ACADEMIC CAREER

 Barry graduated with a Bachelor of Arts form the University of Sydney majoring in Psychology in 1974. He completed a Diploma of Music Composition under Dr. James Penberthy and Richard Mills at Southern Cross University in 1984. He began lecturing in Music Business and tutoring in guitar at Southern Cross University in the mid eighties and graduated with  Bachelor of Letters (Honours) from Deakin University in 1987. In the 90s  Barry Ferrier was appointed Assistant Professor of Multimedia at Bond University on Queensland's Gold Coast, where he also lectured in the School of Film and TV in Video Production and Music Video. He has held lecturing positions in multimedia and music at Griffith University at Southport, Southern Cross University in Lismore  and for three years at Central Queensland University. He has also taught multimedia and graphic design at Kingscliff TAFE for five years and the School of Audio Engineering  in Byron Bay. He began studying for his Doctor of Philosophy in music and Southern Cross University but two years work on his thesis was destroyed in a housefire in 1994. He later began a new PhD project focussing on the emerging multimedia art technology which he completed through Southern Cross University in 2007.

Multimedia as Meta-Art:

The processes and aesthetics of interactive digital art. A folio of Original Multimedia and Supporting Documentation

© 2004 Barry Ferrier, B.A., Dip. Music (Comp.), B.Litt. (Hons.).

A dissertation presented to the School of Contemporary Arts, Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. June, 2004.

 

