NEWS DESK
Looking back: Alan Moore, as a young soldier, above, and waving to wellwishers on his 100th birthday from the balcony of his home in Mornington. Pictures: Gary Sissons
Taking a balcony bow after 100 years ARMY veteran Alan Moore and his friends at Corowa Court, Mornington, are gearing up to celebrate his centenary on Friday 20 November. It’s an occasion to be cherished by this genial contributor who notched up a solid record of service during WWII, as a long-term Frankston Rotarian, as 2019 Victorian senior of the year as well as receiving awards for 40 years of volunteer service at the
Anglicare Mount Eliza Op Shop. Born and raised in Camberwell, Mr Moore was in his final year at school when war was declared in 1939. After working at odd jobs, he enlisted and fought with the AIF 39th Battalion in New Guinea, on the infamous Kokoda Track. Returning home, he sought out his former girlfriend with a view to getting married only to find “she’d met
someone else and was gone”. “That turned out to be lucky, because then I met the love of my life, Joan, and we had two beautiful daughters,” Mr Moore said. The family lived at Mount Eliza for their married life while Mr Moore managed the baby foods department at food manufacturer Heinz. The girls attended Toorak College and later went on to reach the top of their
professions as a doctor and physiotherapist. Mr Moore later spent a large part of his free time presenting at schools across Victoria on his experiences during the war and reinforcing his message of peace and collaboration. He said he is “very grateful” for being able to spend so many of his retirement years at Corowa Court. “All the residents should be grate-
ful for being able to live here, especially for the way they have protected us from the [COVID-19] virus,” he said. A man with many friends, Mr Moore was complimented by one who said: “Alan, despite his age, is very articulate and has an amazing ability to speak on any subject.” Stephen Taylor
MPRG celebrates turning 50 MPRG: FIFTY, an exhibition that celebrates the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery’s fabulous collection of artworks, ends this Sunday 29 November. Founded in 1969 by Alan McCulloch, the Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre, as it was then known, acquired its first artwork in 1970. Over the past 50 years the Collection has grown to include over 1800 objects, including paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. The MPRG Collection focuses on the cultural heritage of the Mornington Peninsula, a haven for artists since the 1850s. Many of Australia’s best-known artists have captured the region’s unique scenery and these works are featured in the Collection. Newly built collection rooms take visitors on a journey through historical and contemporary representations of the Mornington Peninsula. Focus displays explore Australian Women printmakers from the late 1970s and early 1980s
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Frankston Times
24 November 2020
along with a series of works that ruminate on the repetitive nature of automatic drawing and stream of consciousness narratives. MPRG: FIFTY features over 100 artworks including much loved favourites by artists such as Charles Blackman, Margaret Preston, Russell Drysdale, Arthur Boyd, Brett Whiteley, Jess Johnson and more. You can also find out more about the history of the gallery, in a major publication featuring two key historical essays by Susan McCulloch OAM, Adjunct Professor, College of Design & Social Context, RMIT and daughter of founding Director Alan McCulloch and former MPRG Senior Curator, Rodney James. The publication features over 70 works of art with statements written by current staff, former staff and artists represented in the collection. Book your free timed-entry ticket through the MPRG website at mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au