THE AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION OF GERONTOLOGY PRESENTS

Transcription

1 THE AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION OF GERONTOLOGY PRESENTS PRESS KIT The stories of five people: Marcus, Linda, Aldo, Elma and Margaret, all of whom live in the Canberra region and were born almost a hundred years ago. Funded by: For more information, please contact: Kris Kerehona m: e: kris.kerehona@awm.gov.au A P OSIT IVE V IEW F ILMS P RODUCT ION

2 Synopsis The Centenarians: embracing the coming of age tells the stories of five people: Marcus, Linda, Aldo, Elma and Margaret, all of whom live in the Canberra region and were born almost a hundred years ago. Background These video stories were commissioned by the ACT Division of the Australian Association of Gerontology as part of its celebration of Canberra s Centenary in 2013, by recognising the contribution, experience and wisdom of some of our region s longest lived citizens. The video portraits are not documentaries, but an opportunity to reflect on the important things in life. Director s statement When I was approached by the Australian Association of Gerontology to produce the five portraits of individuals well on the way to their 100th birthday, I went about researching techniques and potential questions from oral history resources. I was aiming to find intelligent questions to ask the participants about what life was like and what Canberra was like when they were young, what had enabled them to live so long, and so on. However, the participants were really interested in sharing what they wanted to say about what was relevant to their lives today and what was important to them, such as connections to family and community. So I threw away my questions and took a different tack. I packed a bag containing personal artefacts that were dear to me, with the intention to show and tell and talk about why they were important. I soon discovered my subjects had already prepared for me: they all has some of their treasured objects and precious mementos arranged on a table and ready to be proudly presented to camera. These are their stories, the way they wanted to tell them, for their children and grandchildren, and for the Canberra community. Telling their stories is an honour and privilege for me. Kris Kerehona

3 Linda Welch (94,) still lives where she and her husband built their home in Canberra in 1947 and raised their family. Born on Lake George, her father was a highly respected farm manager. Linda came to Canberra as a young girl, worked at a Hostel, where, at 15, she met a young man from Bega. Two years later, they married. Life changed as the family grew and her husband rose from Clerk to Deputy Secretary in the Public Service. They had a happy, family-oriented life, and were active in sport, school and community life. Linda was a keen tennis player and was the Ainslie Club s Women s Champion for many years. Widowed at 60, she re-married, beginning a new chapter in her life. Linda is very alert, still drives and loves travel and telling stories. Credits: Rob Welch, Des and Jeannette Grubb, Dennis Grubb, Keira Grubb, Warren Higgins

4 Elma Pearsall (92) is the oldest living Ngunnawal Elder in this year of Canberra s centenary. Born at Rye Park, Elma and her family lived in the Booroowa district, where her father was a well respected farmer. Elma s father was one of the first Aboriginal people to be granted title to a block of land, at Pudman. Several generations of her family have lived and died on this land which is now held by the Ngunnawal Land Council. In the early years, the family lived there in a slab hut; now, a two roomed house remains on the land which the family regard with great respect, almost sacredness, and visit regularly. Elma believes the uninterrupted stewardship and strong connection with this land is central to her own and her family s health, strength and harmonious life. Elma remembers a joyful and strict upbringing and always felt treated in the same way as everyone else. The family believe that her great-great grandmother, known as Queen Caroline Lane, was a nanny and a valued member of the family in the household of Hamilton Hume. Elma has worked with many families and is very well known and highly regarded throughout the district. She is now living with her daughter, enjoying life near her family, and especially treasures having her grand-children nearby. Credits: Donna Morgan, Lynnette Druitt, Michael Bell

5 Romaldo (Aldo) Giurgola AO (92) designed Australia s new Parliament House and supervised construction and fit out its until completion in Aldo is an Italian-American-Australian academic, architect, professor and author. After service in the Italian armed forces during World War II, he studied at Sapienza University, Rome. As a Fulbright Scholar in 1950, he went to USA to study for a masters degree in architecture from Colombia University. He has been a partner in the Philadelphia firm Mitchell/Giurgola Architects since Aldo has been a Professor at Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania, then at Colombia before becoming the Chair of the Colombia Architectural Department in He is presently Ware Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Colombia. He was awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1982 and Over his long and prestigious career in architecture, Aldo and has designed over 300 prestigious public buildings, parks and monuments in many countries. He was invited to be an assessor for the Australian Parliament House Building Competition in 1977, but as the brief was being outlined he said to Sir John Overall, Look, don t go too far; I would like to enter the competition. As a youngster, he was interested in the Griffins vision for Canberra and was fascinated with the relationship of the environment and topography with the plan... and... the spirit of making a new town, from the surveyor to the politician, from which they invented the idea of making a lake, and the emphasis on conservation. He is passionate about the connection between land, the people and the Parliament House: a symbiosis between nature and man, land and people. After the Parliament House project was completed, Aldo decided to live in Canberra, bringing his family from New York, a courageous decision at almost 70. He continues to work on projects that he sees as suiting his philosophy. He loves Canberra, and now lives with his daughter. Credits: Paola Giurgola, Margaret Reid, ABC News, Noel Butlin Archives, Australian National University.