B.J. Ferrier Resume

...C u r r i c u l u m ...V i t ae...   B. J. Ferrier, PhD, B.A. (Sydney), B. Litt. (Hons.), Dip. Mus. (Comp.), Dip. I.T. (Web Design) B.J. Ferrier has academic, multimedia production/design and performing arts/music strands to his CV. The version presented herein is a complete chronological list of work experience.   EDUCATION Southern Cross University, Lismore, N.S.W. Doctor of Philosphy (PhD) 2006 “Multimedia as Meta-Art: the processes and aesthetics of interactive digital art”; includes a folio of experimental multimedia art with exegesis; received University Scholarship; Supervisor: Dr. Michael Hannan, Head of the School of Contemporary Arts, S.C.U. Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria Bachelor of Letters (Honours), 1994 Major: Performing Arts (Theatre Directing). Honours thesis was a study of  the technical, performance and cultural issues involved in the mounting of a major Qld. multimedia/theatrical production aimed at tourists, depicting the Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime, entitled ‘Dreamtime People", for which author was also score composer/audio designer. Southern Cross University, Lismore, N.S.W. Diploma of Music (Composition), 1984 Major: Composition. Studio-based, equivalent to Bachelor undergraduate degree. Teachers were the eminent Australian composers Dr. James Penberthy and Richard Mills. University of Sydney, Sydney, N.S.W. Bachelor of Arts, 1980 Double Major: Psychology/Fine Arts Minors: Philosophy, Anthropology and Economics. Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment completed 2003 Diploma of I.T. (Web Development)   ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS: Central Queensland University, Gold Coast International Campus, 2006; Lecturer: New Media Histories and Technologies; SAE School of Audio Engineering; 2005 Lecturer, Introduction to 3D Animation using Maya 6.0; Guest Lecturer: Multimedia Production issues; Lecturer: dynamic web-pages using PHP, Actionscript and CSS Central Queensland University, Gold Coast International Campus, 2002-2005 Lecturer, Multimedia Design (Interface Design, Interactive Design & Web) Lecturer, Multimedia Development (CD ROM Development, Shockwave) Lecturer, Digital Audio Southern Cross University, School of Contemporary Arts 2003-2004 Lecturer , Multimedia III; (HCI Design, Interactive CD production using Director; Web-sites using Shockwave Internet technology) Griffith University, Conservatorium 2002 Lecturer, Digital Production Methods Lecturer, MIDI Music and Media Bond University, 1999-2004 Assistant Professor, Multimedia School of Information Technology : Multimedia 1 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver) Multimedia II (video editing, 3D animation, interface design) Multimedia III Interactive Media Programming (Flash Animation, Actionscript programming, Digital Audio design) Multimedia Special Topics Post-graduate supervision School of Film and Television Lecturer, Video Production 1; Camera, lighting, sound, script development, production; non-linear editing using Adobe Premiere, and Speed Razor. Lecturer, Music Video Production North Coast Institute of T.A.F.E., Kingscliffe College 2001-2005 Teacher and consultant, Digital Arts and Media; Courses developed and taught over this period: Digital Arts & Media Production Design & Development; Image Capture and Manipulation Scripting for Multimedia, Marketing, Writing Copy Digital Industry Studies, Occupational Health & Safet Business and the Law Video production and editing Web design Digital Audio Recording and Editing, Principles of Animation Music Industry Studies. · Facilitator, LearnScope Project (an Australian Flexible Learning Community initiative, funded by A.N.T.A.) focusing on the development of dynamic online collaborative learning experiences, using simple web technologies to facilitate distance learning and collaborative on-line design projects. Southern Cross University ; School of Contemporary Arts 1996-99 Lecturer, Music Industry Promotion & Publicity   Southern Cross University; School of Contemporary Arts 1987-9 Lecturer, Professional Studies Tutor in Video Post-production Sound Tutor in Electric Guitar Tutor in Music Composition PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES Australian Performing Rights Association since1974 Musician's Union North Coast Entertainment Industry Association I.G.D.A. Music Managers Forum Australian Interactive Multimedia Industry Association AWARDS & HONORS A.S.E.A award for excellence in the arts. "Solomon and the Big Cat"; KITE Theatre Company in association with the Queensland Performing Arts Trust at Q.P.A.C.; composed and performed musical score. 1985 Dept. of Ethnic Affairs Multicultural Award for film production; for the film "Green Tea"; composed score and post-production sound. 1994 Golden Reel Award for Community Radio; "Bushfire Radio" for Central Australian Media Association, Alice Springs; produced 20 half-hour radio broadcasts featuring songs and music. Dolphin Award for Music Theatre; North Coast Entertainment Industry Association Award 1994 Dolphin Award for A Capella Music; North Coast Entertainment Industry Award. 1994 Twice winner of the Dolphin Award for Blues; 1995 and 1996 North Coast Entertainment Industry Awards NCEIA Dolphin Award for Music Video "Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz"   EMPLOYMENT and EXPERIENCE (Projects completed in Multimedia Production/Design and Music/Performing Arts)  2012-2022  Marketing Manager for Enhanced Energy Recovery (now Oasis Energy), Australian Organic Network Pty Ltd, and for the Public Group Ltd,  producing logos, business cards, websites, brochures, powerpoints and corporate videos. Managed social media for these three companies. For Public Group have gained 15000 US instagram followers and 25000 Facebook followers Marketing Manager for The Tenant in Common Exchange (ticX). Managed social media accounts for ticX and the Organic Consumers Association of Australia - for OCAA have gained 38000 followers on LinkedIn. Continued performing as a solo entertainer. 100 (plus) performances per year. Performed at the "Splendour in the Grass Festival" with Val Ockart. Wrote and performed "Heaven & Hell: the Friendship of the Big O & the Man in Black" based on the lifelong friendship of Johnny Cash & Roy Orbison, 2 man show with Slim Pickens, toured NSW Began farming certified organic ginger, garlic & turmeric as Byron Bay Organics. Performances with African musician Kobya;  Performances with Pete C. & Dr. Baz + the Propellors (blues). Designed websites for : music-leads.com; byronbayvision.com; organic-consumers.com.au (Organic Consumers Association of Australia); affordable-housing.com.au (Affordable Housing Solution); kobya.com.au (African musician Kobya); andycowan.com.au for blues pianist Andy Cowan. 2007-2016  Ongoing performances as musician entertainer in hotels and clubs of the North Rivers NSW and SE Queensland/Brisbane; average 100 performance per year; in the groups Snapshot (commercial pop duo in an 'unplugged' style); Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz (delta blues and cajun); Kellie Knight Band (performed at the Byron Bay Blues Festival and in duo with Kellie at the Adelaide Fringe Festival); Aysha & Dr. Baz (performed at Splendour in the Grass Festival). 2015 Airlie Beach Music Festival with Fiona Walsh; 2015 Gympie Music Muster with "I Hear That Train a-Comin' : The Johnny Cash Story". Designed cover for "Scarlet Fan" + promo videos, for novel by Australian author Melody Lemonde;  Examples of Websites designed and developed: Ray White, Hong Kong; Ray White Platinum Partners, Surfers Paradise; Real Estate World Group, Surfers Paradise; Macadamia Castle, Newrybar;  Eagle Insurance, Byron Bay; Byron Music, Byron Bay; Edge Hairdressing, Byron Bay;  Adult Dildo Vibes, Burringbar; Byron Bay Jewellery; scarletfan.com - author's website; poemshapes.com - author's website; Sydney Organic Trading Company; Earth Salt Life (Himalayan Rock Salt, Sydney) earthsaltlife.com.au; secretmensbusiness.com (Angus Waddell, Olympian); Bangalow Naturopath; Cooper Communications, Ocean Shores; andycowan.com (Melbourne musician); byronecopark.com Eco Village, Byron Bay; internationalorganicnetwork.com (Organic Food Wholesaler); certifiedorganicsolutions.com.au (Consultant); Byron Green Building Centre; Byron Cars; Caribean Roti King (Broadbeach); circuscomedy.com (comedian/acrobat); Cook Books from the Heart (organic cookbook onine shop); Cosmetic Surgery Thailand (Coolangatta); Dean Bohn Builders (deanbohnbuilders.com.au); Design Evolutions (Town Planning Consultant, Byron Bay); Doncaster Sporting Gear, Canberra; East Timor Children's charity (swim school); Global Resource Brokers (Surfers Paradise); Gold Coast Holiday Apartments (rental agency, Surfers Paradise); Compass Curtains (Byron Bay); ifixpoperty.com (Handyman, Byron Bay); Institute of Diabetes (naturopath, Southport); Joan Lawman Beauty (beauty salon, Byron Bay); Juno Energy (solar installations, Byron Bay); Lightworks Online (lighting shop, Byron Bay);  matesrates.com (political protest, Mullumbimby); northernriversbasagent.com.au (Book Keeper, Lismore); nrcareersexpo.com.au, Lismore; pacificsurf.com.au (Holiday Apartments, Tugun); Pizza Paradiso, Suffolk Park; Rusty Miller Surf School, Byron Bay; Ryan Mediation Law, Coffs Harbour; Sharaine Natural Skin Care, Sunshine Coast; Timber Kit Homes, Billinudgel; Tonu Shane, sculptor; Australian Circus Artists, agency website, Byron Bay; Yamba Golf Club; Brunswick Heads Bowling Club; Rural Machinery Repair Service, Federal; Atlas Currency Exchange, (Byron Bay); Sacred Architecure (Arion Ocean Architect, Mullumbimby); Rob Aungle, (Structural Engineering, Mullumbimby); Sweet Pork (pork products Alstonville); accomseek.com.au (accommodation directory) Doncaster Sporting Centre (Canberra); homedecorideas.com.au (Byron Bay); edgehair.com (Hair Salon, Byron Bay); itmarketing.com.au (Canberra web sales); signworld.com.a (Canberra Signwriter); whygoldbullion.com.au (Gold Consultant, Byron Bay);   1997-2007 While working as an academic at a number of universities and Kingscliff Colleg of T.A.F.E.  continued ongoing performances as musician entertainer in hotels and clubs of the North Rivers NSW and SE Queensland/Brisbane; average 100 performance per year; solo and in the groups Snapshot (commercial pop duo in an 'unplugged' style); Slim Pickens & Dr. Baz (delta blues and cajun); the Purple Drippers (50s rockabilly); Waiting for Brian (alternative rock); The Black Pearls (original r & b) 2007 Freelance web-site design and development, Inner Spring Media  Designed Doc Span web-site and CD cover "The Treatment" (http://docpsan.net) Designed MIX web-site for North Coast Music industry Association (http://nceia.org.au) Voice-over/narration for "Afghan Willy "; documentary on a charismatic aboriginal camel handler and the muster of feral camels in North West Queensland; Croc Lumley Productions "Traditional Mongolian Yurts" (corporate DVD production); video post-production, sound design and editing. wwwgreenhs.com.au Designed Byron Bay Information Portal Guide to Byron Westfield Finance TVC; video post-production/animation editing and sound mix Performed at the East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Byron Bay Performed at Blues on Broadbeach , Gold Coast, with Slim Pickens & Doc Span 2006 Performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival with Slim Pickens and Errol Walsh Performed at the Syjrock Music Festival, Norway with latin/flamenco trio Poco Loco 2005 Festival performances, performing with Slim Pickens: East Coast Blues & Roots Festival, Byron Bay; Blues on Broadbeach, Gold Coast Queensland Syrock Music Festival, Vaeroy, Norway Sement Blues Festival, Kjopsvik, Norway Gympie Muster, Aramoor State Forest, Queensland 2004 · Produced CD album of original compositions for Gav Hamilton, entitled “Boogietown”. · Collaborated on CD album entitled “Cactus” for “Slim Pickens and Dr. Baz”. · European Tour, with performances in Norway, London and Ireland, and a headline performance at the Sjyrock Music Festival, Vaeroy Norway, performing delta blues as “Slim Pickens and Dr. Baz”. · Completed web-site for Organic Fish Australia, Pty Ltd. 1998-2003 The Little Gallery, Maryborough, Qld. Digital Video Animator/soundtrack composer Commissioned to create 4 x20-minute hour video animations using digital special effects techniques to create 'Take Your Space Now: a healing journey through colour and sound'; based on 60 oil paintings by the artist 'Duane'; (to be released on DVD later in 2004); produced promotional web-site and designed product packaging. Click here for more info. 2003 · Performed at the prestigious international East Coast Blues Festival, Byron Bay, performing delta blues as “Slim Pickens and Dr. Baz”. Freelance work 1999-2001: · www.tarot-chesta . Web site for print artist Chester Harris promoting limited edition hand printed tarot cards · Event Manager for Thursday Plantations Laboritories “Homecoming 2001”, outdoor concert featuring Daryl Braithwaite and a fireshow spectacular · Corporate video for Prosperity Seminars, Australia (Brisbane). · Conducted a course in Web-site design for the staff of Lismore Skill Centre · Design assistance for Seed-savers Web-site · Designed web site for Possum Creek Lodge (holiday accommodation) · Produced corporate video for International Seminars Pty Ltd · Web-site for Arion Ocean Design, Architects · Producer, camera, editor & sound design for 1 hr documentary video entitled “Red Gold”, on the history of the red cedar industry on the NSW Far North Coast and recent experiments in cloning (now in post-production). · Graphic design: CD cover for Brendan Smoother (Country Music Artist) · Graphic design : Stationary, print ads & business cards; Dolphin Café Lennox Head · Live vision mix (2 camera shoot), graphic design of packaging and duplication for Dance Studios at Ballina, Alstonville & Mullumbimby (NSW) end of year concerts · Designed Poster for pop band “Crank” · Mastered and Duplicated CDs for vocal artist Shanti Ramal 1998 Catholic Education N.T. “The Kukunari Show” Bathurst Island Community artist/video producer Commissioned to make a documentary on a health & education project run by 5 community artists among young Tiwi Islanders, to help combat youth suicide. This project included shooting and editing a half hour television segment on a daily basis for 6 weeks, which was broadcast nightly on the Bathurst Island Community TV network. (Click here for a slideshow of images of Tiwi life and art, captured during this project). 1998 Young Drums Percussion Orchestra, Aberdeen, Scotland Video Documentary Producer/cameraman/video editor commissioned to produce a video documentary of the "Young Drums" tour to Scotland to perform at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. 1997 Knoch Tea Tree Exports, Video Editor/sound editor/composer record voice-over; video edit & post production audio for "Wild Harvest: the Gold standard for Tea Tree Oil"; corporate video explaining the superior medicinal qualities of organically grown wild-harvested tea tree oil. http://www.ttexport.com.au/ 1997 Durrumbil Jazz Festival Committee Video producer/cameraman Commissioned to shoot archival footage of the inaugural Durrumbil Jazz Festival 1996 to 1997 Futera Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Victoria Graphic Artist commissioned to design a set of 120 collectable cards entitled "Hemp DownUnder" for the makers of the Australian Cricket Board cricket cards. Click here to view. 1997 Young Drums Inc., Web site designer designed and implemented website collating information for the Young Drums fund raising efforts towards the Aberdeen Youth Festival tour. Click here for profile. 1997 North Coast Entertainment Industry Association, Lismore, N.S.W. Video animator/titler produced the on screen video animations and winners/sponsors video titles for "the Dolphin Awards" presentation night 1990 to 1997 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, tutor in digital music technology, sound engineering short residential courses for trainee aboriginal sound engineers employed at the C.A.A.M.A. recording and television studios, Alice Springs; held at ISMedia Studios. (www.caama.com.au/.) 1997 Humble Pie Co., Billinudgel, N.S.W. jingle composer / animator produced a “dancing pie” T.V. commercial; composed & recorded jingle 1997 Chincogan Fiesta Committee,Mullumbimby, N.S.W. Video documentary producer commissioned to produce a documentary of the 1996 Chincogan Charge (cross-country endurance race) and the annual street parade. 1997 David Birch and the Nightcap Band recording producer/graphic artist Producer and guitarist on the album, a track from which won the N.C.E.I.A. award for best rock song. Designed CD cover and web-site for the music album “Byron Journey” 1996 Tangentyere Aboriginal Council, Alice Springs, N.T. Video Producer Cameraman, video editor and post-production sound for "Tangentyere Wardens", a half hour docu-drama commissioned by the Alice Springs Council of Elders to explain and celebrate the role of aboriginal wardens in Alice Springs community life; shown on ABC Imparja. Produced the soundtrack. For a profile of Tangentyere Council : www.atns.net.au/biogs/A000509b.htm 1996 Papua New Guinea Government, Digital Sound Editor post-production sound, and audio sweetening using ProTools; a documentary on reaforestation techniques 1996 North Sydney Council, Sydney; N.S.W. Digital Graphic Artist commissioned to use digital media technology to produce images based on aboriginal rock art, which were etched into aluminium plaques and are displayed as the final images in the Berry Island foreshores nature walk known as "The Gadyan Track". 1996 Pitjanjatjara Land Council, Ernabella, Amata , Pitjanjatjara lands NT Audio and Video Producer Commissioned to re-record a contemporary version of the Pitjanjatjara Land Rights Song in communities through the Pitjanjatjara Lands and make a documentary video of the process, as a health & education initiative, celebrating the unique Central Australian lifestyle. http://www.atns.net.au/biogs/A000304b.htm ; See images of the Pitjantjatjara lands here. 1996 Shane Warne, Swann Sport, Melbourne, Vic. Graphic Artist graphic design for Shane Warnes' stationery and business card. http://www.auscricket.com.au/currentnews_oct04_warnerecord.htm 1996 Slug'em Art, multimedia producer; graphic artist Commissioned to produced an pilot animation/promotional video, featuring a collection of 3D sculptured "KritterZ" by artist Chris Job; Graphic design of a promotional book featuring same; created website for Slug'em Art 1995 Hughes Engineering, Ballina, N.S.W. Multimedia producer this company designs, constructs and exports 9-seat mobile virtual reality cinemas; they commissioned a series of 4 minute “adventure” videos with music/sound/titles, to which the computer controlled hydraulic motion of the portable theatre was programmed (similar to the Batman ride at Movieworld). Exported to Europe. http://www.lightwing.com.au/ 1995 Eartha Kitt, Australian National Tour Music Director band-leader & guitarist for legendary vocalist and cabaret artist Eartha Kitt (“Catwoman” from Batman TV series), including the nationally televised performance at the Gold Coast International Jazz Festival, & performances at Perth & Canberra Entertainment Centres & the State Theatre, Sydney. Visit http://www.usca.edu/aasc/kitt.htm for a profile of Eartha Kitt. 1995 Adult Community Education Inc., Lismore, Coraki, N.S.W. Tutor in Radio Production designed and delivered a two week workshop in community radio production and sound collage 1995 Young Drums Inc., Lismore, N.S.W. Video Producer shot & edited Young Drums music video entitled "Chinatown"; edited live concert footage shot by ABC of their performance of "Thus Spake Zarathustra" at Brisane's Piazza. Click here to visit Young Drums web-site. 1994 Nathan Cavalieri, Gold Coast International Jazz Festival, Surfers Paradise, Music Director Band-leader and guitarist, accompanying guitar prodigy Nathan Cavalieri. 1994 to 1995 Boulevarde Films, Melbourne composer commissioned to compose an opera entitled "Squizzy Taylor" which went into production as a feature film; Boulevarde Films subsequently was bankrupted through embezzlement and the project abandoned. The opera still exists in manuscript & demo tape. Click here for short account of the macabre life Squizzy. 1993 to 1995 Ismedia Studios, Bangalow, N.S.W. Project recording engineer/producer/music video maker produced and recorded music albums for country/folk music artist David Birch, fingerpicker/entertainer Tim Rickards, and Irish singer/songwriter Willi McElroy; produced video clips for African dance/ reggae artist "Kibwe" (broadcast on A.B.C.) 1994 "Dreamtime People", Sanctuary Cove Theatre, Qld. Composer and Music Director commissioned to create the music score for a hi-tech multimedia production staged as a permanent tourist attraction depicting Aboriginal Dreamtime mythology; show featured lazer lighting, and synchronized computer animation on 3 giant video screens; cast of 9 aborignal actors from the Black Swan Theatre Company 1994 LightWing Industries, Ballina, N.S.W. Video producer produced corporate video for award winning light aircraft manufacturer and flying school. http://www.lightwing.com.au/ 1993 Australian Film Commission, Brisbane Film score composer Compose and record music score, plus foley and sound editing for the film "Moments of Cruelty" dir. Guy Morgan; prod. Colin Oddy. 1985 to 1991 Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Brisbane Composer/music director Composed & music directed productions for 5 years including "Three Legends of Kra" by Robyn Archer, starring Diane Cilento, with 150 voice choir; conducted 35 piece orchestra during the nine performances; directed by Nigel Triffitt. http://www.qpac.com.au 1991 Catholic Music Teachers Association of N.S.W., Cabarita Beach, N.S.W. music technology workshops developed & presented a 3 day "Computer Music in the Contemporary Classroom" workshop 1986 to 1990 Kite Theatre Company, Brisbane, Qld & extensive touring Composer/Music Director Composed music for 5 joint productions between Q.P.A.T. and the Kite Theatre Company : the award winning "Solomon and the Big Cat"; "Whose Beach is it Anyway?" (toured nationally); innovative music technology based "Kris Makes a Machine"; "Sounds Good"; "The Day the T.V. Busted" 1990 Queensland Department of Education, Brisbane, Queensland Composer and post production sound Composed and recorded the score for the film "Openings" which highlighted the careers of women academics in Queensland; directed by Avrill Stark 1985 to 1990 Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Brisbane Queensland Project development/Music Composition On contract to the Education Office of the Queensland Performing Arts Complex: · A series of public workshop/lecture/demonstrations of state-of-the-art digital music and video technology, featuring sampling of body percussion with audience participation, live video with digital special effects, triggered by audience-composed music; one lecture was broadcast live with phone-in feedback / participation, on statewide T.V. · developed and conducted a series of music/video workshops for the disabled, and another series for terminally ill teenagers, composing music in a group using MIDI percussion triggers, and sampled sounds to tell stories; digital music and live video effects allowed for creation of "instant" video clips with positive body image and life experience outcomes. · developed and conducted workshops for a small group of leading Brisbane young composers in compostion techniques using the Fairlight C.M.I. · Digital music/video Installation, Concert Hall Foyer · Live digital music performance, Foyers program, supporting "The Thunderbirds" live stage production, Lyric Theatre · Workshop in story-telling incorporating digital sound collage 1988 Brisbane Expo' 88, Brisbane, Qld. Video Producer Commissioned to produce an “art video” to be projected on a giant screen on the Expo’ Riverstage, as a visual complement to the UNESCO International Youth Orchestra's performances of Gershwin's "An American in Paris"; (collaborated with Paul Rainsford Towner). 