Community
27 June, 2025
Capturing a moment of history
RESIDENTS of Skipton and surrounds were able to reconnect at a special photo exhibition held last Friday at the Skipton Hall.
The free event saw between 250-300 people in attendance to view the over 300 black and white photographs taken by photographer Pat Gabb, who said the support was “amazing”.
She said the idea came from recognising some dysfunction within the community and a goal to bring the community together during the current tough climate.
“I believe in bringing community together – I’ve done that many times in many ways,” she said.
“I had taken photos of women two years ago for International Women’s Day and we had over 200 women in the Skipton Hall.
“With those 100 photos of women, I thought about how I hadn’t done the men – I went and took photos of the men, women I hadn’t taken photos of and families.
“I thought we’d have a midwinter gathering that doesn’t go against any other activity and put all the photos up.
“The Skipton Progress Association, the Skipton Community Shop and the Skipton Historical Society paid for the printing, and I thought I’d tell people if they wanted their photos, they could come and get them.”
Mrs Gabb had been taking photos of members of the Skipton and district community over four months, with one copy displayed on the wall and a second copy of each photo complied into a book for the Skipton Historical Society.
“Historical documents are very important – today is today, yesterday’s gone and tomorrow never comes,” Mrs Gabb said.
“To have a variety of documents, whether it’s written or photographic – if it’s photographic, it has to be named.
“I did two books for the historical society, which shows 2013 and 2015 snapshots.
“You don’t get everybody, but that’s part of the deal.
“Historical documents are very important, and I’ve contributed quite a few bits and pieces to the historical society over the years.”
While attendees viewed the exhibition, they were treated to warm soup, pies and sausage rolls as well as live music provided by local musician Liam Baker.
Attendees were also able to take a copy of their photos home with them following a speech from Mrs Gabb and a commemorative group photo.
Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan was among those who attended, and said it was a “wonderful community initiative”.
“What a great idea and a great way to bring the community together, especially when the community is doing it tough,” he said.
“We’ve been through drought, and you need to find a way to bring people together, feed them and give them some time to think about something else.
“This photo exhibition is a marvellous way to do that. I wanted to come along and support Pat, who has put it all together.
“It’s a great historical record to have as well.
“The Skipton community is a wonderful community – they support events like this, and whether it’s been flood or other challenges, the Skipton community always sticks thick.”
Corangamite Shire Mount Elephant Ward councillor Nick Cole also attended the exhibition, suggesting it become a regular event across all communities.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea which communities should do because it’s a snapshot in time of nearly everyone in that community,” he said.
“I bet everyone’s got photos at home and no-one knows who they are – the photos could be from hundreds of years ago.
“To have something like this where everyone’s named and documented – it’s a record of everyone who was there in that point in time.
“This is what they need – everyone is saying it’s all doom and gloom with everything that’s going on, with drought, taxes and so on.
“Having something like this means they forget about their problems for a bit and meet with people they may not have seen for a while and have a chat.”
Mrs Gabb said she hoped other communities would take on her idea.
“There’s nothing like empowering people,” she said.
“I don’t have a copyright on the idea – I share my ideas openly and honestly.
“I don’t know if it’s every year, but you can do it without having a single photographer – you can encourage people to take photos of people around them, print them to a certain size for an exhibition or gathering.
“Then you can put it into a snapshot and share it with the community – everybody who came went home with photos, and that was a gift from the community groups to the community.
“It was my gift to the community.”
Mrs Gabb said anyone with the idea to create an event such as the exhibition should “run with it”.
I don’t wait for people to grab my ideas – I drive them, ” she said.
“Believe in your ideas – it doesn’t matter how small your idea is.
“Little things are good, and big things are good – however it happens, it’s about seeing your idea fulfilled and bringing them together.”
Read More: Skipton