Artist shares life stories that make up Banyule’s history in exhibition

Rosanna artist Rod Ceballos believes the history of a city is told best through personal stories. So he’s collated 20 of them from people all over Banyule. Among them is 92-year-old Ken Booth, who shares how he’s seen Macleod change over 60 years.

Ken Booth (right) with photographer Rod Ceballos in Watsonia. Picture: Hamish Blair

Rosanna’s Rod Ceballos has drawn on the life experiences of 20 people from Banyule for his new exhibition.

Banyule 20/20 tells the stories of those people and how the area has shaped their own personal history, shown through text and portraits taken by Mr Ceballos.

“History cannot just be made up of big famous people, the history of a city is a compilation of little stories,” he said.

“I wanted to hear smaller perspectives.”

The oldest person interviewed was 92-year-old Ken Booth, who moved to Macleod in 1954 into one of just four houses on his street.

Mr Booth shared the first time he was on leave as a Navy officer in 1948 visiting Luna Park in St Kilda, which is where he met his wife.

Ken Booth with his exhibition story in Watsonia. Picture: Hamish Blair

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Mr Ceballos put a call on Facebook and received a flood of responses from people who wanted to share their stories.

“I didn’t know how the project would turn out, it taught me that everyone has a greater story,” Mr Ceballos said.

He received an $8000 arts grant from Banyule Council.

“Some people shared very intimate stories and some shared the history of the area and how it had changed over the years,” Mr Ceballos said.

The exhibition is at the Watsonia, Rosanna and Ivanhoe libraries until November 30.

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