Emco factory (white-goods manufacturer), doing VERY heavy lifting working on huge machines.

I am concerned about the "SPIN" put on the migration experience and appreciate Frances Larder's creation of an exhibition which helps to show that the "factory fodder" came from a rich heritage.

Jo Mulholland was Joop Mul and uses Ozcloggie, on the www.                 J.M. ©2013

Ozcloggie's Blog Spot: Commerce, spin, Dutch, stepping stones, factory fo...

Ozcloggie's Blog Spot: Commerce, spin, Dutch, stepping stones, factory fo...: " Footprints as stepping stones " figuratively representing the exploration by Europeans, like the Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and English l...