Archie Colquhoun

When old photos of Lorne pop up on the Lorne Facebook Page, they are usually greeted with a cloud of jogged memories and “I remember when’s” from those with Lorne blood coursing in their veins. The same, however, could be said of the watercolour and oil works of our multiple coastal artists—Susan Sutton comes immediately to mind, though these are rarely, if ever, shown—except in art exhibitions. Further, any artwork that is seen is primarily contemporary, but what of artists from Lorne’s earlier days—before the advent of the beach cabana?

Suddenly, I remembered Archie!

When I was very young in the decade immediately following the end of WWII, I vividly remember watching ‘Archie’ as he sat at his easel amid the then-exuberant marram grass that flourished on a much larger and longer Erskine Point, painting the expansive coast that stretched past Eastern View [no houses] to the Airey’s lighthouse.

Although I must have been no older than five or six, I remember watching for him from my Gran’s balcony, and as soon as I saw him setting up his easel and canvas stool, I would badger Mum or Gran to take me across the swing bridge to sit in the sand by his side and marvel at how he could translate the ‘actual’ view onto his canvas and make it spring to life. I also remember scoring a cuppa from the thermos of tea at his side, and that he would kindly invite me to share his Edinburgh shortbreads from a cake tin with a Swiss alpine scene on the lid.

Although I never tired of watching Archie paint from his favourite sheltered spot amid the tussocks near the Swing Bridge, I don’t think my artistic skills could have impressed him much, because although he would occasionally give me a brush, a sketch-It pad, and encourage me to ‘have a go’, it must have been very obvious to him that this was no artistic genius at his side.

While researching ‘Archie’… correctly, Archibald Douglas Colquhoun [phonetically pronounced Ca’hoon] … and his equally talented painter wife, Amalie [Millie], I discovered that he had studied under Frederick McCubbin and been mentored by Max Meldrum, the founder of an Australian art movement called “tonal realism” and one of Australia’s most prominent artists during the inter-war years of the 1920s and 1930s.

The Meldrumites, as they were called: “… favoured painting in adverse weather conditions and would often set out in a group in the early morning or towards evening in search of fog and wintry wet surfaces, as these, Max insisted, produced stronger spatial effects.” [see: https://tinyurl.com/eev7csms]. Max was a close friend of my father’s parents and was a frequent guest at “The Ruff”, their ramshackle self-build at Chum Creek near Healesville, where he painted many of his notable ‘tonal’ landscapes, though he was better known for his portraits and won the Archibald Prize twice in 1939 and 1940. Our family has been fortunate to share quite a collection of ‘Meldrums’, with several once gracing my parents’ walls.

When I recently discovered ‘my’ Archie’s connection with Meldrum, I couldn’t help but notice the similarity in artistic style between Archie’s misty views of Big Hill and Eastern View and my memory of Meldrum’s Healesville landscapes hanging on our walls!

For those interested in seeing more of the Colquhouns’ work—pieces displayed in the National Gallery of Australia, the State galleries of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, as well as many regional galleries—visit https://tinyurl.com/mrdx8b6x. To whet your appetite to explore, here are a few examples of Archie’s works. I’m sure you will enjoy the ‘uncluttered’ views!

These few examples of his work speak to a gentler, less angry, less strident Australia, an Australia that our parents and grandparents fought and died to leave for us, yet an Australia so many today seem hell-bent to destroy.

John Agar

Feature Writer

A word from the chairman

Hello

Stribling Reserve was a sea of pink last Saturday as Lorne’s finest came out to watch cricket, celebrate, listen to our inspiring Cam Nugent, and raise funds for the McGrath Foundation for cancer research on the annual Pink Stumps Day. It was a most enjoyable day with some thoughtfully selected outfits and lots of laughter and chatter. Nearly $6,800 was raised for the McGrath Foundation. Well done to the organisers and generous attendees.

It was also the annual Country Cup match between Lorne and Apollo Bay with a top of the ladder spot at stake. Unfortunately, it did not go to the fairytale script for Lorne with the Bay winning in convincing style. In the spirit of the day, the winner of the Man of the Match award, Jack Pascoe, Apollo Bay gun batsman, generously donated his $300 prize money to the McGrath Foundation. Well done Jack!

With one game to go before finals, Lorne sits comfortably in third spot but will need to play some quality cricket to be there for the “last dance” and avenge last year’s one run, last ball loss. Sorry to bring that up boys!

******

Last Friday the Aquatic Club took over its temporary home at the Surf Club after a couple of false starts. About 180 members and guests turned up, somewhat overwhelming the bar staff! They were assured that this was a combination of perfect weather, curiosity to check out the venue, and an opportunity to catch up with friends after a three-week hiatus, and they should not be gearing up for this number every week. We will leave it a little longer before we change the sign on the building (Ha Ha).

Meanwhile at Point Grey, work is well underway on the removal of asbestos and demolition, silencing the naysayers who predicted that the site would be fenced and left in abeyance for months. We have been assured by the builders and architects that the demolition of the Co-op building will be carefully done to salvage materials that can be re-used in the recreated building. All looking good so far!

*****

As Lorne gets back to some normality after a summer punctuated by bushfire risk, flooding and visitor reluctance, it is a time to stress the importance of supporting our local businesses. Can you imagine Lorne without a bookshop, a pharmacy or range of clothing outlets? It’s unthinkable, but as long as people go to the metropolis to shop, or shop on-line, the economic impact is felt by our local traders. This of course does not apply to wine, because if people stopped buying wine on-line the Post Office would have nothing to do!

And what about our supermarket? It must be the best-stocked supermarket anywhere, with friendly and helpful staff, no self-service checkouts (thankfully) and a proud and generous supporter of our community. Why would you not support them rather than buying from one of the big multinationals who have to truck goods into town. Let’s get rid of the “you-know-who trucks” from our town. You may be saving a few dollars, but in the long run we and our community lose. Go local!

Cheers