A special free event to commemorate the 1955 floods and their impact on the local community will be at Reading Cinemas Maitland on Wednesday, February 25.
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The event will see a panel of experts discussing the floods and their representation in media and the regional premiere of the digital restoration of the Australian classic film Newsfront.
Maitland City Library and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, in association with Reading Cinemas, have partnered to present this unique event, to mark the 60th anniversary of the floods and reflect on the lasting legacy they left upon Maitland and the region.
The 1955 Maitland flood was a landmark event, it brought massive destruction on built and natural environments, and prompted the introduction of a flood management system to guard against future catastrophes.
The 1955 flood is also recognised as one of the first natural disasters in Australia to be captured in detail for newsreel viewers.
The footage became part of Maitland folklore, providing stories and images which became part of popular culture.
It was also woven into the 1978 film Newsfront, blending fact and fiction in an examination of the role and contribution of newsreels and the people who made them.
Maitland City librarian Keryl Collard said images and newspaper reports of the disaster defined an emerging role for the Australian media in depicting news content for national audiences
“But did media portrayal of the floods change the way we, as a city and a community, saw ourselves?” Ms Collard asked
“On the 60th anniversary of the floods, a panel of experts will lead a lively and insightful discussion of their impact on Maitland and its people.
“The panel discussion will be followed by a screening of the digitally restored Newsfront.”
Directed by international award winner Phillip Noyce, Newsfront stars Bill Hunter, Wendy Hughes, Gerard Kennedy, John Ewart, Bryan Brown, Chris Haywood and Angela Punch-McGregor.
It tells the story of an intrepid group of newsreel cinematographers and reporters, who risked life and limb to capture footage of breaking news for the movie going public before the arrival of television in Australia in 1956.
The film includes actual newsreel footage of the Maitland floods, inter-cut with re-creations for the film.
This free event is part of Maitland City Library’s Look Who’s Talking Local History program, and the Maitland Flood 60th anniversary commemoration.
This is a free event, however bookings are essential and can be made online at maitland.nsw.gov.au/library
For further information call Maitland library on 4933 6952.
