Sonia Newell – Development Officer

Jamie Hilton (Class of 1997)

I received this request from alumnus Jamie Hilton (Class of 1997)

Calling friends, family and film fans

We’re filming a movie and need your help. ‘Standing Up For Sunny’ is a comedy, set in the world of Stand Up and we’re asking family, friends and film fans to appear in our film. The film features some of Australia’s top actors as well as US actor RJ Mitte who plays Walter White “Junior” in Breaking Bad. 

If you would like to spend a day with us all, be in the movie, have some laughs and get to see the inner workings of a movie then we’d love to have you – please click here to sign up. http://signup.com/go/JaSxxWa  

If you are unavailable for 22 and 23 November, these are the other dates when we require people: 

• 4 December – Seymour Centre
• 7 December – Clancy Theatre
• 8 December – Seymour Centre

Share with your friends – the more the merrier.

A feel good story – Margaret Olley 

Facebook and the Sydney Morning Herald are both excellent places to find amazing stories, and here now is one that includes a connection with past parent, David Stein.

The Lismore car boot market, known locally as ‘The Booty’, is a treasure trove of the old, the rare and the downright oddball.

On a summer’s morning in 2013, The Booty didn’t disappoint for local artist Stefanie Bassett.  While flicking through a plastic sleeve of old sketches she paused on a striking little painting that caught her eye. A small signature in the far right corner read “Olley, 1947”

With the store owner’s asking price of just $20, Stefani handed over a $20 note and he piped up: ‘You know someone said that it reminded them of a Margaret Olley painting … if it turns out to be an Olley, you owe me a beer’,” Bassett recalled.

The painting was last month, after a four-year on and off search, finally identified as an early work from one of Australia’s most significant still-life and interior painters, Margaret Olley, which could fetch thousands of dollars at auction. 

Most of Stef’s attempts to find out more about the authenticity of the painting ended up nowhere, until finally, a friend in Sydney showed the painting to one of her friends, former google executive, Christopher Mulch, for his thoughts. Mulcahy was stunned. “I was walking out the door at the end of the dinner party, I was the last person to leave and Bek said: “Hang on a second,” and went over to her book shelf and started pulling out all these books,” Mulcahy said.  “At the bottom of the pile was a folder and she pulled out this Margaret Olley painting!”

Mulcahy contacted The Herald which had recently published an article on a possible renaissance masterpiece discovered in a North Shore home. The Herald pointed him in the direction of one of Australia’s most respected art conservationists, David Stein, who has worked with major auction houses to restore and authenticate art works.

Mulcahy sent Stein an email with an image of the work. Stein said he immediately identified it as an Olley.  “My reaction to the email was ‘wow, that is fantastic, it really looks like an Olley, I’d really like to look at it in the flesh’,” Stein said. “As soon as I looked at it, I could see the nature of the materials and the condition was all consistent with the period and the authorship.”

The work is not considered one of Olley’s major paintings, and would likely sell for between $8,000 – $10,000.  Not bad for a $20 purchase!

Here is the link to read the whole article: www.smh.com.au/nsw/margaret-olley-painting-bought-at-car-boot-sale-for-20-20171102-gzdcqq

This painting by renowned Australian artist Margaret Olley, was discovered at a car boot sale for $20. Photo: Louise Kennerley

David Stein is restoring the painting by renowned Australian artist Margaret Olley. Photo: Louise Kennerley

If you have news you would like to share with us, please send to: snewell@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au