active

Her newly acquired office skills lead her to a position as an electorate secretary with a Member of the Australian Parliament. Of that position she says she learnt a lot, and jokingly adds – maybe too much!

With the practicalities of earning a living taken care of, her enthusiasm for creativity continued to niggle, demanding an outlet which eventually came vicariously through another of her passions –travelling.

In 1975, Michele and her husband Barry were in Cornwall, England, a place fringed by a rugged coastline and synonymous with tales of treachery, smuggling and pirates from a bygone era of rogue seafarers. Today, its wharves and fishing boats are a popular subject for watercolourists from all over the world.

“I was looking for a way to record our trips. And I actually saw watercolour being done in Cornwall. I saw this man painting on the beach and I said to my husband, ‘I’d love to have a go at that’.”

Although it would be several years before she had the opportunity to master watercolours, there was no turning back.

“I just loved it. I gave my oils away and I think I only did one oil after I started with watercolour – and that was by request from my father for his 70th birthday. So that was it.”

Michele finds the soft and calming effect produced by watercolour conducive for the presentation of her favourite subject matter – landscapes.

“We did a lot of bushwalking, Barry and I. I just loved being in the open air, and I became a bit of an environmentalist and I thought … people don’t realise how beautiful the landscape is. And also, I had three children by this stage, and life was pretty hectic and manic and I just thought … something calming hanging on the wall, that’s what I need. And that’s what landscape did for me.”

With an illustrious career spanning well over 30 years, Michele has won many prizes for her watercolours in Queensland and New South Wales. The integrity, consistency and quality of her work is so well recognised, she has been a judge for the Royal Queensland Art Society and the Watercolour Society.

However, it is through teaching that Michele finds the most gratification.

“I love seeing the light go on in a student’s mind, as they realise what watercolour can do; and I love seeing them do it.”

Michele has taught watercolour painting for many groups in South East Queensland, Northern New South Wales and as far as Blackwater, Toowoomba McGregor Winter and Spring Schools and Bellingen’s Camp Creative. Known equally for her compassion as well as her artistic skills, Michele will be donating a percentage of the proceeds of her art exhibition to the Maleny Neighbourhood Centre.

“It supports the homeless and underprivileged. Initially I wanted to help women over 50 who are on their own, however when I did some research, I discovered that the greatest number of homeless people are in the 18–35 year age range.

“I love what I’m doing. I feel extremely blessed to use my art in a positive way and to give people a feeling for the importance of the environment. I find watercolour is very calming, whether it’s capturing the serpentine qualities of the Diamantina River or the beauty of Lake Eyre in flood.”

With 40 exquisite

Visit: micheleretschlag.com

by REBECCA MUGRIDGE

short stroll across the road from Coles and near the town library, the Tardis-like interior of the Nambour Museum is a surprise to the unsuspecting visitor. Halls lead to themed rooms and extensive collections that seem to go on forever in the style of many beautiful old Queensland buildings and houses.

The items themselves are fascinating, but it is the warmth and enthusiasm of the volunteers that truly brings the displays to life.

The knowledge and historic tales draw you in, you get to be a passenger in a deep dive back in time. You learn that names of some local streets, parks and places are the names of people that were significant to the town, brought to life with photographs.

Along with a must-see collection of memorabilia,

ANambour Museum is also host of special items amongst the displays that will make any visitor smile. From the winner of The Ugly Man Competition, to The Australian Tartan winning design, to an ethereal collection of wedding dresses from 1916 to 1969, and the lovingly restored beauty of the impressive Shay the Train, the museum has a surprise around every corner.

Even a ghostly one…

Can you pick the haunted room? Many visitors and volunteers have reported feeling a ‘presence’ at the Nambour Museum and amazingly they report feeling it in the same room.

Vice President and volunteer Cherry Powell shared, “Many people come through and say, you have a spook!

“We had a group come through and they said, ‘do you have a ghost?’ And I said, ‘funny you should say that as we do have people say they feel a presence at times’.”

Cherry then pointed [to one of the rooms] and said, ‘It’s in that room, isn’t it?’ I have heard footsteps and one day I smelled cigarette smoke and nobody in the building smokes.”

Cherry is an excellent tour guide, delving into fascinating history and facts around the museum. She has a deep love and knowledge of Nambour, its architecture and local history, and has been a volunteer here for seven years, after retiring from a career as a teacher.

“It’s always interesting to know where we are and where we have been,” Cherry said, “I love people’s stories and objects.”

Cherry added that many visitors to the museum don’t realise just how spectacular and busy Nambour was in the day.

Sculpture ON THE EDGE

23 Nov - 10 Dec 2023

8am - 4pm daily, Flaxton Gardens www.sculptureontheedge.com.au

Creativity for everyone! We have an incredible 18 day program of artist talks, masterclasses, workshops, professional development and special events. Based around Arts Connect Inc’s popular annual sculpture competition, Sculpture on the Edge has grown into a festival so that you can really immerse yourself in creativity.

“Nambour was the geographic and commercial centre. Most people used to shop on a Saturday, and you would walk up the street and shop at the co-op and the butcher and the Lowe Street corner to the fruit and veg shop. You would see people you knew and say hello.

“Occasionally now someone will post a picture to Nambour, Remember When? [group on Facebook] and someone will comment, what was the event or why are there so many people, and it wasn’t an event, it was just a normal Saturday morning shopping day!”

Nambour has also been host to many special guests, parades and events, Cherry pointed out, including the Olympic Torch in 1956, the visit of HRH Princess Alexandra in 1959; Great Britain Prime Minister Sir Harold McMillan in 1958, and an official march of American Soldiers down Currie Street to a cheering audience of school kids, Junior Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, V.A.D.s, W.A.A.T.S and onlookers.

The Nambour Museum is also home to a large display of plumb tools, a Post Office display, and a model replica of part of the Old Sugar Mill. (This year is the 20th anniversary of the closing of the Moreton Sugar Mill.)

There are also the impressive matchstick creations of Ken Underhill that include the London Tower Bridge, made of 31,000 matches and taking 1500 hours to do, donated by his wife to the museum.

And of course, the locomotives are truly magnificent to behold and to imagine how they must have looked, in their day.

Cherry’s mum is also part of the museum, captured in a beautiful photograph of some of the Nambour telephonists in one of the displays. Cherry said there are many wonderful family links and local heritage stories linked to the museum, and donations and locals have been a big part of the collections.

“When someone comes in with an object or they have a family link they can fill in a bit of information,” Cherry explained. “Family links and stories are such an important part of collecting history. We are losing a lot of stories. Hamish Sewell has recorded some stories and the library has recorded some stories, but it’s never enough.

“It might not be this generation that is interested [in the historic stories], it might be the next or the one after. But once it is lost, it’s lost forever.”

To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the Nambour Museum and acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the closing of the Moreton Sugar Mill, there is a celebration event coming up at the Nambour Museum on October 14 from 10-3pm. For more information visit: facebook.com/ events/1024528908686043

“Volunteers are always needed and welcomed,” added Cherry.

“We are open Wednesday-toSaturday and we run group and school tours. We love sharing Nambour’s rich history with everyone!”

Nambour Museum is located at 18 Mitchell Street, Nambour. Phone: (07) 5441 2119 on visit them online: nambourmuseum. org.au or via facebook.com/ historylivesinnambour