Hunter Living Histories Showcase – 6 March 2023

The Hunter Living Histories Showcase was held Monday 6th March 2023 (1.00pm-2.30pm).

Hybrid meetings are held via ZOOM and in person at Room L326 Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus, Newcastle, NSW. (Type L326 in ONLINE MAP for directions).

Program

Online showcases are held on the first Monday of every month (except January and public holidays). They are open to staff and students of the University of Newcastle, the winder community, including bona-fide community researchers, industry partners and professionals. All are welcome to share their research.

Begin (1.00 pm):  

Acknowledgement of Country 

Welcome – Gionni di Gravio OAM (Chair HLH & University Archivist)


Showcase 1
The Little Richard Stockton Punt Saga”
by Rick Pointon, Music historian.

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The Little Richard Stockton Punt Saga
Showcase Notes

Little Richard’s jewellery throwing epiphany off the Stockton Punt into Newcastle Harbour has gone viral again. So we asked Rick Pointon, music historian and author of  Hey Rock ‘n’ Roll to come in a talk to us about it.

He has in his possession authentic eye witness testimony from the late Johnny O’Keefe providing the facts, as Johnny O’Keefe witnessed, of the historic event that changed music history forever.

Johnny O'Keefe to Mr. Rick Pointon, 26 June 1978 describing events of Little Richard throwing his jewellery into the Hunter River.
Johnny O’Keefe to Mr. Rick Pointon, 26 June 1978 relating the event of Little Richard throwing his jewellery into the Hunter River. [Reproduction of original Typed Letter courtesy of Mr. Rick Pointon]
But one aspect of the compelling eyewitness testimony surrounding the ring throwing episode remains unresolved: while O’Keefe says that the ring throwing occurred on the Stockton Punt as it crossed from Stockton to Newcastle, other evidence says that the episode occurred on the return journey across the Hunter from Newcastle to the airport. (For a fuller discussion see Bannister, Roland, Closer look at star’s ring-toss yarn, Newcastle Herald 7 Feb 2023. p10).

Hey Rock 'n' Roll - By Rick Pointon (2020)
Cover of “Hey Rock ‘n’ Roll” – By Rick Pointon (2020)

His friend and colleague, Roddy Jordan, who wrote the (now out of print)  The Full Story Of A Rock ‘n’ Roll Tour – Australia 1957 kindly provided two chapters relating to the context of Little Richard’s Newcastle Shows for inclusion on our Hunter Living Histories site. We thank them both for their generosity.

BOP BOPA-A-LU A WHOP BAM BOO! HOW LITTLE RICHARD MADE ROCK AND ROLL HISTORY IN NEWCASTLE

Dr Jude Conway, Gionni Di Gravio and Mr Rick Pointon signing book, 6th March 2023.
Dr Jude Conway, Gionni Di Gravio and Mr Rick Pointon signing book, 6th March 2023.

Copies of Rick Pointon’s work, Hey Rock’n’Roll can be purchased through his Rick Pointon Music FaceBook page, Muso’s Corner, and MacLeans Booksellers.

 

Showcase 2

Chit Chat von Loopin Stab (aka Glenn Dormand) on Newcastle’s Car Kulture new Stories of Our Town film and updates.

 

More Than Hoons: 100 Years of Newcastle Motorsport, the latest film in the Stories of Our Town has snared over 25K views within four days of release.

Local people really appreciate their stories being immortalised in documentary form that reflects the love of car culture across regional and remote Australia.

“Along the way we visit the names of our legendary events; Mattara Hillclimb, Motordrome, Super Moto, Rickshaw Hot-rod Show and of course the infamous Kooragang Island. “

In addition, two of the films relating to First Nations peoples (Lycett and Wallis, and Biraban and Threlkeld) are being screened back to back nationally on NITV with introductions for which we are very proud.

Showcase 3

Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot Inc Project
with Shane Blatchford and Emeritus Professor Tim Roberts AM)

NEWS & UPDATES 

  • Dr Jude Conway asked that we promote and support the various petitions dedicated to saving TROVE whose funding expires in July 2023 incl. Fully Fund Trove  and Petition EN4745 (for Australian Citizens)
  • Robert Watson : ABC Radio’s Paul Turton’s The Person Behind the Placename was on today, so it looks like Mondays at 9:30am. Here is the link, and my talk on “Hillsborough” starts almost exactly at 30mins. https://www.abc.net.au/newcastle/programs/mornings/mornings/102032818

    1971 Graduation Photograph from the University Gazette Courtesy of Dr Jude Conway
    1971 Graduation Photograph from the University Gazette Courtesy of Dr Jude Conway
  • Conferring of Degrees Graduations – Newcastle University College to University of Newcastle (Australia) 1953-2009 and Beyond
  • Hunter Living Historians Go To “Hollywood” Archaeological Dig Site Visit.
  • Margaret Senior Exhibition Launch. Join us for the launch of our exhibition celebrating the career of Margaret Senior (1917-1995), an award-winning Australian natural history and children’s book illustrator. Join us for the launch of our exhibition celebrating the career of Margaret Senior (1917-1995), an award-winning Australian natural history and children’s book illustrator.   WHEN: Wednesday 8 March at 10:30am WHERE: Level 2 of Auchmuty Library, Callaghan Campus
  • Newcastle Writers Festival 2023 – Further details HERE  

End : (2.30 pm)

Next Showcase –  3 April, 2023


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