This letter has been edited slightly for accuracy.
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Another Vision for The Regent
Simone Sheridan's formation of the Revive the Regent Group a few years ago and her great work on State Listing for the Regent has produced a massive boost to those of us in our community as we all seek the same objective - to save the Regent.
We are at odds with her personal opinion as to how we achieve that objective.
We believe that our community's joint ownership venture with our council acquiring the Regent Theatre via State and Federal Grants, and our community operating and developing the theatre, is fundamental to its success - the reality of our people having joint ownership with operating responsibilities will in our minds commit each and everyone of us in thought and action to the success of the venture.
Our vision asks everyone, by their acts both large or small, to help the Regent develop over the years.
OUR VISION
We first requested our Councillors to buy the Regent for our community in 2009, as did Hugh Bateman both as an individual and also as auctioneer. We are the 1,300 petitioners which Council ignored then and has continued to ignore. Over the years since, our vision has been greatly encouraged by the increasing awareness in our community of the need to save the Regent.
Our Premier and her relevant Ministers have encouraged us to seek to have Council and the community acquire the Regent Theatre for the community and suggested grants would be available
The vision is:
To bring back to our community the personal enjoyment and sense of community unity which our people have lost for so many unnecessary years! Our environment, heritage and culture are the factors which help to determine our identity, our values, our behaviour and our mental and physical wellbeing.
Invite members of our community to accept positions for three years on The Regent Entertainment Foundation. This Foundation will have three major roles: To oversee the operation of the Regent Manager in terms of their engagement role - To report monthly to Council - To liaise with other business and community members to encourage involvement with the Foundation.
Purchase the Regent Theatre, our State Heritage Registered theatre, in a joint venture between our council and our community, potentially with NSW & Federal government grants, initially with council free funds.
17 NSW country community's and their councils have done this - Braidwood, Bingara, Bowraville, Gunnedah, Junee, Leeton, Nyngan, Balranald, Dungog, Manildra, Narrabri, Portland, Quirindi, Temora, Tenterfield, Tumut Young - SO CAN OUR COMMUNITY.
Professional fully paid Manager - initially working to obtain grants from our NSW & Federal Governments, donations from our business and personal community and introducing/co-ordinating our volunteers to their individual and joint tasks in operating the Regent.
Volunteers from our people, young and older to play a part in the operations of the theatre, who will enjoy the sense of togetherness helping our community as well as free tickets to the events.
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Australia - Plan to seek young volunteers aged 14-24 who wish to participate in this famous award preferably for two years to achieve a Gold Award - aged 14 to 16 to leave HSC years 17 and 18 free - also will seek 14 to 24 young achievers wishing to seek a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.
Progressively developing a dedicated multi purpose venue showcasing live theatre, movies, music performances, concerts, cabarets, school ceremonies, functions and the like for the community.
The initial costs of our vision are minimal - the cleaning of the theatre, dust and bird droppings, securing the theatre from birds, installing a modern cinema projector - our councillors may wish to transfer the screen and cinema equipment from the Town Hall theatre.
As is the case in the other community cinemas, over time we will seek donations/grants to update the toilets, achieve DDA requirements and other new regulations, extend and update the rear of screen facilities for performing arts, air conditioning etc. etc.
The other community theatres have been a great help with advice, ideas, their experiences - some good some not so good, their operating costs and revenue.
What they are currently experiencing is a return of their local people to their cinema - my phycologist friend said this is similar to bees to honey - even the city cinemas are experiencing increases in attendances.
Yes, we can sit at home watching TV, Netfliks [sic], Scans [sic], etc etc BUT we miss communing with the wider group off our community. So many people have told us of their first meeting at the Regent with their future wife/husband, of friendships formed, and some broken, of enjoyable distractions, of the sensation of entry into this other world, of the sensation as the lights dim and the focus on lighter things, of the challenges of great artists, wonderful music, amazing acts and how their minds wander free.
Please join us in pursuit of our vision.
- Bob Lamond