1988 Brisbane Expo' 88, Brisbane, Qld. Music Composer and soundscape design Commissioned to compose and record quadrophonic soundtracks for the 17 hi-tech animatronic 'floats' which toured the Expo' site daily as part of the QANTAS $3 mil. "Light Fantastic" parade project 1988 N.T. Arts Council, tour of remote communities, N.T. music director/tutor toured with Bill Davis, and leading aboriginal contemporary musicians including Frank Yamma; 26 concerts in 28 days with daily workshops to aboriginal communities in music technology, P.A. systems and lighting 1987 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Broome, W.A. Recording Producer Recorded traditional and contemporary aboriginal music of the Kimberley region. Artists recorded included "Scrap Metal" (featuring the Pigrim brothers) and 'demoed' the songs of Jimmy Chi which eventually became the hit stage show "Bran Nue Dae". www.caama.com.au/. 1985 to 1987 "Giant Steps", pop/rock band based in Byron Bay band leader and business manager, graphic designer; music video director innovative professional rock band; toured N.S.W.; support artists for leading Australian contemporary music acts including Cold Chisel, Black Sorrows, Divynals, Dragon, Goanna, Icehouse; produced a large body of experimental music videos; music video "Much More" broadcast on A.B.C. "Rage" 1986 La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Qld Composer / music director Compose songs and incidental music for Grant Frazer's hit play "Summertime Blues". http://www.laboite.com.au/default.htm 1986 N.T. Department of Education & the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs Radio producer/music arranger/composer produced, in collaboration with Bill Davis, two series of 20 half hour radio programmes, entitled “Bushfire Radio” featuring songs, stories, and amusing "health jingles" featuring innovative digital audio collage and early experiments in digital music; aimed at fostering sense of place and local community pride and creativity; an album was released which is still selling today, and the first series won a CBAA "Golden Reel Award" for community radio, and was runner up in the international "Pater Awards". http://www.cbaa.org.au/content.php/404.html 1985 "Dreams and Machines" Vols 1 and 2, Byron Bay, N.S.W. recording artist/producer Released retrospective double album of excerpts from various experimental music commissions; designed packaging and advertising material 1985 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs music industry consultant commissioned to research and prepare culturally appropriate music business contracts and supporting explanatory material for use between C.A.A.M.A. and aboriginal bands and artists; resulting documents were translated into aboriginal languages; gave workshops in Copyright, A.P.R.A., professional issues relating to a rock band as a small business; also produced and recorded a series of 'call sign' jingles for C.A.A.M.A. radio 1982 to 1985 Music Farm Recording Studios, Byron Bay session musician worked as session guitarist and vocalist on a huge variety of projects including "The Pirate Movie" soundtrack, regional, state and national TV commercials including Cadbury's, Solo, Coca-Cola 1985 Queensland Performing Arts Trust, Concert Hall, Brisbane, Queensland Writer/Director and Composer commissioned to write and direct a multimedia concert/performance art piece entitled "Dreams and Machines", featuring the (then state-of-the-art) 'Fairlight Computer Music Instrument' (C.M.I.), 'Fairlight VoiceTracker'and 'Fairlight Computer Video Instrument' to demonstrate the future of digital technology in a multimedia performing arts context; also featured live video and live video synthesis effects projected on a giant screen, a 10 member modern dance group, wind quintet, 5 piece rock band, vocalists and additional digital technology. http://www.qpac.com.au/at_qpac/venues/concert_hall/ 1985 Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, Alice Springs Music recording technology consultant employed to research, purchase and set up a mobile recording studio with the aim of recording contemporary aboriginal music. Studio later permanently located at Alice Springs. Toured Qld, NSW and WA recording aboriginal music 1984 La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, Qld Composer / Music Director/ Actor Wrote & Composed (and programmed the digital music score) for "Goodnight World" , a rock musical spoofing the spate of doomsday theories and religious cults; cast of 20; 3 additional musicians; excellent review in "the Australian". Script assistance by Gerald Frape. Theatre in the round, directed by Mary Hickson. http://www.laboite.com.au/default.htm 1983 Sydney Water Authority, Coffs Harbour Soundtrack composer/post-production sound Composed & edited sound for "Sinbad the Sewerage Sailor"; a light-hearted documentary for schools, explaining the contemporary approach to waste treatment; directed by Paul Rainsford Towner. 1982 N.S.W. Education Department, Lismore, N.S.W. Soundtrack composer Composed soundtracks for video program distributed to schools, entitled "This is Australia Today" 1982 The Palms Theatre Restaurant, Bangalow, N.S.W. writer/director/actor wrote and directed the season of "It's No Picture Show"; starring Barry Ferrier, Rodney Gooch, Glenda Lum, Gerald Frape. 1981 Rochdale Theatre, Lismore Theatre composer/actor recorded the soundtrack and acted lead role in "Beach", surrealist theatre piece, written and directed by Paul Rainsford Towner 1978 to 1980 R.C.A. Corporation, Sydney Recording Artist Recording original songs as the duo Lindon/Ferrier with multi instrumentalist/vocalist Cammie Lindon, and managed by Harry Widmer; · Support act in acoustic mode for Ry Cooder at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne · toured as the support for the Norman Gunston Chrismas Show; (yes, really!) · television appearances included Molly Meldrum's legendary "Countdown" and the Ray Martin Midday Show. ·live broadcast for JJJ network in duo with Cammie Lindon 1978 Australian Broadcasting Commission, Sydney , N.S.W. Composer / Music Director Composed recorded & produced music for ABC Radio drama's production of " The White Bird" 1978 Nimrod Theatre Co., The Stables, Sydney Composer Composed incidental music to the production of Anthony Schaffer's "Whodunnit?" 1977 Lindsay Kemp Mime Company, The Roundhouse, London Music Composer/performer Performed in the influential Kemp production of “Flowers” in New Arts Cinema, Sydney and Comedy Theatre, Melbourne; Composed the innovative quadraphonic electronic score for Kemp's "Salome"; this score described by the London Times as "thrilling"; 18 month sell-out season at London’s Roundhouse. (Collaborated with Andrew Thomas Wilson). Click here for a profile of Lindsay Kemp. 1977 "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour DreamCoat", York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Sydney, N.S.W. Actor/vocalist Among a cast of Australian stars including Mark Holden, played "Simeon" and "Potiphar", 1977 "The Ferretts", Melbourne Bass Guitarist Toured as bass guitarist with No. 1 charting pop group, former members of the original "Jesus Christ Superstar" cast. 1977 "The Astounding Optimissimos in 'Paradise: Depression Style'", Pram Factory, Melbourne actor experimental comedy directed by Jean Pierre Mignon (Australian National Theatre) 1977 Flying Trapeze Theatre Restaurant, Melbourne, Victoria writer/director/actor co-wrote and performed in the ensemble production of experimental theatre/cabaret show "Kabaratz" ; wrote and directed the season of "The Milky Way Cabaret Show" which later toured as "The Silent Scream Show". Experimental mixed media production with projections and sound collage. 1976 J. Albert & Son, King St. Studios Composer/ Recording Producer Recorded an album of the rock musical "Magical Frank", featuring Reg Livermore, and 'King of Pop' John Paul Young, the Ferretts and Arthur Dignam; this mixed-media musical theatre piece ran for 1 month at the Total Theatre, Melbourne 1976 Crest International , Melbourne Record producer/composer composed "The Boy Who Dared to Dream" in collaboration with lyricist Frank Howson; produced L.P. recording starring John Waters, Trevor White and Tommy Dysart, numerous mixed-media stage productions 1975 National Rock Theatre, Melbourne actor/musician campus tour of politically inspired musical comedy entitled "Africa: the Savage Musical"; written & directed by Steve J. Spears (of ‘Elocution of Benjamin Franklin’ fame) 1975 American Express Corporation, Sydney actor appeared with Karl Malden, as “the hippy handbag snatcher” in the internationally released American Express commercial 1974 “Jesus Christ, SuperStar”; Harry M. Miller Productions, Capitol Theatre Sydney & Palais Theatre, Melbourne Actor/Vocalist played an Apostle, and worked as utility understudy for minor parts including Peter, Caiaphus and the Pharisees etc, thus enjoyed a stage apprenticeship playing a different role most nights. 1970 to 1974 2JJ live concert appearance; MD for Dobie Gray (of "Drift Away" fame); band leader/guitarist. Jeff St. John Band, Sydney lead guitarist band leader for legendary Australian vocalist 1974 Sunberry Pop Festival, Melbourne Victoria musician performed as guitarist with Colin Hay of "Men at Work" 1972 Australian School of Radio & Television & the A.B.C., Sydney, N.S.W. actor and music arranger lead acting role in the film "Second Time Straight" written and directed by Craig Kirshner; also produced soundtrack song "Feelings" and incidental music 1970 Composed the music in collaboration with Roderick Morgan for an experimental 16mm film made by student film maker Phil Noyce

