The last copy of a unique 2010 book - Magnetic Island-A sense of place - by longtime resident photographer and artist Vandhana , sold recently ,bought by a person who intends sending it to America .
In the foreword Vandhana said the book resulted from a five year community project . It included sepia photographs by Vandhana , reflective and challenging pieces , particularly from young members of the island community, one being a 2009 speech by a 12- year- old girl at an island rally to mark the International Day of Climate Change Action, and a photograph of Wulgurukaba elders .
One photograph showed Melbourne academics John and Inga Clendinnen relaxing on the beach at Alma Bay, watching divers entering the water. The couple had a close association with the island . Involved with the Melbourne and Latrobe universities, Inga wrote books on the Mayas , The Holocaust and the first contact between Europeans and Indigenous Australians.
A philosopher at Melbourne University,John was later a visiting lecturer at Pittsburgh, Indiana and Princeton unis.
Inga was the guest speaker at the island launch of a book about a resident, Tom Wetherill , pictured in the book , who clocked up more than 100 years .
Those listed for special thanks in the book included the late artist Mavis Garman-Vik , see following earlier Little Darwin related post
A DISTINCTIVE HOUSE IN GODZONE
An exclusive look inside Te-Nikau, a tropical house in Olympus Crescent , Arcadia, Magnetic Island , with a fascinating tale to tell , using the photos and memories of Vandhana , who lived in it for a time after moving up from Melbourne.
The above photograph shows the front of the dwelling , Vandhana on the right , near the entrance door. A glimpse of the garden in bygone days follows.
Built in the l940s, the house was originally a corrugated iron shed on a lime concrete base. It was transformed into a liveable home by a retired sea captain.
In 1974 , the house was bought by Mavis Garman-Vik , who had lived with artists at The Rocks, Sydney, in her fifties, looking for a " new chapter " in her life, as was Vandhana .
Mavis put her artistic stamp on the house, filling it with cane furniture, numerous artefacts, painted the inner walls burnt orange and dark blue ,contrasting with the white .
The large casement windows opened out onto garden and bush, each window with a light green glass panel angle across it, so that when all were open, it gave the impression of waves on the sea.
Mavis designed and dyed cotton sarongs which she sold at nearby Alma Bay. She also belonged to a Townsville writers' group.
Vandhana moved into the house after Mavis died , residing there from 1997 to 2004 and said it was like living in a gallery.It was only natural that Vandhana made it the venue for her My Island Home Exhibition in 2004 , a large part of which is now in the Magnetic Museum ,
The display included paintings by Anita Luchich ,one below , Journey's End .
A calendar was produced in conjunction with the 2004 exhibition ,dedicated to the art , soul and memory of Anita Luchich . The same unique illustrations were included in one for 2022 as part of Vandhana's photographic restrospective.
