By Carol Altmann

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] M [/dropcap]oments of magic happen when they are least expected which is, of course, what makes them so special.

And such a moment happened Saturday night (19/9), under the stars, in the chilly breezeway next to The Artery, in Warrnambool, when a small group of people bought a coat for the community.

This was no ordinary coat.

Like all of the other items up for sale at the Fabrication II auction that night, the coat was made of unwanted offcuts of vintage Fletcher Jones fabrics that had been retrieved by members of the art collective, The F Project, after the Fletcher Jones factory closed.

Except these offcuts were made of the finest cashmere and wool, designed and made in the United Kingdom exclusively for Fletcher Jones’ suiting when the company was at its heights and known for its clothing of enduring quality.

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] Y [/dropcap]oung clothing designer Jack Hancock, who grew up in Warrnambool and is now finding his way in Melbourne, knew this fabric was special and the mere thought of it being destined for a dumpster made him almost weep.

Jack took these offcuts and created something exquisite: a single-button, double-breasted coat that fitted across the shoulders, but was deliberately “shapeless” across the hips so that it could be worn by either a man or a woman. The collar flipped up to reveal a splash of bright orange, a daring bolt of colour.

Turned, the back of the coat revealed an aerial view of the veins of Warrnambool – its waterways – the Merri and Hopkins rivers flowing toward the sea.

Each river was hand-sewn, stitch by gorgeous stitch, using silk thread.

This was a coat of fairytales, of fantasy and of Fletcher Jones.

[learn_more caption=”Read more about the coat here”] ….The internal structure of this wool/cashmere garment is supported by woven horsehair canvas, a traditional suiting canvas used to maintain form. Unlike contemporary suiting and coating construction, these breast plates were mounted against the wools by hand, using needle and thread. The lining is a combination of silk fabrics for the body and shirting for the sleeve. As part of my own process, I strive to maintain these traditional technqiues whilst experimenting with new themes. This coat could be worn casually on a day to day basis or kept as a special garment. It is intended to last for a long period of time and does not draw themes from fashion or trends. Investing in a coat like this could be likened to the purchase of a set of fine silver cutlery or a tea service of fine bone china. Both should be used and enjoyed, and with care, will one day be given to somebody else who will do the same. [/learn_more]

Jack, who is 24, stood nervously to the side, shifting from foot to foot, as he waited and waited and waited for his coat, the last item of the night, to go under the hammer. Would it sell?

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] A [/dropcap]t 24, Jack is one year older than Sir Fletcher was when he set out in a hawker’s van to sell his wares around Victoria, having been entranced by the world of the tailor.

“The first time I saw a tailor, tape around the neck, pin cushion clipped on his forearm, a chest full of tape and scissors and things, I was spellbound,” Sir Fletcher wrote in his memoir, Not by Myself.

To see Jack standing on the sidelines last night, doubting himself, wondering what would unfold, was to see a 2015 version of a young Fletcher Jones about to set forth on his destiny.

Auctioneer Gary Webb opened the bidding at $500. It then climbed to $800, $1000 and stalled, still below the reserve.

And then the magic happened.

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] W [/dropcap]arrnambool identity Roy Reekie, together with a bidder who would prefer to remain unnamed, and Bluestone Magazine, all decided there and then that this coat needed to be bought and it needed to be owned by the community.

The three of us all bid independently, but knowing we would all contribute to the final cost – $1400, $1500, $1800, $1900….$1995…sold!

And with the fall of the gavel Warrnambool now has a very special coat – the Fletcher Jones Memorial Coat – that personifies all that Sir Fletcher stood for: quality, care, community, endeavour and taking time.

Jack, it must be said, was shaking.

It is a coat that, both Jack and the buyers hope, will eventually be displayed at the former Fletcher Jones factory but, as Jack insists, in the meantime it “must be worn”.

And it will be worn.

But by whom? When, and where?

Wait and see.

[box]While Bluestone would love to say we made a major contribution to this coat, in reality we only made a small contribution. Roy Reekie and the other donor were the major contributors. The Fabrication II auction is a major fundraiser for The Artery and F Project.[/box]

[button link=”http://the-terrier.com.au/subscribe-2/” type=”icon” icon=”heart” newwindow=”yes”]Please click here to subscribe and support Bluestone Magazine.[/button]

You might also enjoy reading…

Fabrication II gives birth to new life: Delise Oldfield

No cutting corners: Jack Hancock joins Fabrication II

FJ studio proves to be a real plus: Danielle O’Brien

The twists and turns of textiles: Ruby Richardson

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] A[/dropcap] little bit of history will be made on Sunday (Sept 20) if, as suspected, the Liberal Party endorses a woman candidate to run for the plum seat of South West Coast for the Oct 31 by-election.