Memories of Rodney Gooch.

I once was the proud owner of four camels. The attached newspaper clipping is one of the only pictures of my camel adventures to have survived my house fire in 1994. The picture of me and Shanti my younger female Camel was taken in 1984 when I was paid by through an advertising agency to bring the camel team to Sydney for a publicity stunt to get promo for the opening of the Shell Building in North Sydney. A rather eccentric crew crossed Sydney Harbour in a barge with two large blue & gold cut-out palm tress, a half a tonne of white sand, the camels in splendid regalia, and my friend Rodney Gooch (a tribute to whom follows below) and I dressed as fugutives from the Arabian Nights (pre-terrorism and political correctness) and two belly dancers, the late Fairlie Beckner (a Australian middle weight karate champion)and Jennifer Carmen (a mystic and real belly dancer) and a third beautiful woman friend, Samantha Todd - under the harbour bridge (drinking champagne) and alighting near Luna Park. We were to walk the camels up through the centre of North Sydney where I was to play pseudo arabian disco music on borrowed synthesizers and a drum machine for the belly dancers. One of the camels nearly fell in the harbour when we were attempting to disembark. I actually did get on the Channel 9 news as, just after we landed, we were drenched by torrential rain! The "Ships of the Desert" byline was too funny for the news editor to ignore. 

We appeared at the Shell building every day for a week. Shows were hosted by the glamorous Chelsea Brown, an African-American actress and comedian (who appeared as a regular performer in comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In with guest roles include appearances in Marcus Welby, M.D., Ironside, Matt Lincoln and, in the UK, The Two Ronnies. She also appeared in the films Sweet Charity, and The Thing with Two Heads. She emigrated to Australia in the 1970s and had ongoing roles in soap operas Number 96 (in 1977), and E Street (in 1990–1991). She had a guest role in the Australian-filmed revival of Mission: Impossible (1988). Film roles in Australia include Welcome to Woop Woop, The Return of Captain Invincible. She was married to fellow E Street actor, the late Vic Rooney. Wikipedia).

I first met the inimitable Rodney Gooch in the early eighties when I was performing a regular gig as a solo entertainer at a long-defunct restaurant called The Palms in the main street of Bangalow (a small town near Byron Bay on Australia's east coast - I have since made Bangalow my home).

Rodney had taken a job as a waiter and his powerful, flamboyant personality, huge hands and Rudolph Nureyev-like face made quite an impression. From conversations I only vaguely recall I have the idea that Rodney was a founding figure in the original Les Girls drag-show (of Kings Cross fame), had appeared on the cover of the international Face magazine, and run a restaurant in London, and ...crossed Australia, from Alice Springs to Byron Bay solo, with a team of camels and a dog.

Rodney and I, and a few others, were soon putting on hilarious high camp and rather gothic theatrical productions in this tiny performing space... most notably It's No Picture Show, starring myself, Rodney in drag, the wonderful singer/actress Glenda Lum, and journalist (now media advocacy lecturer) Gerald Frape (with whom I later wrote Goodnight World).

One of the pictures in the attached gallery is of me and my friend Robyn Bekker riding in the now historic Oleander Festival in Byron Bay. Back in 1981, I was invited to ride my camels up Jonson Street as part of the Festival Parade and here is an article from the Northern Star with a picture of myself mounted on Bunji the bull camel and Robyn Bekker riding Isabelle. Just after this photo was taken, the fire engine at the head of the parade let off it's siren... the camels took fright and bolted off the street and onto the footpath, galloping down the sidewalk. Have you ever seen a camel gallop? I had to crouch down and actually bumped my head on a shop awning as shocked onlookers scattered in all directions in pandemonium.

Who was the Gooch?

RODNEY GOOCH who in his life of unsung achievements was active and influential in the establishment of the first aboriginal recording studio, assisted the very earliest contemporary aboriginal bands to be recorded and recognised.  After facilitating the start up of aboriginal contemporary music, RODNEY is credited with going on to influence the emergence of contemporary aboriginal painting,  encouraging and enabling the many artists of Utopia community to pursue international careers in the arts. The late EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE was one of these artists, now regarded as one of Australia’s most significant artists of all time. Rodney also managed the CAAMA shop (the art, craft and music outlet of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) and Utopia Batik, of which he was art co-ordinator from 1987 to 1992. 

Rodney was an original and a visionary. He had indeed made an epic, year long journey from Alice Springs to Byron Bay with four camels and a dog, crossing the Simpson Desert unassisted (an article was written on this trip by Gerald Frape for Hustler Magazine, long before the film Priscilla Queen of the Desert hit the silver screen, and in my mind Rodney was the true original Priscilla).

As I had purchased a small acreage, and Rodney was over his camel adventure I became the guardian of those foot-sore camels. In the coming months I began giving camel-rides at the local markets to subsidise my musical income and became quite a camel expert under Rodney's influence. You could meet the world on the back of a camel in those days. I rode them in local festivals and even began being booked for children's parties! These were only recently wild, feral camels but camel suffer from a maligned reputation .

The Gooch and I had many adventures, the most outrageous was that week-long publicity stunt for the opening of that brand new skyscraper in North Sydney - described above.

Rodney painted the two tall blue and gold cut-out ply-wood palm trees, and the climax was us crossing under Sydney Harbour Bridge on a sand-filled barge, with the four long-sufferring camels. Helicopter flying overhead, TV cameras whirring, our odd team high on champagne euphoria - but when we reached Luna Park, the tide was low and the camels wouldn't walk up a ramp. Rodney tried to urge our bull camel Bunji up the ramp and he took one disgusted step onto the plank and then nearly fell into the harbour - he lay there with his huge dromedary chest pressed to the barge deck, looking very disgruntled (even for a camel), with his two skinny front legs dangling over, perilously close to the murky harbour water.

After much confused disarray, we finally off-loaded onto a small patch of grey sand covered with city detritus clinging to the base of an old stone wall. We mounted on this strip of sand. Then it rained.

No, it poured (and thus amusing images of some rather soggy ships-of-the-desert made the Channel 9 News). 

Rodney booked some music gigs for me around Sydney (the header image is an ad for one of those), and arrived on a camel and rode up the steps and into the hotel, dismounted on some sand on the dance floor he had wheel-barrowed in, and then played a rather strange set of pseduo arabian disco music - but the entry on camel back was a hard act to follow.

The following year Noel Fullerton's famous camel team was visiting the Gold Coast, and as Rodney knew Noel, he negotiated to put on a camel race in Lismore showgrounds. We borrowed money to finance and promote the event. There is a theme here - It rained again. The distressing outcome was that we had to sell our treasured camel team (they were dispersed to some large rural properties in western NSW to eat thistles)  and the saddles to recoup the bank overdaft, so Rodney decided to return to Alice Springs to capture some more camels!

Some years passed and Rodney didn't return to Byron, and contact was disjointed. From what I heard later, Rodney began working as a chef to earn some money, but this was also the time when he began his life's work.

Rodney had always expressed a desire to make some sort of difference to the plight of Australia's indegenous people. Let's face it - Australia has a sad and sorry record and things have not improved greatly in terms of racism. Rodney first hired some local hall and put on a few indigenous rock bands - there was no venue in Alice Springs that would employ aboriginal bands. Rodney did the promotion, collected money on the door to pay the bands, and swept up the broken glass afterwards. These small entrepreneurial ventures were so successful that soon Rodney started working with the fledgling C.A.A.M.A. Radio group, based in a tiny cement block building in the squalid Gap aboriginal camp. During this period the seeds of the contemporary aboriginal music project described below were sown.

Rodney then began taking his choice of aboriginal bands to Adelaide to record them, releasing some home-grown cassette tapes, and continued putting on dances for aboriginal communities (who were largely uncatered for in Alice in those days), and even began making some wild, earthy video clips for bands such as the Warumpi Band. The cassettes had an incredible impact in the aboriginal communities - this was their own contemporary music and it had never been available before.

My next contact came when Rodney invited me to Alice to help develop appropriate practical legal contracts between the aboriginal bands and C.A.A.M.A., a project whcih severely annoyed some of the legal profession in Alice, and made me a target at some of the Alice society "do's" I attended - but their legaleze documents were incomprehensible to the parties involved. I collected specimen contracts from a broad range of recording and publishing companies in Sydney and Melbourne . I remember early mornings jogging in the green irrigated park in Alice, and physically cutting and pasting documents on the motel room floor (in pre-computer times) with the idea of editing down to the most concise but comprehensive documents I could manage. I finally "translated" this into a parallel explanation in everyday language, which Rodney then had re-translated into various aboriginal languages. He always encouraged a direct approach to problem solving.

The success of the music cassettes Rodney produced for C.A.A.M.A. - they went on selling like wild-fire on aboriginal communities across the N.T. - led to C.A.A.M.A. securing a grant to set up an aboriginal recording studio, which Rodney visualised as a mobile unit, travelling to the homelands of contemporary aboriginal music artists. I was employed to research the purchase of equipment for this project and later set it up for Rodney in a small bus he had purchased.

