Stories Of Our Town

Still smiling from our Bizarre Newcastle event last Thursday night as part of New Annual. We couldn’t have asked for better. Thank you to our performers Steve Abbott, Christa Hughes, Maynard and Pucko. Thanks to all out storytellers and thank you to all of you who packed the venue, laughed and cheered. We were so proud. We didn’t get many photo, so please upload some here. The first film will be out on Friday and we can’t wait. Thank you New Annual for all the cool things you brought to our city. GO THE KNIGHTS.

Yesterday we had the unforgettable experience of going underground at Chain Valley Colliery. Nothing prepares you for spending 5hrs filming, 200m below Lake Macquarie. We've been filming our 3 part documentary "How Coal Shaped Newcastle" for a year and this was always the dream. We were about to finish interviews for the project and then we got the call from Delta Electricity. All the boys and girls, above and below the ground were so nice and accommodated us with such warmth. We can't tell this story in a balanced way without talking to people whose mortgages depend on mining. These films will be out early November and we can't wait to show them to you. Cheers Todd Biscuits and everyone at the mine for making this happen and thank you to Mining & Energy Union for all your help.

I’ve been meaning to post that this event is now sold out. Thank you everyone who bought a ticket. Doors open at 6.30 and Maynard will be on the decks playing some cool and Bizarre tunes. We will release the films online in a couple of weeks. Glenn Dormand

I’ve been meaning to post that this event is now sold out. Thank you everyone who bought a ticket. Doors open at 6.30 and Maynard will be on the decks playing some cool and Bizarre tunes. We will release the films online in a couple of weeks.

Very excited that our Newcastle: Generations of Pride film is being screened as part of Newcastle Pride this year. The screening is at Tower Cinemas Newcastle Thursday 22nd of Oct and presented by our friends at University of Newcastle Special Collections and Archives. This was a really hard film to make but the final result made it worth while. The screening is free, the tickets are free but you need to book. Here is a link

Generations of Pride + Q&A Panel Generations of Pride is a documentary by Stories of Our Town film that explores the LGBTQI+ history of Newcastle, Australia, as told by those who lived it.

Meet Peggy, she’s a nurse and midwife working in Muswellbrook. We interviewed her for our How Coal Shaped Newcastle film. She filled us with stories of the health issues people in the area face because of coal dust. High rates of cancer, asthma and other respiratory issues abnormal for a country town. Even though the coal workers of Muswellbrook create billions in Coal Royalties for the state, she see the hospital as vastly under funded. She a fierce advocate fighting for the health of miners and their families. We are trying to tell this story from all sides
and this hero gave us another side to how coal has shaped the region. On Monday we are going underground to meet miners whose
mortgages depend on mining.

A nice article in Film Ink about our Bizarre Newcastle night. This article talks about me (Chit Chat) but I only do half. Tony Whittaker aka Carnivore Films is the real star.

Glen Dormand aka Chit Chat Mines Wonders with Bizarre Newcastle - FilmInk Aussie filmmaker Glen Dormand (aka Machine Gun Fellatio’s Chit Chat Von Loopin Stab) has created a wondrous salute to his hometown with the double-short-film Bizarre Newcastle, which will premiere at the New Annual festival.

Officially our last interview for Bizarre Newcastle with the unstoppable Marty Adnum. Marty raised $22,000 for prostate cancer selling a bottle opener shaped like a tower that was shaped like a p***s. Yes Queens Wharf Tower, opened by the Queen has made the film. Thank you to Out of the Square for all your help. Heads up, there is only 7 tickets available for our film and music night, all part of New Annual. . It's a star studded event and a great way to support the project. Tickets here https://newannual.com/explore/events/bizarre-newcastle

47yrs ago today. Newcastle’s most infamous night

STAR HOTEL RIOT This year marks 40 years since The Star Hotel was the site of a rio...