By Jed Lanyon
ABC Presenter Joel Carnegie is bringing his Stardust story performance to The Memo, alongside Tom Molyneux’s The Mission in a double billed act.
For over 25 years, a locked wooden dresser sat in the family garage of Mr Carnegie.
The dresser was once the prized possession of his grandfather Col Brian, a Victorian jazz musician.
“Before he died in the late 80s, he left his life’s musical possessions in a cupboard and it was never opened.” Mr Carnegie said.
“Stardust explores his life through the things he left behind.
“He had a real interesting, but ordinary life.”
Stardust asks the audience to think about their own ancestors’ journey through life and how it may shape future generations.
“In the second half of the double bill, The Mission tells the story of one of the first Indigenous soldiers to enlist in World War I, in Allan McDonald.”
Despite this, Allan was denied a soldier’s settlement on his return to Australia, and forced from his traditional land at the Lake Condah Mission.
Allan’s steps are retraced by his great great nephew and fellow Gunditjmara man Mr Molyneux and tells a story about fighting for justice whatever the cost.
“It kind of seemed like an interesting fit to bring two stories together,” Mr Carnegie said.
“On paper they are two very different stories and it makes for a cohesive storytelling experience watching these stories contrasting.”
Mr Carnegie said that the show works with a seven piece band on stage made up of students from local secondary schools.
Healesville High School students and Luther College students will join Mr Carnegie on stage
“It’s a chance for audiences to see the brightest talent from the Healesville area performing in a professional theatre show.
“We are well in rehearsals and the band is sounding fantastic. We work with different bands wherever we go.”
Stardust was first performed as a radio documentary of ABC Radio National.
Stardust and The Mission will be showing at The Memo on Saturday 14 September at 7.30pm.
For more information and to book, visit: https://bit.ly/2ZoiPiX
