Page 11 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

the National Film and Sound Archive,
Canberra were part of a visit in October
2004.
The winning combination of cinema
and scenery meant that CATHS
returned to the high country for a
Myrtleford weekend in October 2006.
Our hosts Tiff and Barbara Rayner,
who ran the cinema there for years, did
such a great job that we came back for
more in March 2009.
Trains in imagery and reality always
go well with members. A visit to the
Majestic Moe, Peter Rickett’s home
cinema and film museum, (worthy of
the Australian Centre for the Moving
Image (ACMI)), then a trip on the
restored Walhalla narrow-gauge line, Busy trade at the Swap Meet 2009
was a highlight of April 2005.
and so little understood by most of the A new location can be a shakeup in
The tour in September 2007 was to
audience. Steve Maggs and I were more ways than one, and might trigger
south-west Victoria and some of rural
fortunate to catch up with Daryl new ideas about presenting our interest
towns of South Australia. We were
Binning, one of the instigators of to the world. For now though, let’s just
fortunate to be able to scramble all over
AMMPT, on a visit to Perth last year. celebrate a Happy Birthday. ★
the Capitol Warrnambool, now closed
What of the future? At the 15th
after a major fire. Inaugural Office Bearers 1989/90
anniversary a prediction was made that
Hiring the former Plaza Essendon President: Ken Tulloch
membership might continue on its path
in May 2005 and transforming the Vice-President: Rod cook
of exponential growth. This didn’t
interior into a showcase of cinema Secretary: Fred page
happen. Our membership is stable, but a
history, was something new. Essendon Treasurer: Rod How
disappointing feature has been the
Goes To The Pictures proved popular,
inability to attract and hold youthful And Thereafter -
eliciting a few stories that made their
members. Unless their numbers can President:
way into CinemaRecord.
reach critical mass they are unable to 1991-92 Ken Tulloch
Cinema visits in Victoria included
challenge the accepted way of doing 1993 Rod Cook
Reading’s multiplex south of Geelong
things. To expect youth to show passion 1994-95 Garry Saunders
in July 2005, inspection of the
for the ‘golden age’ of cinema buildings 1996-97 Gerry Kennedy
refurbished Westgarth in 2006, the
is unrealistic. We lived it; telling young 1998 Rod Cook
Village Twin at Shoppingtown
people about it doesn’t work. 1999 Trevor Walters
Doncaster before it was demolished, 2000-2009 Gerry Kennedy
What is more likely is that the form
and our own home, the Sun Yarraville,
of building they have grown up with - Vice-President:
when additions brought it to six screens
the multiplex - will in time find its 1991 Rod Cook
in 2006.
historians, and their writings will 1992-93 Garry Saunders
We toured the amazing facilities for
construct a new canon of best cinemas. 1994-96 Rod How
projection and audio-visual teaching at
While I await this day, much 1997 Fred Page
ACMI in February 2007, and lobbied
remains to be done. Beyond a certain 1998 Garry Saunders
strongly on the day for a permanent
size, the acquisition of photos, text and 1999-2000 Mike Trickett
exhibit detailing the history of cinema.
artefact becomes burdensome, unless it 2001-2009 Peter Wolfenden
Perhaps it helped; such an exhibit has
is catalogued and readily accessible.
just opened to the public. Secretary:
CATHS’ major archival project is the
The formation of the Queensland 1991-96 Fred Page
construction of a user-friendly,
chapter of CATHS in 2008, chaired by 1997 Kay Branton
computer-based, data retrieval system.
Steve Maggs, enabled the local group 1998 Fred Page
The computer program INMAGIC is the
to inspect the Empire Toowoomba in 1999-2000 Kay Branton
engine-house of this ambitious project.
July, the Dendy Brisbane, just before it 2001-09 Mike Trickett
It is a time-consuming task for a time-
closed in February 2009 and to also see
poor Secretary, Archivist, and their Treasurer:
over what is now a reduced Regent
assistants, but one beginning to show 1991-93 Rod How
Brisbane, in September 2009.
results. 1994 -97 Rod Cook
The formation of the Australian
CATHS’Archive is held at the 1998 Kay Branton
Museum of Motion Picture Technology
Prahran Mechanics Institute, the perfect 1999-2008 Barrie Wraith
(AMMPT) in Perth is another example
base for our Society. If a recent plan to 2009 Rod Bendix
of enthusiasts determined to keep the
sell the Institute proceeds, our
lamp burning for the equipment once
collection will move with the Institute.
essential for the enjoyment of films,
CINEMARECORD 2009 11