While young Tom Napthine (son of Denis) is also in the mix, the money is on either dairy advocate Roma Britnell (left), of Woolsthorpe, or former Macedon MP Donna Petrovich (centre). Glenelg Shire Cr Anita Rank (right) is also running, but not generating quite as much ‘chatter’ as her pre-selection colleagues.

Either way, it will be a first to see a female Liberal candidate running for either the seat of South West Coast or its predecessors Warrnambool and Portland.

Interesting times.

[button link=”http://the-terrier.com.au/subscribe-2/” type=”icon” icon=”heart” newwindow=”yes”] If you wish to support independent media, please become a part of Bluestone here.[/button]

Related stories….

By-election: are we on a road to nowhere?

Roy Reekie’s open letter to voters

McCluskey endorses marriage equality

Neoh to run for Nationals

[box]Independent candidate for the up coming South-West Coast by-election, MICHAEL McCLUSKEY, has publicly endorsed the push for same sex marriage equality. He explains more here:[/box]

[quote]

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] I [/dropcap]strongly believe in the right of individuals who identify as being attracted to partners of the same sex to be given the freedom to publicly express their relationship commitment with each other via the institution of marriage if they should choose to do so.

Anyone with a sound working knowledge of brain science (neuroscience) and the ever expanding field of epigenetics, which deals with the expression and function of our genes, would understand that brain function does not fit neatly into a handful of ‘boxes’.

There are many normal and varied patterns of behavioural expressions along the complex spectrum of brain functioning and human individuality. This includes normal variations in sexual identity and expression.  Like many other human traits, sexual attraction does not fit neatly within a ‘single label’ and both ‘same’ and ‘opposite’ sex attraction have equal validity.

Society is in an ever-evolving state in relation to our tendency to want to ‘pathologise’ human differences between individual members within a community. Thankfully we are slowly becoming better at embracing our differences be they of a sexual, racial, ethnic or religious nature. Not so long ago we physically punished a child for being left handed. Thankfully that belief lives in the past. How much longer will it be before some of our antiquated beliefs about same sex couples are also left to the history books?

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #8F9F59;”] A [/dropcap]ustralian society has travelled a long path in its relationship with sexual identity.

It was not so long ago we were imprisoning people who were in same sex relationships. Even as late as the 1970’s psychiatry was still labelling same sex attraction as an abnormality. Psychiatry’s DSM, the ‘bible’ of psychiatric disorders, which is drawn up by some of the greatest medical minds in the world, was still labelling same sex attraction as a mental illness that needed medical intervention to help ‘cure’ it.

Thankfully today the level of acceptance within society towards same sex couples has come a along way from those well meaning but very ill-informed social, religious and scientific dogmas.

The current scientific research is quite clear on same sex attraction. Same-sex attraction, orientation and behaviour is a healthy variant along the normal spectrum of human sexuality.

The American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation in 2009 clearly states that ‘The research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviours are normal and positive variations of human sexuality, regardless of sexual orientation identity. There is a growing body of evidence concluding that sexual stigma, manifested as prejudice and discrimination directed at non-heterosexual sexual orientations and identities, is a major source of stress for sexual minorities. This stress, known as minority stress, is a factor in mental health disparities found in some sexual minorities.’

The Australian Psychological Association also states that it ‘supports full marriage equality for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, on human rights, health and wellbeing grounds and that the most important family factors for children’s well-being are family processes and the quality of interactions and relationships, not family structures (like having a mother and a father).’

I believe the quality of love a child receives is the ultimate determinate of their future emotional, mental and physical health and this quality is not defined by the gender of the care giver. Our economic potential is also intimately linked to the quality of love we receive in childhood.

The current political approach to same sex equality might best be characterised by paraphrasing an old quote: “Sometimes the longest journey a politician undertakes is the one from their head to their heart”.

Dr Michael McCluskey B.V.Sc. (Hons.)

Independent Candidate

South-West Coast electorate

(8 Megan Ct, W’bool.)

Comment – Carol Altmann

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #DC943C;”] H[/dropcap]aving dipped out of the Liberal pre-selection race for the South West coast by-election, Warrnambool City Council Mayor Michael Neoh is tipped to contest the seat for the National Party.

Bluestone understands that Mr Neoh resigned from the Hamilton branch of the Liberal Party soon after withdrawing from the Liberal Party pre-selection – which is fast attracting as many entries as the Melbourne Cup – and is to be confirmed shortly as the Nationals candidate.

