May/Jun #42 2007 FREE M t. Egerton & District Communit y Newsletter MUSIC AT MT EGERTON Music at Mt Egerton was as much a theatrical as a musical exploration informed by research and collaboration at and around the site of the former kaolin mine in Steetley Lane. The performance on the afternoon of 26 May began with the appearance of a haunting female character based in part on Maggie Malone, strong-minded daughter of Mr Malone, the now legendary nineteenth-century founder of the clay mine. Performed by Carolyn Connors, this Maggie Malone sang and spoke about life at the mine. Covered in clay dust that lent her a ghostly atmosphere, Maggie gave alternately amusing and intriguing glimpses of the miners' muddy world underground, which included frogs and rats. Maggie Malone was followed by a performance by percussionists Eugene Ughetti and Matthias Schack-Arnott on miniature percussion instruments made by Rosemary Joy. These wooden instruments were inspired by the mine site and the processes used to extract and process clay. For example, one of the instruments had the appearance of a miniature model of a hill with a mine cut into it; others were revealed as trolley tracks and a 'kit' containing mining tools. Maggie Malone returned for another song, "I've heard the earth talk". This phrase was heard and documented by historian Cynthia Troup through interviews with former employees of the clay mine. The mine workers were highly skilled in their listening underground; able to detect subtle shifts in the sounds made by the movement of rocks and earth which might indicate danger, or an emergency. Another sequence in the performance featured music based on maps of the mine. This music by composer David Young was more contemporary in style, and comprised of complex, intricate sounds. The musicians read the musical scores from laptops, a computer program enabling them to interpret the features on the maps and translate them into sound. For example, in one section soprano Annabelle Brown sang a melody that corresponded to the contour of the gradient at the mine, while the percussionists played rhythms in time with the spacing of the mine shafts on a particular map. As the music increased in intricacy and volume, two performers seated amongst the audience moved into the stage area to dance. This highly energetic and diginfied couple swirled and waltzed across the concrete floor, stirring up the clay dust that still coats every surface at the former mine. Soon these dancers--Eugene Schlusser and Margaret Leggatt--were joined by talented girls from the Mt Egerton Dance club, who began their own stylised and abstract dance in the centre of the floor. The younger Dance Club girls ran swiftly--like underground rats--through and amongst the other dancers, before transforming into frogs and hopping across the space. Some of the frogs jumped playfully on a table at the foreground close to the audience, then leapt back onto the floor. Other members of the audience joined the dancing. ….continued following page MUSIC AT MT EGERTON ….con’td from front page. This scene of busy and dusty delight gradually subsided as the Mt Egerton Primary School children began to play the percussion instruments—ceramic frogs--that each had made with local potters Ben and Chris Creaney during the weeks leading up to the performance. The delicate call and answer of these unique frogs made for a touching and evocative finale. All the children and Aphids artists then joined hands for a giant curtain call, bowing to loud applause from the audience. The original photos are so beautiful with their shades of colour and light……however these black and white ones are shared with the community…..thank you… Photos are by Sarah Matray MINING EXPLORATION ISSUES Tech-Sol Resources joint venture partner Cluff Resources Pacific NL are having a meeting to discuss their proposed Exploration activities. The Exploration Licences cover all of Mt Egerton and surrounding areas. So come along to the meeting and find out if your property will be affected by these exploration activities. Suggested text for the newsletter. “Cluff Resources Pacific NL wishes to advise that it will be holding a special meeting at the: Mt Egerton Recreation Reserve Clubrooms At 7.30 pm on Wednesday the 13th of June 2007. The evening will be an opportunity for the community to familiarize themselves with the Company's Proposed Exploration Work Program, and to discuss any queries they may have with Cluff representatives.” Scott Enderby Cluff Resources Pacific NL mobile: 0418622681 The following have been posted on the www.mtegerton.com website: Can anyone please HELP with a reply to the Discussion section on the web page 1. Rinaldi family history circa 1878 - 1906 Posted by: Robbie Date: March 10, 2007 05:02PM Hello list members, I'm researching great grandparents RINALDI Giovanni and Maria. Originally from Tirano, Italy. Resided Mt Egerton circa 1878 - 1906. Nine children born between 1874 - 1894, six of whom were born Mt Egerton or nearby (maybe Ballan). Owned wine hall and tobacco shop circa 1894 - assume located Mt Egerton. 