Rosie Changed Lives – a Retrospective
~ in honour of Rosemary Opala (1923 - 2008) ~
A celebratory event presented by Coochiemudlo Island Heritage Society.
We would be pleased if you could join us!
When: Friday September 29 – Sunday October 1, 2023.
Where: Coochiemudlo Island Community Hall
Cost: There is no entry fee, but donations will be accepted and appreciated!
Morning teas and lunches will be served.
To register your attendance, please complete the RSVP form.
About the event
This year, the centenary of Rosemary Opala’s birth, we celebrate Rosemary’s multifaceted life and talents by showcasing her work. She was highly regarded as an environmentalist, historian, social commentator, and community activist. Through her writing and art, Rosemary documented, and made visual, her thoughts and her life: as a nurse in the 1940s and 50s including Peel Island where she worked with those afflicted with Hansen’s disease; the loss of the natural environment; and life in Queensland.
The Retrospective will be held in the Community Hall. Upstairs, a display will be arranged to emphasise the wide scope of Rosemary’s achievements: Rosemary, the artist; Rosemary, the conservationist; Rosemary, the nurse; and Rosemary, the writer. Presenters will speak on her scope of work. Downstairs, there will be a display of Rosemary’s art work on loan from the Redlands Museum and the Redlands Art Gallery, as well.
With this event, we are partnering with the Coochiemudlo Island Artisans Collective and Ross Street Gallery where there will be an exhibition of Coochiemudlo Island’s flora and fauna during the Opala Retrospective weekend.
Program*
Friday 29 September, 5.00 – 7.00pm: Opening and Welcome
Speaker Session 1: ‘Rosemary, the person’
Saturday 30 September, 10:30am – 2:30pm
10:30 Speaker Session 2: ‘Rosemary, the writer’
11:00 Morning Tea
11:30 Speaker Session 3: ‘Rosemary – Advocacy through Art and Writing’
12:00 Lunch
Visit Ross Street Gallery
Sunday 1 October, 10:30am – 2:30pm
10:30 Speaker Session 4: ‘Rosemary, the nurse’
11:00 Morning Tea
11:30 Speaker Session 5: ‘Rosemary, the artist’
12:00 Open Session: ‘Rosemary – Sharing Reminiscences’
Lunch
The ‘Coochiemudlo Island Flora and Fauna’ exhibiton will be on show over Saturday and Sunday at the Ross Street Gallery (9 Ross St, Coochiemudlo Island).
*Minor changes to this program may have to be made before finalisation.
We thank the Redlands Museum, Redlands Art Gallery, and Rosemary’s friends, for the loan of various items from their collections for this Opala Retrospective. We also thank the Coochiemudlo Island Artisan Collective through Ross Street Gallery for their contributions.