Mr Neoh’s nomination by the Nationals would give him a clear run at the highly-prized seat, without enduring a potentially embarrassing face-off against Liberal Party contenders including Tom Napthine, the son of Dr Denis Napthine, agriculture activist Roma Britnell and former Upper House MP Donna Petrovich.

Mr Neoh could not be contacted today for comment and the National Party’s Victorian head office was tied up in its national conference in Canberra.

Sources have told Bluestone, however, that Mr Neoh’s candidacy for the National Party was all but assured.

The somewhat surprising move fits with Mr Neoh’s cryptic comment after withdrawing from Liberal Party preselection earlier this week that he was “keeping his options open”.

Mr Neoh repeated the same comment to the ABC earlier today:

“I certainly would love to represent rural and regional Victoria but at this time I still want to keep my options as wide as possible,” he said.

While some thought Mr Neoh might run as an independent, Bluestone has been told that Mr Neoh decided he could only run with the support of a major party behind him.

Again, his comments to the ABC today support this view:

“I think some of the ingredients that are really important to any candidate are having full support and having a platform to do that.”

The Nationals last held what was then the seat of Warrnambool from 1985-1999 under the hugely popular John McGrath.

While this latest move may see Mr Neoh build upon his political aspirations, it will also present a major challenge to the Liberal Party by splitting the conservative vote between the two Coalition partners.

This will be music to the ears of independent Roy Reekie and Greens candidate Thomas Campbell, who will be looking for any advantage they can to pull back a seat that requires an almost 12% swing to change from Liberal hands.

Unlocked – read our earlier comment piece here: By-election: are we on a road to nowhere?

[button link=”http://the-terrier.com.au/subscribe-2/” type=”icon” icon=”people” newwindow=”yes”] Click here to become a Bluestone supporter.[/button]

You might also enjoy…

Roy Reekie’s open letter to voters

WCC wimps out on marriage equality

W’bool losing its character brick by brick

WCC Mackay trip: keeping it in the family

CLOSED -SUBSCRIBER ONLY COMPETITION

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] W[/dropcap]e are delighted here at Bluestone Magazine to be working with the award-winning, luxury accommodation at Drift House, Port Fairy for a special, subscriber-only competition.

Owners John Watkinson and Colleen Guiney spent years planning and transforming the virtually derelict 1861 Customs House on the corner of Gipps and Regent streets into unique, boutique accommodation that opened in December 2013.

The Drift House was awarded best luxury accommodation in the Qantas Tourism Awards for 2014 and has been attracting accolades and national and international attention ever since.

One of the many unique aspects of Drift House is its approach to the traditional hotel mini bar.

As John explains, Drift House has done away with the standard mini bar that usually offers something like Coke, a Kit-Kat, chips and draught beer at exorbitant prices, and has instead created a Maxi Bar.

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] T[/dropcap]he Maxi Bar offers a range of high quality treats that either come from artisans in south-west Victoria or as close to the south-west as possible.

The current Maxi Bar, for example, includes Shaw River cheese from Yambuk, Basalt wine, jam from the Pantry Door at Killarney, and hand-made yo-yos from Sandra Showler who this year took out first prize for her yo-yos at the Port Fairy show.

And while the quality is maxi, the prices are not.

“We have completely reinvented the mini bar in terms of what it offers, but also what it costs by keeping prices as close to retail as we can,” John says.

Bluestone had a peek and yes, apart from the wine and champagne, everything was priced in single figures rather than double digits. How refreshing!

[dropcap style=”font-size: 60px; color: #A02F2F;”] S[/dropcap]o where do you come in, Bluestoner?

Well, the Drift House wants your input on what special item (either edible or usable) you would like to see added to its Maxi Bar and the best idea will win a fabulous night for two at the Drift House, complete with a delicious hamper full of local produce, valued at a total of more than $375.

Your idea should try and:

1. enhance the experience of staying at Drift House by offering something special
2. promote the broader, south-west region and…
3. if appropriate, allow a guest to take a little piece of their Drift House holiday home with them.

[box]Do you know of a special, locally produced item that would fit perfectly into the Drift House Maxi Bar?

Send us your suggestion VIA EMAIL by 5pm Monday, September 28 at editor@bluestonemagazine.com.au and we will pass them on to John and Colleen to pick a winner![/box]

*Note: food item suggestions should have a shelf-life of at least four months. The major prize of one night’s accommodation may not be available during peak periods and other times when there is a two night minimum stay. Prize is not transferable.