Tales of kangaroos, dunnies and Lang Park at Museum of Brisbane
Weird and wild local stories are being investigated as the Museum of Brisbane officially reopens its doors.
Lifestyle
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WHEN Brisbane barrister and author Simon Cleary was asked to let his imagination run riot nobody thought he would turn himself into a kangaroo in the process.
But since he was allocated Kangaroo Point as a place to write about for the Museum of Brisbane’s The Storytellers exhibition it seemed only fitting.
The exhibition can been viewed by the public on Friday when the museum of Brisbane at City Hall opens its doors again after a long COVID-19 lockdown.
Cleary is a Brisbane barrister who is also a successful author. His last book The War Artist was a moving tale of an Afghanistan war veteran who returns home to Brisbane a bit worse for wear. His first book, The Comfort of Figs was the one that prepared him for his latest gig.
“The Comfort of Figs was set during the construction of the Story Bridge,” Cleary says.
“The piece I wrote for this exhibition is a meditation on the layers of history and what one loses along the way.”
You will hear audio of Cleary’s stories and others as you browse through the museum.
In his research he tried to discover the last sighting of a kangaroo at Kangaroo Point but couldn’t pin that down. So he imagines it and much more, including being a kangaroo.
“I am a joey returning to its mother’s pouch. (Did I tell you that? You don’t believe me? No? Let me try please. Humour me.) ... They name a finger of land after me, Kangaroo Point.”
Each writer involved in the exhibition wrote something about Brisbane and then the museum created an exhibit to respond to the idea and illustrate it.
Simon Cleary’s little room includes an animated film about the last kangaroo of Kangaroo Point as well as some historical images and a piece of contemporary art by local Indigenous artist Gordon Hookey depicting rather demonic looking roos with the Story Bridge as a backdrop.
The Storytellers uncovers Brisbane’s histories, myths and tales through fact, fiction, interpretation and creative narrative as told by nine of the city’s top wordsmiths.
Other writers featured are Victoria Carless, Matthew Condon, Trent Dalton, Nick Earls, Benjamin Law, Hugh Lunn, Kate Morton and Ellen van Neerven.
Van Neerven, the only poet we know who has written a poem in praise of Westfield Chermside shopping centre, has gone against the literary grain somewhat with her piece which is entitled No Bad Seat, Lang Park, 1995.
It’s an Indigenous kid’s perspective of attending a Broncos game at the legendary home of rugby league and I may be telling tales out of school but in her story the Broncos lose.
“Don’t cry love. There’ll be other games” the child is told but that’s missing the point really. The story ends ... “I breathe in the air, smiling at this group I’m part of, this small mob of blackfellas in a big, big stadium on this special ground, where there’s no bad seat.”
The museum has got together some amazing items to go with the exhibition including, for van Van Neerven’s exhibit, a historic 1911 rugby league cap, pair of boots and other Lang Park photos and memorabilia. Artist Bianca Beetson has also contributed a painted jersey featuring the visage of her famous relative, Artie.
Kate Morton looks back at 100 years of history of South Bank in her story, while Boy Swallow’s Universe author Trent Dalton takes us back to Boggo Road jail sharing the life of convicted murderer and serial escapist Slim Halliday.
Meanwhile, Matthew Condon explores the city’s dark underbelly while popular author Nick Earls writes about the reno from hell and the dunny that went with it.
Museum of Brisbane director Renai Grace says the exhibition “provides different perspectives and a deeper, human interpretation of our city, while showcasing the work of Brisbane’s talented writers”.
The Storytellers is accompanied by Faces of Brisbane : Recent Portraiture Acquisitions which showcases eight portraits recently acquired by the museum.
The Storytellers: Step into the stories of our city, Museum of Brisbane, City Hall, King George Square, from Friday July 17
To book a free timed entry ticket go to museumofbrisbane.com.au