NEW BEGININGS

Colin Levy ...We must wait Ray and see what the majority of members of SGSLtd can offer. It seemed to be working satisfactorily before the cut off. Maybe that is the way to proceed again? Begin with what you have, taking to mind your quote from Niccolo Machiavelli. …… Ray Norman … “… I do not know what it [STURT] will turn into. That will depend upon the people who come and on changing conditions. I can foresee many possible developments. It might become a training school for teachers of arts and crafts. It might become an industrial concern. It might become a colony of artists and craftsmen, potters and printers… or of course, it may just go phut!” ....Winifred West, 1941 ..... Create the circumstances for miracles and stand back .... phutMOMENTS choose their own time but they are ever likely when purposefulness is missing ... A lump of anything cannot become something that is fit for purpose unless a purpose is known and shared IF several MAKERS are needed in the MAKING ... "Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times" ... Niccolò Machiavelli again.

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Colin Levy

We seem to be back at the beginning Ray

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Reply ... Well, I'm thinking that 'we'– the people who have and share a sense of connection to STURT – are in a quite different 'place' than anything  that might resemble 'STURT'Sbeginning' given that Winifred West had a very clear vision of a concept and what STURT's 'purposefulness' was and could be. The STURT ASSOCIATION RULES circa early1950s(?) articulates that in the context of its time. To my mind, Winifred's purposefulness is reflected in the 'rules' she offered up to a membership andthat allows for an expansive  understanding understanding of a STURToperation looking ahead and as something that could change over time – perhaps should change over time.

Like Phoenix from the ashes STURT arose from the ashes of Mittagong's 1939 bush fires in an inauspicious time with war ragging in Europe. YES, it did arise and it did so purposefully as I think we can both agree. 

So if we are back at the beginning and as I'm assuming we both hope for, there needs to be a clearly articulated purpose enshrined in its constitution. To my way of thinking the WWS offering as STURT GALLERY& STUDIO'S (SGSLtd) constituted purposefulness is vacuous in that its purpose, for all intensions purpose, is to be a 'charity' that garners money. .

Quote ... "The objects of the Company are to undertake public charitable activities in Australia for the promotion and advancement of the arts and culture in the manner the directors determine and, in particular, without limitation, by:

(a) delivering high-quality, accessible arts, craft and design education for people of all ages and skill levels, including ..... "

remembering that this 'constitution' is a WWS instrument commissioned by WWS not anything commissioned by STURT's membership or potential membership – done for them, to them perhaps but not with them.

"A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others." Niccolò Machiavelli!

It is not rocket science to see that SGSLtd function from WWS perspective is to garner funds for activities it sees as being of benefit to WWS's operation and not by necessity to determine (foster, promote?)an active and creative interest in handcrafts [making?] and other forms of artistic expression and appreciation NOR at such other places  as the members of [Sturt] shall from time totem determine. Words matter when it comes to legal documents and a constitution that does not articulate its purposefulness is hollow, mindless and quite simply a very dull instrument.

Perhaps this is time for an antidote: Not all that long before Winifred West died I came across her watering a 2 to 3 metre high camellia tree and it was high summer. She had with the help of the Frensham farm team moved this tree from where she planted it in the 1940s. As we made small talk I asked if she thought that this tree would survive. She promptly answered while watering, saying that humans cannot perform miracles but they can provide the circumstances whereby they can happen. To the best of my knowledge that tree survives where she replanted it in1971.

If as you say Col, we are back at the beginning I dread the thought of what might come under the auspices of this SGSLtd constitution that is being offered up to a membership as a 'done deal' in a cloud of smoke and with mirrors flashing. If it were not serious it might well be comedic but that's not what i'm seeking. Quite simply, I seek to garner a better understanding of what is at stake and if I can be a part of what is next in the time I have left so be it .... If not so be it.

Companies Limited by Guarantee can, and do, change their constitutions over time, however as it should be, it is very difficult to change a 'purpose for being'. That, as they say in the bush, can be seen by Blind Feddy on a galloping horse ... if you get my drift. ... ONwards and UPwards