2. Chinese in Mt Egerton Posted by: Anonymous User Date: December 04, 2006 10:11PM My great great grandfather migrated from China in 1874, aged 22 years old. He lived in Mt Egerton Victoria from 1874 to c1881. He established a business called "Quing Young & Co" in 1879. Do you have any records on this business or any history of Chinese in Mt Egerton from 1870's? Please reply to the Discussion Forum on www.mtegerton.com. Thank you. Mt Egerton General Store Menu FLAKE – DEEP FRIED OR GRILLED HOT JAM DONUTS SEA SHANTIES HAMBURGERS FISH CAKES STEAK SANDWICHES DIMS SIMS CHICKEN BURGERS &WRAPS POTATO CAKES FLAKE BURGERS & WRAPS CALAMARI CHIPS & GRAVY CHICKEN NUGGETS PIES/PASTIES & SAUSAGE ROLLS SEAFOOD STIX TEA & COFFEE SCALLOPS SOFT DRINKS CORN JACKS PINEAPPLE & BANANA FRITTERS SPRING AND CHICKO ROLLS FISH AND CHIPS AVAILABLE HOT DOGS & HAMBUGERS IN THURS TO SUNDAY BATTER 11AM TO 7PM PHONE ORDERS MOST WELCOME 5368 9294 BOTTLE SHOP- LAUNDRY MATT-GROCERIES-FIREWOOD-2STROKE MILK-BREAD-SMOKES-PAPERS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNEDAY 7AM TO 6PM THURS FRIDAY 7AM TO 7PM SAT & SUN 8AM TO 7PM Message of the Day is: Life is short, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile. Catherine King MP Federal Member for Ballarat REPRESENTING MT EGERTON AND DISTRICT Tel: 1300 13 17 43 5 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat 3350 Fax: 03 5333 7710 Email: [email protected] Authorised by Catherine King MP, 5 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat VICTORIA 3350. --------------------------------- Mt Egerton Recreation Reserve News INVITATION to The 50ish & OVER Warm, friendly, social MORNING TEA Friday 29th June at 11am Mt Egerton Recreation Res. Clubrooms For further details or to arrange Transport please call: Pat 5368 9501 or Vera 5368 9665 Mt. Egerton Community Development Association Inc (CDA) COMMUNITY PARK The Association is continuing to pursue the purchase of the private land in Main Street. Cr Wendy Kendall, has indicated some funding may be available, which could be put towards the purchase. Cr Kendall has organised a meeting between council staff and the C.D.A. which will bring the council up to speed with what we are trying to do. GORSE CONTROL A date has finally been set for a member of the Department of Sustainability and the Environment to come to the C.D.A.’s July meeting to discuss gorse and exotic weed control. By working with the D.S.E. and the Mt. Egerton community it is hoped that a plan for the control and eradication of exotic weeds on both private and public land can be negotiated for the whole of the Mt. Egerton district. TRANSFER STATION UPDATE The Shire has advised the C.D.A. that they are currently waiting for construction plans for the transfer station from their consultant. Work will start shortly after the finalized plans are received. The Shire is hoping to have this matter settled and the transfer station open late in the year. The Association’s wrote a letter to the Shire regarding dust and rubbish generated from the tip. The response was: “With regard to the dust flying around, we have put gravel down in the tip to alleviate some of this problem. Our staff check the boundary fencing of the tip site on a regular basis and pick up rubbish that has been illegally dumped. The rubbish that is continually dumped onto the crown land beside the tip is the responsibility of the D.S.E. and Council has drawn this to their attention on a number of occasions with a view to them cleaning it up and either putting signage up or fencing the area. In respect to rubbish blowing around on windy days, the staff ensure that the tipping area is covered at the end of Saturday and Sunday. It can be a problem during tipping hours on a windy day and we do take every precaution to try and minimise this happening.” FOOTPATH The Association is approaching the Shire to create a gravel footpath (similar to that put down in Gordon) for the length of Main Street – from Whipstick Road to the Cemetery. The result of this request will be advised when we get a reply. FUTURE MEETING The Associations August?? meeting (not set in concrete yet….so keep tuned) will be entirely devoted to looking at the way forward for the Association and it’s involvement in the Mt. Egerton community for the next few years. For further information please contact Anne O’Shea 53689747 The CDA meet on the first Monday of the month.