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ALLAN Chawner says he uses photography to help preserve places, especially what he calls an ‘‘anachronistic’’ place, such as Rouchel.
‘‘My artwork has been based around notions of a sense of place in portraiture and landscape,’’ Mr Chawner said.
‘‘There are lots of places that have disappeared.
‘‘Rouchel has been left alone but it holds a sense of place of what Australia used to be like.
‘‘I have developed links with small communities, exhibiting in venues outside mainstream art galleries.’’
One of those is the Rouchel school of arts hall, where he’s shown his collection of photographs of the little settlement and the district that he’s taken since 1983.
‘‘It is important to me to be able to talk about the people to the people.’’
The conjoint associate professor of fine art at The University of Newcastle, Mr Chawner said he was attracted by Rouchel’s annual bushman’s carnival.
‘‘I grew up in Lismore and agricultural shows were a really big deal.
‘‘Shows were where people talked about the weather and arranged marriages.
‘‘Why we have shows has changed.’’
Mr Chawner said the Rouchel school of arts hall, which is celebrating its centenary, was one reason why the community remained strong.
He said that feeling was reinforced inside where the names of the Rouchel men killed in two world wars are listed.
‘‘All the local families gave heavily,’’ Mr Chawner said.
He said he planned to continue to photograph Rouchel.
‘‘I am a returning photographer,’’ he said.