CAROL DUNCAN is not quite sure what she will do if all 41,500 members of the Facebook group Lost Newcastle turn up to the group’s first official get together.
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“Panic” was Cr Duncan’s immediate response to the prospect. “I am going to hope it’s a warm night and people can just spill out into Civic Park.”
In reality, Cr Duncan expects a couple of hundred members will come along.
The group has been invited by Newcastle Art Gallery to attend a special afternoon to coincide with the gallery’s 1818 Project.
“It’s the first big, official gathering,” Cr Duncan said.
“We have had two pub gatherings to watch history shows on TV, but this is the first organised one we have had.”
At the event, there will be three micro-presentations. One by Cr Duncan, who founded Lost Newcastle in 2012 while working as a broadcaster at the ABC.
The University of Newcastle’s Dr Ann Hardy will also present, along with university archivist of Cultural Collections Gionni Di Gravio.
The 1818 Project brings together eight contemporary Australian artists to address personal cultural histories and stories of migration and deconstructs colonial painting.
Each artist's respective practices draw upon their identity and personal and familial stories of migration, loss and diaspora. It’s on at the gallery until November 4.
The Facebook group grew from a weekly segment on Cr Duncan’s former radio program. The segment was called Lost Treasures.
Guests with local history knowledge would go on the the program and speak about local landmarks, buildings and relics from the past.
“It was a wonderful exploration of things about our city and our region,” Cr Duncan said.
The page was created under the guiding principle of making a space were people could share their own images of the city and its people over the years.
“We all know the iconic images of Newcastle from the Cultural Collections, but I wanted to see people’s personal and family photos,” Cr Duncan said.
“It’s local history and it’s a celebration of that, and I try hard to keep it to that.”
The group has seen long lost friends reunited. Two little girls who were in a kinder class together in 1946 were reunited after nearly 70 years.
“For a group of that size, it’s like its own town. It’s a really good community and I’m really proud of it,” Cr Duncan said.
The free event will be held at Newcastle Art Gallery on October 26, 5.30-7.30pm.
Refreshments will be provided. Registrations are required at eventbrite.com.au or via the Lost Newcastle Facebook page.
