marcus westbury

I came across this story from the while looking at Renew Newcastle links last night.

I have a bit of a bad habit of thinking of Renew Newcastle as a strategy or as simply a collection of projects and empty spaces. It’s easy to forget that each of them is also a story of a person or a group of people realising a long held dream or taking a a new idea to the next level.

Floyd Tighe and the Biami Mara gallery that he opened a few weeks ago is one of those stories captured here in The Newcastle Star:

Floyd Tighe collected traditional Aboriginal art for more than 20 years, not for its investment value but, because it tells the history of his Aboriginal culture.

Never in those 20-or-so years had he ever considered opening his own gallery but now Tighe is the proud operator of Newcastle’s first all-Aboriginal art gallery – Biami Mara.

Biami Mara, which means Creation Spirit in the traditional Aboriginal language of Gamilaoi, was an unthinkable dream for Tighe until he was pushed to turn his passion into a career by some inspired people.

After an adult life spent working as a labourer, Tighe, 43, said a bad back prevented him finding work when he moved to Newcastle from Moree a few years ago.

He was referred to Job Centre Australia and vocat-ional rehabilitation consultant Chris Baldasan to find work, and that’s when his true calling was realised.

“I have always had a passion for art,” Tighe said.

“He (Mr Baldasan) went above and beyond his work obligation and outside work time to help me.

“He looked into what Renew Newcastle is doing and thought it was a great opportunity for me to start my own business.

“They (Renew Newcastle organisers) have been a great help, it’s a great scheme to get people started in business.”

Both Renew Newcastle General Manager Marni Jackson and I can attest to Floyd and Chris’s dedication.

For a range of reasons — mainly to do with timing — this project was not one that happened quickly. Floyd’s persistence was critical and Chris went well beyond his job description to attend after hours meetings, keep us in the loop and prioritising the project and helping Floyd work through some of our more complicated requirements.

I saw Biami Mara open for the first time when i was in Newcastle a few weeks ago. What Floyd has achieved is really impressive. You can find it at 200 Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle — opposite the David Jones building. It will be officially launched as part of another  walking tour next saturday in Newcastle to celebrate the launch of a new group of projects. That will bring us up to 35 that have been launched under the Renew Newcastle scheme. But no need to wait though- go there and buy something if you’re in Newcastle!

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• Renew Newcastle : from rant to reality (1.000)
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Tags:   Biami Mara · Floyd Tighe · Newcastle Star · Renew NewcastleNo Comments