6 Margaret Lodge (97) is a prominent Canberra personality. She came from England with her family as an 18 year old when her father was transferred from the British Army to assist Australian preparations for World War II. Always adventurous, she had a pilot s licence and was one of the first women to fly in Australia. She grew up in Acton and Narrabundah and worked in Dalton s Bookshop. She is best known for her community work, especially as a driver for Red Cross. Married to a diplomat, she raised her family whilst living in various overseas postings. She knew many politicians including PMs over the years and was a member of the Liberal Party, often attending and arranging social events. Margaret has a keen interest in local and world issues, has embraced new technology with enthusiasm, and has a talent for engaging with people of all ages..vivacious, charming and wise, she is still in demand as a guest who contributes to every occasion. She has a phenomenal memory for detail, is a wonderful companion to her many friends, and never says an unkind word. She lived in Kingston until moving to live with her daughter in Melbourne in mid Credits: Margaret Reid, Lainie Lawson

7 Marcus Quinlivan OAM (91) was born in Melbourne and talks of a happy early childhood. Marcus admired his parents and honoured his father who served in WW 1 by financing and establishing the William A Quinlivan Glaucoma Australia Research and Scholarship Fund. When Marcus was 14 years old, his father died and Marcus had to leave college, but studied later and completed a commerce degree at the University of Melbourne. Marcus has always been keen on sport. He played baseball, winning a baseball blue as Captain of the University of Melbourne team; district level A grade cricket and social tennis. An A Grade golf player at Royal Canberra Golf Club, he has been a member since He now plays lawn bowls socially and in a Pennant Team. Marcus began work in 1936 as a Telegraph Messenger in the Post Master General s Department, where after evening study, he became a Telephone Technician and later, Administrative Officer in the Engineering Branch. He volunteered for the RAAF and served in the Army from On return to civilian life, he was promoted to the Department of Labour and National Service and in 1950 was recruited to Canberra. In 1951, he directed training for Colombo Plan Fellows and representatives of UN Specialised Agencies studying Commonwealth, State and Local Government in Australia. Later he was promoted to Assistant Director, Trade Commissioner Service, where he stayed until he retired. On retirement, Marcus undertook voluntary advocacy with the RSL, representing veterans with disabilities. He appeared before the Veterans Review Board over almost 15 years, receiving an OAM for this advocacy work. At age 54 he met Nathalie, a Research Dietician in Clinical Science at the John Curtin Medical School, ANU, and they married. Both retain their strong independence and Marcus maintains his interest in the William A Quinlivan Glaucoma Australia Research and Scholarship Fund. Credits: Beverley Porteous, Nathalie Quinlivan

8 Kris Kerehona Kris Kerehona is an award-winning documentary film maker with a strong interest in promoting cultural awareness and sharing positive human stories. In 2012 he was presented with the Canberra Critics Circle Award for documentary filmmaking. In 2012, his film Dancing Auschwitz won best documentary at the Canberra Short Film Festival. He has collaborated with international filmmakers on feature documentaries including: Tibet s Cry for Freedom, 2009, featuring His Holiness The Dalai Lama (produced by Think Films) with screenings at the San Fernando and Strasbourg International Film Festivals; Between the Flags, 2013 (Bright One Media); Love Marriage in Kabul, 2013 (Palangi Productions). In 2010 his film Captain of the Team, was selected as part of the National Film and Sound Archive s indigenous screen culture compilation Black Screen, and also featured on Channel Nine s 60-Minutes program on the Great Australian Flag Debate. Kris currently works as a video producer at the Australian War Memorial, producing documentaries to tell the stories of the men and women who have served and sacrificed their lives in war. His latest commission is to produce several documentary films for the Centenary of Canberra. Photograph: Steve Burton The Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG) The ACT Division of the AAG funded the five video portraits of long lived Canberra residents to bring these individuals to a Forum on Canberra Centenarians: Statistics, Science and Stories of Living to 100 in the National Capital. Held at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy on August 2nd, 2013, the Forum was organised by the AAG to contribute to Canberra s Centenary and was included in the official Canberra 100 program. In addition to financial support from the AAG, the ACT Government Office on Ageing made a grant that enabled the separate videos to be made into a 30 minute film, suitable for showing at conferences and events such as Seniors Expo around Australia. The AAG project complements the centenary project carried out by the National Library in which Canberra centenarians were interviewed to contribute to the Library s Trove collection. Marjory Kobold, a longstanding member of the Executive Committee of the AAG ACT Division, took on the role of Producer video project. On behalf of the Committee, I extend sincere thanks to Marjory and Kris Kerehona for the very special gerontological record they have produced. Chris Hatherley, President ACT Division, AAG