This was the first C.A.A.M.A. recording studio, and I was immediately sent to record an aboriginal concert in a park in Brisbane. The recording bus was a 'lemon' however. It was eventually abandoned. Rodney next flew me and the equipment, sans bus, to Broome. The equipment somehow ended up in Perth and I spent some time hanging about in pre-development Broome with my four year old son Tirryn. I was billetted in the aboriginal hostel - prossibly the first and only white man to stay there - and my beautiful boy was a blessing in bridge building. After much too-ing and fro-ing I was put in contact with an agent for the Chancellor of the Exchequer of Britain - forgotton his name now - who was buying up big in preparaton for the coming development boom... and it eventuated I was offered a deserted house on the beach out of town, where I set up the recording equipment. There was electricity and fans, and a working toilet, but no stove or furniture, and I cooked outside on a campfire looking down on my own little beach, no humans for miles, and the beach sand was red.

That summer I recorded Jimmy Chi's original demos of the songs which became Brand Nue Dae as well as the first recordings of Scrap Metal (now the Pigram Brothers ), and also secret traditional songs performed with solemn dignity by elders of the local community.

The weeks flew by and Christmas arrived. While I was home for a Christmas break, the lead singer of Scrap Metal died in a drink driving accident, my aboriginal trainee-engineer Eddie was arrested for apparently bashing someone to death with a star-picket in a drunken fight and meanwhile the precious master tapes we had recorded with such idealism and excitement were stolen by a white 'friend' of the band who thought they would be valuable. (They were eventually recovered, and years later I saw a copy of a finished cassette in an Alice Springs record store).

After the dust settled on this episode, the mobile 'recording studio' was finally set up in the concrete-block bunker at Little Sisters camp around the corner from the Gap, in Alice Springs, and the rest is history. Though a history these days that is on a downward trend - the exciting heyday of C.A.A.M.A. Recording a mute memory thanks to Howard Govt cuts to such expensive cultural icons.

So, in the whole early history of contemporary aboriginal music, that culminated in the establishment of the big glass-fronted C.A.A.M.A building in the centre of Alice Springs and the success of aboriginal bands, Rodney Gooch was a hugely important historical figure...it was his vision and energy which led to the establishment of a national contemporary aboriginal music presence in the media, a fact which goes largely unsung.

His later even more important work with aboriginal visual artists is much better recorded (see below). One could suspect it is because of his status as a gay H.I.V. victim that he is yet to receive the recognition he deserves, for a fabulous, inspiring life, and an immense contribution which paved the way for the acceptance that contemporary Australian aboriginal art and music now enjoys in mainstream culture, a cause to which he consciously dedicated himself over two decades. In time I hope his true historical significance will emerge.

Rodney touched many people. I remember him fondly as a flamboyant, larger-than-life, astute, energetic, totally unique individual, with an astounding constitution, able to withstand predigious feats of partying, a strong instinct for and love of visual style, music and culture, and a green thumb that turned the backyard of any place he stayed into an oasis.

But if history is just, we will surely remember him as a very practical visionary, and a life-long fighter for the cause he believed in and the Australian aboriginal people he loved.

Rodney Gooch: Devoted to bush art.

OBITUARY. from the Alice Springs News, Sept 18, 2002.

Rodney Gooch, who died recently, made a huge contribution to the artists, singers and musicians of Central Australia, say friends and family who contributed this obituary:-

Rodney was born in Adelaide in 1949, one of six siblings.

He left home at 17 and lived for a time in Sydney where he first performed as a drag queen, travelled overseas and lived on Norfolk Island before settling in Alice Springs. His first job here was on a camel farm, and his 4500km solo trek from Alice Springs to Byron Bay gave him the title of the original "Queen of the Desert". Rodney is best known for his work with Aboriginal artists and musicians. He originally joined CAAMA for a six-week period and began what became his life's work. He started by encouraging young people from the Gap Youth Centre to become involved in creating artwork for cassette covers for CAAMA Music, and he helped establish the CAAMA Shop.

His flamboyance, creativity and energy enthused many others to contribute to the Shop. It grew quickly under his management, providing employment for Aboriginal people and becoming a great drop-in centre and mixing pot for all, both black and white, to talk about art, music and new ideas.

In 1987, Rodney was asked to take over the management of the Utopia Women's Batik Group. The women took a shine to Rodney and he to them. Batik had been introduced at Utopia a few years earlier but it wasn't long before Rodney, through CAAMA Shop, was providing art materials to the whole community.

A trip to the United States in 1988 with Chris Hodges and the late C. Possum led to a survey of the Utopia artists to see if they would like to try acrylic painting, as US museums and galleries dismissed the batik work as "craft". This survey became known as "A Summer Project", the works later acquired by the Robert Holmes a Court Collection. Rodney provided the first canvases and paints to Utopia artists. He also encouraged people to paint on car doors, and provided wood carving materials, which led to the production of the now famous Utopia wood figures. His flamboyance and enthusiasm was infective and it showed in the freedom and colour that was displayed in the Utopia works. Artists such as Emily Kngwarre, Lindsay Bird, Ada Bird and Gloria Petyarre all commenced painting with Rodney's support.

EMILY KAME KNGWARREYE Anmatyerre (ca. 1916 — 1996)

NTANGE, MUNYAROO SEEDS DREAMING, 1996 synthetic polymer paint on canvas/linen

120 x 84cm $7,000 — 9,000 PROVENANCE Mulga Bore Artists (Rodney Gooch), Utopia, N.T. Company Collection, Melbourne EXHIBITED Switzerland: Gallerie ESF, Lausanne, July 1998; Gallerie Rivolta, Geneva, August 1998. Norway: Galleri Oda, Kristiansand; Galleri Lista Fyr, Borhag; Saviomuseet, Kirkenes; Alta Kunst-Forening, Alta, August to November 1999. In 1998 Rodney donated his personal art collection to a regional gallery in South Australia. His final collection was donated to the Flinders University Art Collection, a gift he organised while he was in hospital. Rodney was also important in the development of CAAMA Music. When CAAMA needed a place to record artists, but had no money, Rodney set about building a mud-brick recording studio at Little Sisters, with the help of many others. This became the place where many Aboriginal singers and bands laid down tracks for CAAMA Music.

The artwork, marketing and promotion was done under Rodney's management and it was a huge success.

Rodney loved and admired Freda Glynn and Philip Batty, who were running CAAMA during Rodney's time there, and between them they made a great contribution to the media culture of Central Australia. As Rodney's brother Bob Gooch said at his funeral, Rodney's life gives us "a message and example to think about. " Despite the recent decades being known as the era of greed, Rodney was the opposite. "He leaves us all with an example of a happy life, lived to the full, enjoying the simple things, the people, his family, the community."

"ART AND RECONCILIATION"

SPEECH BY EVELYN SCOTT CHAIRPERSON, COUNCIL FOR ABORIGINAL RECONCILIATION, AT THE OPENING OF "THE RODNEY GOOCH COLLECTION: WORKS OF THE ARTISTS OF UTOPIA" RIDDOCH ART GALLERY MT GAMBIER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 25 SEPTEMBER 1998

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Malcolm Anderson, Mayor Don McDonald, Louise Haigh, Rodney Gooch, Ladies and Gentlemen.

"First I'd like to thank Malcolm for his welcome to the country of the Nungis people. In keeping with a tradition of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, I acknowledge the living culture of the Nungis people and the unique role they play in the life of the Mount Gambier region. The reason for us being here tonight is more than just a proud moment for the Riddoch Art Gallery and the people of the South-East region. It's also a significant milestone on the path to reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the wider Australian community.

I'll explain why I say that in a minute, but first I'd like to pay tribute to some of the people who've made it possible for Mount Gambier to become home to this wonderful collection of art. Most of you have probably heard of the gallery's generous benefactor on this occasion, Rodney Gooch. Rodney is widely and rightly hailed for his pioneering work in developing and promoting Indigenous arts in Central Australia. We know that he has cast his net widely in that field over the last couple of decades.

For example, he was one of the driving forces behind CAAMA - the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association. CAAMA has played a leading role in promoting cross-cultural understanding, in providing a voice for many Aboriginal communities, and in supporting the several important Indigenous languages that remain alive in the vast area through which its coverage extends. And CAAMA became a model for what is now a quite impressive network of Indigenous media operations throughout Australia.

Rodney Gooch's part in all of that was important and, especially in the early days, courageous. But of course, it's one of his other great pursuits that interest us most here. That is his long-standing and energetic encouragement of Aboriginal artists and, hand in hand with that, his determination to help all Australians to an appreciation of the meaning, the significance, and the artistic merit of Indigenous art.

