LOCALS HAVE A CHANCE TO BE STARS OF THE SILVER SCREEN!

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is heading to the Indigo Shire from 30 August to 3 September to capture the unique spirit and stories of regional communities in a series of documentary films for the ACMI in the Regions program.

The three communities in Indigo Shire chosen to participate in ACMI in the Regions are Beechworth, Yackandandah and Rutherglen.

Supported by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria's Major Touring Initiative, ACMI in the Regions, produces short documentaries which are shot on location to celebrate and document the people, character and heritage of regional Victorian townships such as those in the Indigo Shire.

In partnership with the Indigo Shire, ACMI works with community groups developing the concepts for the films. These ideas are distilled into three stories for each town that capture the essence of regional Victoria and the people and places that make up part of the fabric of the modern Australian identity.

ACMI staff are about to travel to Indigo Shire to film the 9 stories on location with the locals. These include one story about the iconic ‘wine bottle’ structure in Rutherglen and its significance to the community, another film about the wealth of craft practitioners in Yackandandah and we will get a chance to see the rarely seen underground tunnels of Beechworth with local expert Dan Goonan.

ACMI will later return for premiere screenings in each town from Indigo Shire. The films also become part of the ACMI Collection, as a state resource, and will be available for all to see through the ACMI website and the Australian Mediatheque. These films are not only an important legacy for the towns, they contribute to our social heritage. Everyone who participates in the films will receive a copy on DVD to keep and share.

ACMI Content Development Manager Kim Montgomery says that ACMI values its engagement with regional Victoria.

“ACMI is proud to be making these films in the regions. The uniqueness of our approach is that it involves the local residents and community groups in regional towns, helping them to document their histories and capture their own stories about why people live, work and play in their towns. The resulting mini-documentaries are moving and fascinating records for the region, all Australians and the world,” she said.

Collectors to find treasure at new Indigo Antique Week

Lovers of antiques and collectables are set to flock to the historic towns of Chiltern, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Yackandandah next week as part of the new Indigo Antique Week in Indigo Shire.

Visiting the many antique and secondhand stores dotted around Shire, the tours depart from Wodonga next Tuesday 24 August and from Wangaratta on 26 August, ahead of the opening of one of Australia’s leading regional antique fairs in Chiltern from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 August.

In its twelfth year in 2010, the Chiltern Antique Fair is organised by Chiltern Tourism Association’s Erika Hansen, and annually attracts dozens of dealers from across Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

A must for serious collectors, bargain hunters and anyone in search of the rare and the unusual, the Chiltern Antique Fair includes specialist stalls featuring furniture, fine china, lace, antique jewellery, glass and much more.

Media are invited to the launch of Indigo Antique Week and the Chiltern Antique Fair at antique store, Chiltiques on Conness St, Chiltern on Friday 20 August at 11am by the Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella (herself a keen collector) and Indigo Shire Mayor, Cr Bernard Gaffney.

Indigo Antique Week tours are being run by Wodonga-based Chelbec Tour, phone 0423 745 930.

Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2010 People’s Choice Award Winner

This year’s winner was a creation by one of our region’s enthusiastic and talented felters Julie Pfeiffer from Granya. She is a member of North East Yarns which is a group of local spinners, weavers, knitters and felters promoting the use of natural fibres. Her work is entitled “Butterflies in My Garden” and the name becomes self evident when the piece is actually seen.

The winning entry will be on special display at the Old Schoolhouse Gallery at 17 Loch Street Beechworth (Opposite the Burke Museum) from Friday 27th August to Friday 10th September.

Kelly Gang together again - ABC Goulburn Murray - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Kelly Gang together again - ABC Goulburn Murray - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Couple of items for those visiting the Indigo shire. Friday August 27 sees the start of our Chiltern antique fair. Always bigs crowds drawn by the treasures and objects of curiosity on display.
Also, those that love all things natural are desperately needed to volunteer their services at Kangaloola wildlife rescue. People to feed and spend time with the animals are in high demand.
For more information, please visit www.beechworthonline.com.au or www.uniqueyackandandah.com.au .