Tag: Tatura

  • New Gallery at Tatura Museum

    New Gallery at Tatura Museum

    On 15 September, 2019 a function was held at the Tatura Wartime Camps Museum. The purpose was two fold: to open a new gallery and to launch the exhibition Immigration and the Refugee: The Art of Erwin Fabian.

    Attended by over 100 people, the new gallery was officially opened by mayor. Kim O’Keefe. Appreciation was expressed for the generosity from the Pratt Foundation, Tatura Milk Industries, Tatura Rotary Club, Jack and Stuart Pickworth, James Crawford and major funder Greater Shepparton City Council.
    The second part of the formalities was the opening of the exhibition of artworks by Dunera artist and sculptor Erwin Fabian. It was opened by Jana Wendt.

    Jana Wendt and local Councillor Kym O Keefe
    Jana Wendt and local Councillor Kym O Keefe

    Jana Wendt talked about Erwin Fabian’s early life- referencing how he was born in 1915 in Berlin to a family of artists. Erwin, she said hoped from a young age to be an artist and studied at the School of Applied Arts in Berlin. He left for England in 1937 and eked out an existence in London designing book covers and posters. He was deported on the Dunera and interned in Hay, Orange and Tatura. In Hay he shared hut 26 with George Teltscher and Klaus Friedeberger and made life long friendships.

    Jana Wendt spoke about the theme of human dignity. She said that, at this time when public discourse is becoming less and less civil, the work of artists like Erwin Fabian is much needed to remind us of our common humanity with people on society’s fringe such as refugees. Most of Erwin’s works are untitled yet they are powerful and have a great deal to say about the refugee experience.

    Seumas Spark (historian from Monash University) ended the proceedings by thanking the funders of the exhibition- Gandel Philanthropy, the Besen Family foundation, Gordon Darling Foundation as well as Geirge Ferguson and the Tatura historical society. Seumas also joined everyone present in sincere gratitide to Erwin Fabian himself and his assistant Emil Toonen.

    Carol Bunyan (Dunera Association researcher), Lurline Knee (Tatura Historical Society), Seumas Spark (historian Monash University), Arhtur Knee (Tatura Historical Society)
    Carol Bunyan (Dunera Association researcher), Lurline Knee (Tatura
    Historical Society), Seumas Spark (historian Monash University), Arhtur
    Knee (Tatura Historical Society)

    MIGRATION AND THE REFUGEE: THE ART OF ERWIN FABIAN
    Erwin created a visual record of his internment using whatever materials that he could find. He later joined the 8th Employment company and was sent to the army Education Service where he illustrated army publications. After 1946 he made a living as a graphic artist first in Melbourne and then In London.

    Fabian returned to Melbourne in 1962 and turned to sculpture, working mainly in metal, sometimes in wood and also plastic. He has had more than 60 exhibitions in Australia, Britain and Germany. His sculptures, drawings and paintings are held in collections public and private in Australia and Europe.

    The Tatura exhibition contains both works he did while in camp in 1940 and 1941, as well as recent works on the global themes of forced migration and the experiences of refugees. Ewin has returned to the materials of ink and correction fluid on paper, not unlike his internment works in pen and ink on paper. At the age of 103 Erwin Fabian’s creativity is undimmed.

    The exhibition is not to be missed. Erwin Fabian’s works can also be seen at Australia Galleries in Collingwood and the Robin Gibson Gallery

    Rebecca Silk (Dunera Association member) and Mandy Huppert (daughters of Dunera internee Peter Huppert) with an Erwin Fabian sculpture
    Rebecca Silk (Dunera Association member) and Mandy Huppert (daughters of Dunera internee Peter Huppert) with an Erwin Fabian sculpture
  • 77th Anniversary Tatura Dunera Reunion

    77th Anniversary Tatura Dunera Reunion

    Tour guide John Gribben with attendees at the Tatura camp site
    Tour guide John Gribben with attendees at the Tatura camp site

    A highly successful visit to Tatura was held on 15 April 2018. About 25 Dunera members and friends gathered, on a blustery autumn day, at the Tatura World War II Wartime Camps Museum. Sadly there were no Dunera Boys in attendance.

    While enjoying the country hospitality, we perused the many artefacts, artworks, reconstruction of huts, letters, memorabilia and other items in the immense collection that is overseen by the local historical society.

    Michelle Frenkel with Rhonda Rose
    Michelle Frenkel with Rhonda Rose

    It was a pleasure to welcome some first-time visitors to Tatura, including Singapore Group descendant Ron Beer.
    We had the pleasure of watching a new documentary compiled by the Tatura Museum titled The Seven Wartime Camps at Tatura. The first part of the film gives an excellent summary of the background to the camps and the arrival of the first group of Dunera internees in 1940. It also details the transfer of Dunera Boys from Hay to Tatura camps and the internment of the Singapore Group in the family camps 3 and 4.

    George Ferguson, Rebecca Silk and Peter Felder
    George Ferguson, Rebecca Silk and Peter Felder

    Tatura Historical Society president, Steve Barnard, welcomed people to the Tatura Museum and introduced John Gribben who later conducted a tour of camp 1. While imagining the 1000 inmates at each camp, it conjures up a rather desolate situation.

    One visitor reminded us that the Australian guards were fair and reasonable, food was ample and medical care was provided for the internees. In addition, cultural life in camp flourished, including lectures, clubs, sporting teams, theatrical and musical performances, study of matriculation and technical subjects through the “Collegium Taturense” which was organised by the internees.

    We are once again grateful to George Ferguson, Lurline and Arthur Knee, and the president, committee and volunteers from the Tatura and District Historical Society for their hospitality and kindness to the Dunera Association

    Michelle Frenkel with Rhonda Rose
    Michelle Frenkel with Rhonda Rose
    George Ferguson, Rebecca Silk and Peter Felder
    George Ferguson, Rebecca Silk and Peter Felder
    Sarah and Erica Chadderton, and Tonia Eckfeld, granddaughter and daughters of Reinhold Eckfeld
    Sarah and Erica Chadderton, and Tonia Eckfeld, granddaughter and daughters of Reinhold Eckfeld
    Attendees at the Tatura Museum
    Attendees at the Tatura Museum