Fraser Coast Scene - September 2023

THE BIRD MAN ARTIST

Story: Dan Walker and Dr Llewellyn Millhouse

It started out as a little art project.

Twenty years ago, local wildlife enthusiast, artist and community advocate Alan Peebles approached Hervey Bay City Council o ering to paint the sides of a couple of the city’s bus shelters, using the otherwise blank triangular sides to highlight some of the region’s abundant birdlife, about which he was deeply passionate.

Following a warm reception of Alan’s initial two meticulously hand painted shelters, he undertook decorating a few more. Fast forward six years and Alan had single-handedly adorned every bus shelter across the Hervey Bay area with a bird species endemic to the area. To travel around Hervey Bay by bus was to tour an outdoor gallery of Alan’s works!

Hanging up his paintbrush a er his 103rd bus shelter, Alan turned his focus to wildlife documentaries and environmental activism – he was a key figure in the community push to save the Arkarra Tea Gardens from development, as well as the leading force behind the creation of Pir’ri Reserve in River Heads. Transforming the bush reserve into a birdwatcher’s haven, Alan worked tirelessly on the construction of

PROFILE: ALAN PEEBLES (1929-2022)

two kilometres of walking track with multiple locations to rest and view the wildlife. This included a peaceful clearing in the centre of the reserve, fittingly called Peebles’ Rest in his honour. Alan Peebles passed away in February 2022, aged 92 – his ashes sprinkled at an intimate gathering of his friends and family in the place he felt most at home, Pir’ri Reserve.

Throughout the 2010s, updates to accessibility requirements for public transport eventually saw wheelchair-friendly shelters replace the original bus shelters adorned with Alan’s birds. However, many of Alan’s artworks live on throughout the region, Council relocating many bus shelters to more rural locales. Now, twenty years a er picking up his paintbrush, Alan’s works are making their way indoors for the first time, with a selection of 30 murals featured in an exhibition honouring his life’s work at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery (HBRG). Alan Peebles: Bird Man celebrates Alan’s bus shelter project by presenting the best of the bird murals alongside his self-published wildlife documentaries, combining art and wildlife education in honour of Alan’s legacy.

COVER IMAGE:

Elleaha M (Year 7 Student), Self Portrait 2023. On display at Gatakers Artspace from Friday 15 September until Sunday 5 November in Twenty23 – a showcase from St. Mary’s College students. www.ourfrasercoast.com.au

/ourfrasercoast

Fraser Coast Regional Council acknowledges to the east, the Butchulla (Badtjala) and to the west, the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) People, their connection to Country (land, sea and sky) and recognises the many places of cultural, spiritual, social and economic significance in the community.

We pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging. The Fraser Coast Regional Council also acknowledges other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reside in and have connections with the Fraser Coast Region.

A er relocating to the Fraser Coast in 2022, HBRG’s Curator Dr. Llewellyn Millhouse was captivated by stories of Alan’s advocacy for the town he loved.

“One of the first artworks I saw in the Fraser Coast was an Alan Peebles bird mural on my street that I noticed while moving in.

“When I began to investigate the story of how this painting came to exist,

Hearing of Alan’s passing just a few months prior to Hervey Bay Regional Gallery’s reopening, Dr. Millhouse was highly motivated to bring Alan’s bird murals into the gallery. The resulting exhibition is sure to be a hit with long term residents of Hervey Bay, a charming and idiosyncratic portrait of Hervey Bay through the eyes of one of its prominent advocates.

STAY INSPIRED!

This guide shares a taste of Council’s arts, culture and heritage program and was correct at time of printing. To keep up to date with the latest information visit our website.

We welcome contributions from our creative community. To find out more email: ArtsCulture@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Fraser Coast Scene is distributed free as a marketing and engagement initiative of Fraser Coast Regional Council. It’s about promoting Council’s programs and services by sharing stories of our arts and cultural community and their connection to Council’s spaces.

Contents are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.

“I could not imagine a better example of how art can make a positive impact on our community.”

I was blown away by the generosity, vision and community spirit of Alan’s bird mural project.

– Dr Llewellyn Millhouse, Curator HBRG

Alan Peebles: Bird Man Sat 9 Sep - Sun 12 Nov at Hervey Bay Regional Gallery.

THREE PERFORMANCES! Fri 8 Sep | 10AM, 1PM & 6PM

THREE PERFORMANCES!

Mr and Mrs Twit are the nastiest couple you could ever hope (not) to meet. Both are on a quest to be meaner than the other – but, is there someone out there who can out-twit the Twits? Packed with Dahlicious mischief, hilarious mayhem and big belly laughs, The Twits is an unmissable fun for all ages

Thu 21 Sep | 7.30PM

Heralded as a “brilliant new landmark in Australian musicals” (The Australian), The Sunshine Club is written and directed by proud Noonuccal Nuugi man Wesley Enoch AM, an acclaimed creative force in Australian Theatre. This energetic and engaging musical play has a variety of music styles, with 28 songs composed by the esteemed John Rodgers.

