Down in the Mine - working in the mine, through film, song, poetry and drama. Benefit for Black Lung Support Group
* 5pm - 6.45pm: " Blood on the Coal" .... On 19th September, 1921, an explosion at north Qld's Mt Mulligan mine killed a huge number of the town's men. Nearly 100 years later it remains Qld's worst mining disaster and Australia's second worst - and almost completely forgotten.
Magda Community Artz in conjunction with the Black Lung Support Group (Qld), the CFMEU and Brisbane Labour History Association is proud to bring together a range of performances and the astonishing film: " Blood on the Coal"
Tickets: Adults: $20; Conc: $15; Children under 12: free; Family Conc: $65.
https://www.trybooking.com/MNCA OR https://www.trybooking.com/219752
* 7.30pm - 10pm: "Down in the Mine"
- 2 dramatic presentations + a line-up of poetry and song by some of S.E.Qld's finest folk singers.
Including: "The Great Dark". Written by Dan Totheroh in 1934, it reflects the ever present dangers faced by mining communities (eg Mt Mulligan, Gresford mining disaster). Presented by "The Magdalenes": Jan Nary (Director), Christine Venner-Westaway, Elizabeth Ross, Helen Rowe, Sharon Vassallo and Gillian Phillippo.
Musical Director: Ann Bermingham with the MVG, with John Thompson and Nicole Murray, Evan Mathieson and Martyn Wyndham-Read (pre-recorded).
Note: Entry to one of both parts of the evening are covered in the 1 ticket price.
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" .... Blood on the Coal was produced by the independent production company Matilda Films, and already it has won three international awards. At the Indie Fest International Film Festival it was the only Australian feature documentary film to win the Award of Excellence and at the Accolade Global Film Competition ... was one of only three Australian feature documentaries to win the Award of Excellence. ..."
http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2015/05/11/4233394.htm
- This riveting story about people working and surviving is the work of some wonderful artists, actors, musicians and poets. It will be an dynamic combination of art, culture, story telling, sadness and struggle. With the environmental stakes so high - and an upsurge in " black lung" in Qld - it is time to think more seriously about the human cost of mining.
Gresford Disaster: 22.09.1934
* https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2009/sep/24/gresford-disaster-archive
[The photo, above, is of the great-grand father and grandfather, of a former Qld Minister for the Arts, Matt Foley, who will be presenting some thoughts on this occasion. Used with kind permission.]