It’s been a while…

Well I was on a roll writing my blog and had to go away from my beloved computer… I am back as of yesterday and have been asked to post my ‘Letter to the Editor’ regarding our library. I will post that letter on this blog and then tell you all about WriteFest in Bundaberg – after I have finished unpacking… see ya.

Dear Editor,

Last Thursday I was saddened to hear an old friend – a significant local figure – was suffering from a cancerous disease and authorities were about to take away what little influence this friend still has.
This old friend was showing signs of fatigue, age and frailty before the cyclone, and the effect Larry had was devastating. This friend has in her life time been an inspiration, shared stories, helped educate, and been a wealth of local historical knowledge; she has been a friend and support for local people of all ages, interests, cultural backgrounds and religions.

There is hope, a pricey medication that we as a community can help acquire and administer. We as a community need to help this old friend and give her back the strength that she has given us but has been taken from her in recent years.

I ask you to please write to your local councillors, the paper and State/Federal Members. Innisfail had a decent library that was damaged by Cyclone Larry; it like every other damaged property needs to be repaired/replaced not shoved aside. The library should be a suitable sized complex not a shoe box that can only house ‘popular titles’. The library is for everyone, and at the Corporate Planning Community meeting for Innisfail it was number one priority – what happened. Come on Community rally round an old friend.

Jacque Duffy

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Importance of libraries

Tell me… how important are libraries?
In my mind they are the only place within any community that remain non-discriminatory. It doesn’t matter if you are a sportsperson, intellectual, disabled, young or old – all are welcome and will find something of interest in a library. Then why is it the town I live in – Innisfail North Queensland – are down sizing our already substandard library. March 2006 saw Cyclone Larry punish Innisfail and surrounding areas with its winds, not a structure within 100km radius was left undamaged. The town library which was about to be extended on was destroyed. Generous people from all around Australia donated books to the library replacement – a temporary building 1/2 the size of the original. This temporary library was to be used for maybe two years until a new facility could be built.
Insurance money and the money from the sale of the old damaged building were set aside.
Last week front page of the ‘Innisfail Advocate’ declared this temporary library would be all we have for another ten years at least AND they are going to limit the collection to ‘popular titles’. This means getting rid of quite a few books, what is a ‘popular title’ anyway?

Why is this happening… the council have spent the money – they have used it on a hall. This hall is not non-descriminatory, one has to have a pocket full of money and pass the aplication criteria.

Go figure.

If you think Innisfail should have the library the community deserves write a letter to:

CEO,
CCRC,
PO Box 887,
Innisfail Queensland,
4860 Australia.

PS When you write a letter to our CEO please be polite – I doubt it was his decision.

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IP Laws

Jacque Duffy’s second blog…

Yesterday I spent six hours at Arts Nexus (www.artsnexus.com.au) in Cairns attending a seminar through Creative Economy, the seminar was about IP laws. You know Intellectual Property law. It’s quite involved and totally simple at the same time – are you confused yet?
Copyright, patens and registration of design, all of these things were spoken about. Discussions with examples really helped me grasp the entire structure. Copyright is something everyone should keep in mind whilst creating… not just in the arts/writing fields that I am interested in.

Ideas can’t be copyrighted – UNLESS, you complete an extensive proposal/plan of this idea – in writing/drawing and document the path of creation. You have to have proof that YOU created your idea and not someone else. – A paper trail –
We discussed several current intellectual property disputes that are in the media at present and some resolved disputes from recent times. It was all very interesting and too much to simplify for a bog; to get yourself hooked up with information I recommend you visit Creative Economy. (www.creativeeconomy.com.au)

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Hello world!

Welcome to my first blog. You know this is a little exciting, I have wanted to ‘blog’ for quite some time now. How do I blog? Do I soul search for my content, or, do I just ‘chat’ like I would to a friend. Hmmm, decisions decisions…

Here we go…

A friend from the Innisfail Art Society emailed me last night; she is concerned about an upcoming art competition for children under 12yrs. This competition in a few weeks time will be exhibited in the community gallery I manage. Although I normally coordinate all of the exhibitions in the space I am not the organiser of this particular exhibition/competition..
She says, “I have huge concerns about the ‘competitive nature’ in all of this, as there are educational policies to guard against such activities for children so young, who have not developed mentally, skilfully and spiritually enough, to be exploited by adults in such a way. I am not in support of the activity at all.”

I am a little surprised at the strength of her reaction but I understand the concerns. I also have reservations and am not in agreement with children selling art, (It’s usually secretly purchased by their parents anyway) I think it creates a false sense of achievement; the poor child is in for major disappointment when they next exhibit what they perceive to be their masterpieces. Or their mum and dad have an enormous and expensive collection of art that would have otherwise been on their walls for free. Kids should get enough of a thrill having their art hung in a gallery for all to see.

I have spoken at length with the coordinator and happily we have come to an agreement. So, in this exhibition none of the work is to be for sale. I have also asked the competition organiser/coordinator to please not have monetary prizes, to have vouchers for art stuff instead, she is happy to do that. Another hitch arises from ‘judging’ the art pieces. Art is so personal; it’s hard enough for adult artists to come to terms with the rejection of not being chosen as the best. Winners for this competition will be decided by pulling an entrants name out of a hat – every entrant has an equal chance of winning. There will however be a peoples choice award, votes by the viewing public will be counted – I believe the ages of the entrants will be posted next to the pieces.

If you have any comments or would like to ask questions please contact me by email.

So,

How was that for my first blog?

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