SHAKE & STIR THEATRE CO AND THE BROLGA THEATRE PRESENT

HIT PRODUCTIONS AND THE BROLGA THEATRE PRESENT

WHAT’S ON | SEPTEMBER 2023

5 Walker Street, Maryborough 4122 6060

Box Office Open Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 4pm

SCREENING!

The Last Daughter

Tue 5 Sep | 6.30PM

After being raised by a white family, a young girl is taken away and returned to the Aboriginal family she didn’t know. Decades later, she’s on a journey of discovery.

Luke Kidgell - Happy Hour

Mon 11 Sep | 8PM

After his sold out International ‘Cheers to that!’ tour, Luke Kidgell is back on the road with his brand new show ‘Happy Hour’.

Hans - Disco Spektakulär

Fri 15 Sep | 7PM

Rising like a purple feathered phoenix from the ashes, Hans is set to get the party started with a slew of disco hits. You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You’ll leave covered in glitter!!

Royal Czech BalletSleeping Beauty

Sat 14 Oct | 7.30PM

Following their 2022 performances of Swan Lake, the Royal Czech Ballet returns with their presentation of this classic.

Morning MelodiesKing of Swingers

Thu 19 Oct | 11AM

Rhydian Lewis returns with Sinatra Through The Years –the most authentic sounding tribute to the unforgettable music of ‘Old Blues Eyes’.

Les Divas: An All

Male Revue

Fri 27 Oct | 8PM

Australia’s six-foot something songstress Prada Clutch plays the Goddess of Pop; Cher in her new show set on the Las Vegas Strip.

166 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay 4197 4206

FREE ENTRY Open Tuesday to Friday: 10am - 4pm

Weekends: 10am - 2pm.

EXHIBITION: SAT 9 SEP - SUN 12 NOV

EXHIBITION: FRI 22 SEP - SUN 12 NOV

Alan Peebles: Bird Man

Local wildlife enthusiast Alan Peebles painted 103 murals of local bird species on bus shelters throughout the Fraser Coast. Twenty years on from the first of these murals, HBRG presents a celebration of the generosity, vision and community spirit of Peebles’ bus shelter project.

Exhibition Launch & Curator’s Talk

Sat 9 Sep | 10:30AM -11:30AM

Celebrate the launch of Alan Peebles: Bird Man with a tour and talk by exhibition curator Llewellyn Millhouse.

Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize

Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize tells the story of our reciprocal relationship with the natural world. In the finalists exhibition at HBRG see a diverse range of conceptual and aesthetic approaches to the prize theme of ‘people, place and the environment’.

Girra Exhibition Opening & Prize Announcement

Fri 22 Sep | 5:30PM - 7:30PM

Be the first to celebrate the announcement of the $25,000 acqusitive prize.

Spring Makers’ Market

Sat 9 Sep | 10AM - 1PM

Browse handmade wares by local artisans whle enjoying fresh coffee, live music and interactive workshops (bookings required). Find out more at hbrg.com.au.

Images (top le ): Alan Peebles, Eastern Curlew Bus Shelter Painting, 2009.; (bottom le ) Claire Grant, Domestic Travel Restrictions May Be In Place (nothing’s as precious as a hole in the ground) (detail), 2021-22.

311 Kent St, Maryborough 4190 5818

FREE ENTRY Open Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am - 3.30pm

Weekends: 9.30am - 2pm.

EXHIBITION

UNTIL SUN 10 SEP

39th Annual Competitive Art Exhibition

Hervey Bay Art Society

EXHIBITIONS FRI 15 SEP – SUN 5 NOV

Opening: Fri 15 Sep | 6PM

An Aerial Perspective

Michel Scutts

Aerial photography of seascapes, landscapes and infrastructure.

Artist in Conversation: Sat 23 Sep | 11 AM

Treading Lightly

Helle Cook

Illuminating a deep-felt fascination of being in and caring for nature.

Artist in Conversation: Sat 16 Sep | 10AM

Twenty23

St Mary’s College

Celebrating the creative works of St Mary’s College students.

WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES

Mindful Movement and Contemplative Photography Workshop

Anna Condos

Sun 10 Sep | 11 AM

Stimulate your intrinsic creativity, refresh your body and express art from the inside out.

Printspace - Playing with Monoprinting

Sandra Pearce

Sat 16 Sep | 9.30AM

Experience the playfulness of monoprinting.

Painting-dyeing workshop

Helle Cook

Sat 16 Sep | 1PM

Find inspiration in light and nature to paint and dye textiles.

Matt Shanks, Childrens Author

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL

Storytime

Thu 21 Sep | 10AM

Drawing workshop

Thu 21 Sep | 1PM

Author talk

Fri 22 Sep | 10AM

Kevin Rogers, Curiosity, pencil .

VelvetUnderground, drone photography. Turns of Time, oil on canvas.

Elleaha M (Yr 7) Self-Portrait

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