In the course of this labour of love, Rodney built up a significant private collection of the work of the artists of Utopia. It's entirely consistent with his vision that all these exciting and valuable paintings, sculptures, coolamons and other works are now becoming available to the Australian public. I think I can speak on behalf of all Australians interested in cultural diversity and mutual understanding when I pay tribute to the generosity, and the vision, of Rodney Gooch.

The question then is, why Mount Gambier? Why the Riddoch Gallery? This is after all one of the most significant gifts to a regional gallery ever made in Australia! I think the answer to that lies in the energy and commitment of your director, Louise Haigh, and the many supporters of the Gallery in Mount Gambier and the surrounding region.

I believe Rodney decided quite some time ago that his collection would become available to the Australian public, but he was quite fussy about how it should be cared for and used, especially for the benefit of Australia's children. I know that Riddoch, like most regional galleries, is hardly flush with funds, so it's a feather in Louise Haigh's hat that she was able to meet Rodney's requirements and take on the responsibility for this fine collection. I know that Louise knows she couldn't have done it without specific support for the collection from a number of quarters. The City of Mount Gambier, agencies of the State Government, and Living Health all deserve praise for their ability to see the worth of the collection and ensure it found a home here. I heard also that a couple of months ago, the preparation of this exhibition received a big boost when the local business community and some hundreds of citizens of the region made sure that a fundraising auction was both thoroughly enjoyable and successful in its purpose.

It's this last source of support that leads me back to the comment I made about the importance of this occasion to the national process of Reconciliation. The Council I lead will end its life on the first of January, 2001. By then, I believe we will have taken many steps together on the path to reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and other Australians.

The Council itself hopes to achieve by that time broad agreement on national documents of reconciliation. These will set out the nation's understanding of the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original inhabitants of this land, acknowledge past injustices, and lay down the steps that still need to be taken to overcome Indigenous disadvantage and achieve true and lasting reconciliation.

We also hope to see in place a great network of partnerships, between business, government of all tiers, community organisations and Indigenous communities, established with the prime objective of ridding this land of the gross inequalities that still persist in relation to our Indigenous peoples. There's a third, and I think vitally important, goal for this third and last term of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. It is to support and promote the growth of the People's Movement for Reconciliation. This is the key to maintaining the momentum for true reconciliation beyond the centenary of federation. Less than two years ago, there were about twenty local groups in all of Australia working under the banner of Australians for Reconciliation. Today, there are more than 260, and we want to see that number grow much more. It's at the local level, where people of good will can sit down together and agree on what reconciliation actually means in their communities; where Indigenous and other Australians can learn to appreciate each other's outlooks on life, where they can see what needs to be done and plan to do it, that reconciliation has the greatest meaning. I believe that this people's movement has an unstoppable power. Whatever the political threats that may emerge from time to time, the people will ensure that reconciliation succeeds.

It's in that context that I so very warmly welcome the kind of partnerships that led to this great event in Mount Gambier. Your City Council, your business community, your Indigenous community, your private citizens of good will, all came together to make sure this project worked. The fact that this project is a major demonstration of Indigenous culture makes it - and the way it's been brought to fruition - is a highly significant milestone in the path to reconciliation. So it gives me great pleasure and pride, ladies and gentlemen, to declare the Rodney Gooch Collection of the Riddoch Art Gallery, officially open." The Rodney Gooch Collection - the Riddoch Art Gallery The Rodney Gooch Collection of indigenous art from Utopia was a donation of over 200 works of art from Rodney Gooch in 1998. Gooch was a long-time supporter of the aboriginal music and art industries in Central Australia and worked with aboriginal people and organisations for over 20 years. Since 1987 Gooch forged a close relationship with the people of Utopia, which is 240kms north east of Alice Springs, and in the summer of 1988/89 he delivered 100 fresh canvases, acrylic paints and brushes to various artists in Utopia. As a result of this many outstanding indigenous artists began to emerge including Kathleen Petyarre and the late Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Through the generosity of Rodney Gooch, the Riddoch Art Gallery now owns a significant collection of works from Utopia including silk and cotton batiks, sculpture, jewellery, photography and a large number of acrylic paintings. This collection spans two decades and traces the development of the artists of Utopia from relative obscurity to international recognition. Johnny Skiner, Bush Plum Dreaming, c.1992, acrylic on canvas, 165.5 x 44.5 cm. Gift of Rodney Gooch 1998 Collection - Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier. Janet Kngwarreye, Untitled (Utopia massacre scene), c.1998, acrylic on canvas, Gift of Rodney Gooch, 1998 Collection - Riddoch Art Gallery, Mount Gambier. Over the past decade Aboriginal artists have produced distinguished works because of their individual style and techniques rather than just for their ethnographic importance. Names such as Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Robert Cole and Ronnie Tjampitjinpa have become well know within Australia's art community because of their work's distinctive and exceptional qualities.

In a foreword in one of several books on the Utopia art community (artists from the Aboriginal Utopia community in central Australia in the Northern Territory), The Art of Utopia by Michael Boulter, Hodges said: "Looking back over the work that they made since the late 1970s, and in particular the work since 1988, it is clear to me that the most outstanding work goes beyond Aboriginality." He added: "The art transcends specific cultural roots and references and thus becomes meaningful to a much wider audience."

Hodges first encountered Utopia artists' work in the contemporary Australian section of the Australian National Gallery. Then he met Rodney Gooch by "accident", (when Gooch was working as) a representative for the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA), in 1988. Gooch had organised Utopia women's batik group to produce a series of stories as a way to document the culture of their region. This process involved using brushes to apply hot wax artistically on material, such as silk, which was then dyed. Because of the size of pieces such as A Picture Story (2.4m x 1.2m) Gooch needed spaces the size of galleries to exhibit the work. Previously they had been shown in the CAAMA shop, a converted generator shed. Gooch's meeting with Hodges ended his problem of finding a space.

They agreed Hodges would exhibit and sell work for the Utopia community in Sydney. Initially the work was shown in his Newtown studio/home. The positive response from this and several temporary exhibitions led him to open a permanent gallery in Stanmore. Soon after the Papunya Tula Artists approached Hodges to be their representative. Consequently, Hodges became a gallery owner "more or less in a response to what they asked me to do for them". So he decided to create the same type of environment he had found productive as an artist starting out. Hodges said: "I believe strongly in the idea of the artist and the gallery working together in representation."

EMILY KNGWARREYE (Australian Representative to the 1997 Venice Bienalle). Emily is widely regarded as the most innovative painter to have emerged from the desert painting movement. The evolution of her painting style was nothing short of remarkable. Emily started painting at Utopia at the age of 77 and compressed a brilliant career, comparable to that of other important abstract painters, into eight short years, leaving an impressive body of work behind her. Emily passed away in 1996, but her legacy lives on in the compelling colour, vibrant dotting, and spellbinding gestural brushwork of her paintings.

Emu Country

Emily Kngwarreye,

1993 60" x 36"

A mid-period gem, its soft colours evoking a sense of desert landscape in bloom, as the Emu hunts for the Mulga seeds heralding the seasonal renewal of the Yams (Emily was the senior custodian of the Yam Dreaming).

The Fairlight CMI (short for Computer Musical Instrument) is one of the earliest complete music workstations with embedded digital sampling synthesizer. It was introduced in 1979 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, in Sydney, Australia. It rose to prominence in the early 1980s and competed in the emerging hi-tech music market with the Synclavier from New England Digital.

Australian multimedia artist Barry Ferrier, who had taken an interest in electronic music since working with pioneering Moog Synthesist Andrew Thomas Wilson in the 70s composing the music for  Lindsay Kemp's "Salome", was introduced to composing on the Fairlight during downtime while working as a recording session musician for producer Ian Mason at the iconic Music Farm Studios in Mullumbimby NSW. He later became a regular commissioned composer for the Queensland Performing Arts Trust at Brisbane's QPAC. A Fairlight CMI had been purchased by the Trust and Barry's unique knowledge of the groundbreaking computer music instrument was utilised in many theatre shows, workshops and installations during the mid to late 80s. It was the centrepiece to the Kite Theatre Company's children's theatre production "Kris Makes a Machine" at the Cremorne Theatre at QPAC, as well as a Foyer Installation at the Lyric Theatre for "Thunderbirds are Go" and was utilized in innovative workshops conducted by Barry for young Brisbane composers as well as terminally ill adolescents, as part of the QPAC outreach prgramme.

