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ReConnect Bathurst:
Enn Muller
My name is Enn. E double N. That’s a Christian name and the ‘Muller’ is Estonian.
And how old are you Enn?
I’m 58.
You look good for 58!
You just wait until I collapse.
Listen to Enn introduce himself:
People think that they’re so clever, but dogs leave humans behind. My dog Kirsten is just beautiful. She was my wife’s dog. And then my wife died.
And now we have been partners for 16 years. Kirsten is 16 years old.
I was born in Estonia but moved to Germany.
In 1958 I came to Australia. I was by myself. I had always been interested in wood crafts. When I arrived, I realised that anyone who was a bit ‘arty’ was frowned upon. So, I gave it up and instead, I made furniture for a living. I found that it took a long time before I finally felt like I belonged in this country.
The soccer club my sons were part of needed some trophies, so I helped out and made them for the club. Other clubs placed their orders and I started my own trophy-making business. For a while, it went very well. But it all ended when the trophy market was flooded with cheap imports — you may as well go broke sitting on the beach rather than to try and stay afloat.
I love teaching other people how to carve. I’ve been doing that for more than 20 years and believe me, I’ve seen many different characters. You often wonder how will they react to you. It might take them a little time to get used to you because you are an older face with an older opinion.
It’s not a competition, there’s a lot of value we older people can add — even about daily life. Our approach is different but maybe there’s something that younger people can take away from that.
I became well known for my carving and this led to me being offered work carving honour boards for the Australian Navy’s cruisers. The honour boards take pride of place on the boats. It takes me about 10 weeks to carve an honour board.
When I was originally commissioned to do the work I was 64. I said, “I would do it for 10 years.” When that 10 years was up I said I wanted to retire and they said, “like hell, you will”. So there I was, two years later still working for them.
I did finally retire.
I’m 85, I’m not about to set the world on fire.
When I look back at this photo from when I was younger, I see all of the memories of my time as a carver.
Even today, I still wear the same vest I have on in the photo.
I think about how quickly time has passed and how wonderful my life has been. This photo was taken as part of an article for the Australian Navy. I was carving an honour shield for a particular ship and its crew. They instilled pride in me as a newcomer to this country.
Looking at this photo reminds me of the days when I realised what a great country this is. It reminds me of a time when I felt like I was valued like I belonged.
I am thankful to have come to Australia and to be able to call this place home.
“Did you teach yourself how to carve wood?”
Yeah.
My carving was good enough for the Australian Navy.
I was one of the founding members of the Sydney Wood Carving Club. I have enjoyed teaching people of all ages to carve.
Can you see that Waratah flower in the back there?
You wouldn’t believe it but I found that at the dump. I picked it up and thought that I could learn how it was made. I wanted to understand why the carver made the decisions he did. That’s how I learned.
I’m not Catholic, I’m not anything…
But my belief is: do to others as you would like to be done yourself. This is important.
I’m 85, I’m not about to set the world on fire.
Where I go next, I take nothing.
If you’re dead. Things are lost. Nobody knows anything of you.
This project is proudly funded through the State Government’s Local Government Social Cohesion Grant Program. ReConnect Bathurst is an And Then project delivered in partnership with Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.
Current: Enn Muller
Next: Jan Sheppard
Uncle Bill Allen
Bev Cooney
Cheryl O’Brien
June Paton
Gus Gorton
Lonnie Edwards
Yvonne Morgan
Enn Muller
Jan Sheppard
Edgar Coello
Aunty Shirley Scott and Aunty Sandra Peckham
Mike Hardie
Frank Smith
Clive Brabham
Eddy Suttor
RECONNECT BATHURST PARTICIPANTS’ INDIVIDUAL STORYBANKS
PROJECT INFORMATION
WHEN
April – November 2022
WHERE
Bathurst, NSW
WHY
We believe that stories matter and that stories like those shared here hold power and significance.
The vision of the project is to use photo-storytelling and cultural preservation practices to develop social and creative connections and experiences with older people from the Bathurst area. This project celebrates the participants' lived experiences while encouraging dialogue around ageing, isolation and ageism.
Social-arts projects like this are important as they transform public spaces and help to build a sense of community. It’s been wonderful to reimagine Pedrottas Lane in Bathurst and to create an online representation of the physical exhibition with a project made with the community, for the community.
WHO
We were honoured to be invited by Bathurst Regional Art Gallery to create and facilitate ReConnect Bathurst.
16 older people from the Bathurst area. Many of the participants were nominated by local community organisations while others serendipitously came to be a part of the project. We’d like to thank The Bathurst Aboriginal Land Council, The Wiradjuri and Community Aboriginal Elders, The Neighbourhood Center, Bathurst Business Chamber, The Woodies, Bathurst RSL Sub Branch and the Country Women’s Association.
With special thanks to Dinawan Dyirribang (Uncle Bill Allen), Bev Cooney, Cheryl O’Brien, June Paton, Gus Gorton, Lonnie Edwards, Yvonne Morgan, Enn Muller, Frank Smith, Jan Shepard, Edgar Coello, Aunty Shirley Scott, Aunty Sandra Peckham, Mike Hardie, Clive Brabham and Eddy Suttor.
HOW
Our stories are a wonderful connection point. It’s through sharing them with each other that we make space for conversations that can inspire, that can expand our understanding and in some cases, leave us changed.
During this project, we spent time with each person, we talked, reflected on old photographs, made images together and worked through various ways of co-authoring. Socially-engaged practice empowers participants to participate in the creation of their stories, allowing them to represent themselves in the way that they choose.
We often leave a camera with participants and invite them to engage in their own image-making. There’s something raw and revealing about the images made this way, about seeing the world through the participants' eyes.
AND THEN
Through their stories, we see facets of vast lives lived. We witness the snapshots and threads that when woven together create a rich tapestry. Our hope is that as stories wash over us we’re able to make space to contemplate connection and the beauty of community.
This project is proudly funded through the State Government’s Local Government Social Cohesion Grant Program. ReConnect Bathurst is an And Then project delivered in partnership with Bathurst Regional Art Gallery.