The Many Faces of Mackay
- Our Multicultural Heritage
SERIES TWO - Faces of our Council
a photographic exhibition by ANN FITZGERALD
July 22nd - August 21st 2005
Lagoons Gallery, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Identity - Heritage - Community - Intimacy
Culture teaches us how to live and it ensures that knowledge about life is handed down from generation to generation. Culture gives us the feeling of belonging. It helps us raise our family in a good way. It teaches us how to treat one another. Culture sets boundaries for societies. We need to develop our culture. When we have a sense of belonging we can be intimate.We can feel. We can connect. If we cannot develop this feeling of belonging, then we will feel lost or disconnected. To be disconnected from life is like walking around during the day not knowing the Sun exists. To have the feelings of intimacy is warm, glowy, joyful, loving and connected. It is being part of the community.
Belonging
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
The red Hibiscus is the floral emblem of Mackay. Mackay was named after George Mackay (father of John Mackay), whose pioneering spirit led him and his party from New England (NSW) to discover the Pioneer River valley in 1860. His registration of the first pastoral run in the district Greenmount in January 1862 opened the area to pastoral settlement.
Within a few years however, sugar became the dominant industry from the enterprising efforts of pioneers John Spiller, T. Henry FitzGerald and John Ewen Davidson.
The Mackay region has an estimated population of more than 124,309 permanent residents and of this number, more than half (78,401) live within Mackay City Council. Mackay's population is younger than the State's average and some of the outer lying mining towns rank among the State's wealthiest.
The Series One 2004 multicultural photographic exhibition by local Mackay photographer Ann Fitzgerald, opened at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens in July 2004.
The exhibition was an important step in recognizing, valuing and understanding our cultural diversity. We have over 30+ nationalities represented in the Mackay region according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The Series Two 2005 exhibition provides the opportunity for local government to support a community initiative that supports promotion of multiculturalism through artistic expression. This exhibition is an important step in recognizing, valuing and understanding our cultural diversity from within the staff at the Mackay City Council.
DIVERSITY AT WORK
Multiculturalism aims at ensuring that all Australians have equality of
opportunity to benefit from and contribute to all aspects of life without
prejudice or discrimination.
This is a State and local government partnership in regional arts and cultural development [RADF].
The Series Two Exhibition was officially opened by Mackay Mayor Cr. Julie Boyd on Friday 22nd July 2005 at the Lagoons Gallery, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens at 6.30pm.
July 22nd - August 21st 2004
Lagoons Gallery, Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
A BOOK WAS THE OUTPUT RESULT OF [MAPD 2005] Multicultural Arts Professional Development 2005
Kape Communications
The Multicultural Arts Professional Development (MAPD) program is a partnership between the Australia Council for the Arts, RMIT University, the Australian Multicultural Foundation and Kape Communications.
An initiative of the Australia Council's Arts in a Multicultural Australia policy, MAPD sees "Productive Diversity" as the key to Australia's future national and international success in the arts and cultural industries.
It provides delegates with access to some of the nation's best practitioners and thinkers in cultural brokerage, entrepreneurship, leadership and marketing.
SPONSORS FOR THE 2005 EXHIBITION
My thanks goes to all the wonderful 'Council Faces of Mackay' for allowing me to capture them on film. A big 'thank you' to the great volunteers and staff at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens and to Mia Sammut-Landt from the Local Area Multicultural Program [LAMP]for assisting and helping this project come to life...... Ann Fitzgerald
EMAIL DIRECT TO PHOTOGRAPHER Ann Fitzgerald
Back to SERIES ONE exhibition
Back to EXHIBITIONS Page
Mackay City Council
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