Barry Ferrier was commissioned by the Queensland Performing Arts Trust to compose and perform a concert in September 1985 at the QPAC Concert Hall that was to be an exposition of state of the art digital technology in a performing arts context, featuring the then cutting edge Fairlight CMI IIX and the newly released Fairlight Video Instrument (CVI).  The performances featured the Fairlight CMI as part of a rockband (performing the song Android from Ferrier's rock musical "Goodnight World"), as a fifth "member" of a wind quintet, and as the soundtrack to a modern dance piece, choreographed by Ginny Bradley with the Vision Dance ensemble, entitled "Chrysalis", all composed by Ferrier on the Fairlight. The performance included prepared video clips on a giant screen as well as live video processed through a Fairlight Video Instrument. The prepared videos used text performed by Ferrier from the writings of Australian composer Percy Grainger who had written a prescient piece on a future music technology at the turn of the 19th century which described in uncanny detail a concept that pre-imagined the Fairlight CMI projected on a giant screen borrowed from the Sydney Opera House.

Barry Ferrier has recently been recognised for his pioneering work as an electronic music composer by inclusion of one of his compositions in an exhibition mounted as a celebration of the birth of the Fairlight Computer Music Instrument at the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra on Sept 2nd, 2016.

For some there are two Brisbanes – the one before World Expo ‘88 and the new more confident and progressive one that emerged after. Many performers and musicians found an exciting forum for their work at this vibrant hi-tech showcase with a Festival atmosphere and exhibits from many nations of the world. Barry Ferrier won the prestigious contract to compose and produce hi-tech music quadrophonic soundtracks for the QANTAS sponsored Light Fantastic Night Parade which travelled through the Expo '88 site daily.

Designed to rival the famous Disneyland Parades, World Expo '88 featured two daily parades - the 'Food!'-themed Expo Day Parade - and the 'Hermaphro - Queen of the Night'-themed QANTAS Light Fantastic Night Parade.

Barry Ferrier met outstanding vocalist and musician Cammie Lindon in the ealy 70s, when a fellow Sydney University student asked him if he would be a last minute stand-in for the lead guitarist at a Christian concert at which Cammie headlined in Hyde Park, Sydney, attended by some 5000 young Christians. They then began rehearsing together at Barry's rented Redfern terrace house, though Cammie was still at shcool. Cammie soon was recognised for her outstanding musical ability by comedian and Triple J host Bob Hudson, who arranged for her to appear as support to international guitar legend Leo Kottke at Sydney Town Hall. She performed several of Barry's original songs at this highly acclaimed performance.

For a period after this the two performed together in an acoustic vocal harmony trio with Sydney songwriter Roderick Morgan at restaurants and music venues around Glebe.

In the late 70s after the 'Jesus Christ Superstar'   run had finished, Barry and Cammie Lindon reconnected and developed a successful music career together, as the duo Lindon Ferrier. They were joined by long time friend Roderick Morgan and the singer Chris Clark to perform Barry's self-penned comedy musical "the Milky Way Cabaret" at the iconic Flying Trapeze Cafe in Melbourne's Brunswick Street, and later performing around Sydney and Melbourne with their theatrical funk rock band Skeleton Crew with Peter Leighton on drums and Chris Doyle on bass (who Barry first met when he joined 'Jeff St John and Sacha'). They were joined for a period in this outfit by English keyboardist and syntheziser pioneer Andrew Thomas Wilson (who Barry met during his period as composer with the Lindsay Kemp Company). Skeleton Crew became very popular around the Sydney music scene in the mid-70s, and was supported by a fledgling Icehouse at a NSW Uni Roundhouse concert, and after touring Queensland, featured in a revival season of Steve J. Spears' politically charged but highly melodic piece "Africa the Savage Musical" at the VCA Theatre in Melbourne.

After introductions by Andrew Wilson, Lindon Ferrier recorded singles at United Sound Studios with eminent producer Spencer Lee , who's production secured a recording contract for the duo with international label RCA. They appeared on the ABC's legendary "Countdown", appeared live to air for a Double JJ performance, and supported Ry Cooder and David Lindley at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne. Cammie, who was NSW trombone champion as a teenager, brought the house down with her rendition of Randy Newman's "Guilty" featuring her  trombone solo while lying on top of the grand piano played by Barry,  and the standing ovation they received caused them to be sacked as support group for upstaging the headliners! They also toured as support act for the very weird Norman Gunston Christmas Show, and made further regional television appearances together. Their single of Ferrier's pop song "I'm Alive" received high rotation airlplay in Australia for some months but with virtually zero support from RCA, they were not able to gain great sales.

During this period they were managed (though not very successfully) by the Australian Music industry legend Harry Widmer (1926-2002), a man of extraordinary versatility - a painter, landscaper, house designer, builder, jewellery-maker, industrial designer, band manager, music promoter, car and boat designer and civic campaigner, as well as a swimming coach and prominent businessman, and he spoke four languages.

Harry had a large inpact on the evolution of the Australian live music scene and so we recount a history of his career in tribute:

Queensland-born, Harry was been taken to Zurich to be educated at age four and received a multilingual education, including a Swiss degree in industrial design. He completed compulsory service in the Swiss army (along the way becoming a national cross-country ski champion) and was later in the Australian army reserves, holding the rank of sergeant in the CMF Intelligence Corps.

He returned to Australia in 1946 but despite his great intelligence and his many talents, he now spoke almost no English and couldn't get a job, so he filled in time designing and making jewellery for Proud's while he learned English.

He took a position as a storeman for the General Motors distributor Stack's, but soon moved on to designing the showroom displays. An offer to work in the design department of the British Motor Corporation followed.

By 1961 he was director of industrial design at the electronics company Kriesler, a division of the massive Dutch Philips group. One of the many awards he won was the F.H. Edwards Laurel Award for 1966 for designing the Kreisler Mini 41-47 radio with polypropylene plastic case. The use of this material would later become commonplace, but the competition judges noted this was the first such application anywhere in the world.

In the late Sixties he moved into the music scene, managing bands and performers including The Executives, The La De Das, Kerrie Biddell and Doug Parkinson and setting up a music agency, Cordon Bleu. With the assistance of Melbourne poet Adrian Rawlins, Harry helped to finance the La De Das acclaimed 1969 LP The Happy Prince.

Barry had met adrian Rawlings through the Meher Baba movement, and a further connection was Celia, one of the Cordon Bleu booking agents who was also a member of Jeff St Jophn & Sasha (for whom Barry played lead guitar). During this period Barry performed extensively across Sydney as a solo act for Cordon Blue. Harry had Barry Ferrier and Cammie Lindon with band 'fill in' for the Executives for a concert at Sydney Town Hall when he doubled booked them.

Harry summed up his band management theory as making sure "all our selected management groups earn enough so they can stay together, live like human beings and improve musically".

Harry was also chairman of the PACT experimental theatre and arts organisation, working to lift the profile of actors, directors and producers (Peter Weir and Graham Bond among them).

Eventually Harry was offered the position of design director of the 212 British affiliates of the Philips electronics group and the family to move to England in 1971. They returned to Australia in 1974. At this time Harry moved into music full-time, managing more bands and artists and developing a new theatrical booking agency.

His new Windsun agency signed up 117 venues from Port Morseby to Perth, while Harry's new television packaging company - started soon after - became heavily involved on the production side, making documentaries and music shows.

Cammie Lindon:

Caron Mayda Lindon, affectionately known to family and friends as 'Cammie', was born 13th November 1955 in Sydney, Australia. She was the second child of five siblings, born to Richard and Jean Lindon, both professional vocalists. Barry and Cammie had a child together, Rachel Jean Ferrier. After giving birth to her daughter Rachel she took an extended break from performing and spent a period as a secondary school music teacher in the Western Suburbs of Sydney.  In 1982, she was pipped at the post for the lead role in the Australian hit musical comedy movie, 'Starstruck' and was given the role as "the backup singer". Apart from her beautiful voice, and amusing trombone skills, Cammie was an accomplished guitarist and piano player, able to accompany herself with great polish. She had a earthy sense of humour and was a riveting cabaret performer.

Caron died on June 21st 1999 in Sydney at the age of 42, after a four-year long battle with cancer. 

Here is a short film written and directed by Craig Kirshner starring Cammie Lindon & Barry Ferrier entitled "Second Time Straight" which is a testament to  Cammie's versatility. She delivers a strong and believable portrayal of the naive Country singer Julie Madden, as she navigates the ups and downs of chasing success in Sydney's music scene.