ABC Drive interview 23 October 2025
Transcription
Georgia Stynes: If you're a lover of Australian cinema and old picture theatres, then Yass might be the place to be this Saturday evening because the silver screen at the old Liberty Theatre is shining once more. Bimbi Turner is the president of the Friends of Yass Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre and joins us right now on ABC Radio Canberra Drive. Hello.
Bimbi Turner: Hi Georgia, how are you?
Georgia Stynes: I'm glad. This makes me so happy because a lot's gone into this, hasn't it?
Bimbi Turner: I think, I mean, I'm just tickety boo about the whole thing. We've been working for nine years and we actually have now, at last, got the first chapter of our long, long adventure with the art deco Liberty Theatre started with the showing last Saturday night to raise money for polio. Plus, with the Rotary Club of Yass, we put on our first film in 51 years.
Georgia Stynes: What's gone into making this possible? Can you explain to people who don't know the story of the cinema?
Bimbi Turner: Well, the cinema closed from showing films in 1974 and it's rather funny because the then proprietor of the theatre didn't like the behaviour of the patrons, didn't like the, the content of the films and he wasn't making money of course, because people were watching television. So, he closed and the theatre then underwent various different phases as a roller skating rink and then a beautiful interior decorating shop, real estate offices, indigenous office for the local Ngunnawal and then eventually repertory approached in 1994 and they moved in, doing some changes into the theatre: adding a stage and dressing rooms. I'd been involved in that. Then we heard the owners were going to sell the building in about 2016. So, I rang a few people and said let's save the theatre as it is: as a theatre for live performances and cinema. And we worked hard. We researched with other groups who'd done similar things in other regional towns. And then we asked Wendy Tuckerman, our local MP., who was then the Minister for the Arts, NSW and she helped us through Minister Ben Franklin, who was the Minister for Culture, to get us $250,000, which was to purchase the absolutely state of the art projection and drop down cinema screen. Which we did, but it took a while to get all the quotes to get everything organised and of course we then had to do upgrades of electrics and do a few changes to the proscenuim and the stage, but that all happened and, as I say, we had a very soft launch last Saturday night with full capacity and we're Repeating the film again this week. And the film, of course, is Bruce Beresford’s new film, The Travellers with Brian Brown.
Georgia Stynes: Wow. And is it. Is it fully done? Because I thought there was still some things that needed doing.
Bimbi Turner: Oh, no, it's not fully done at all, Georgia. No, because at this stage, the Friends of the Liberty Theatre, we don't own the building: we have the use of the building and our plans are to own the building in the next couple of years. But we have to work very hard raising funds, which we're doing. But we're also talking to philanthropic foundations and accept donations because we do have tax deductibility status as a charitable organisation. We have our own ABN and we're an incorporated association. So, we've crossed all the T's, dotted all the I's and done everything that within our possible ability, except, of course, find a money tree. So, we're relying on donations and support and we've got lots, lots of lovely volunteers who help us with our fundraising and apprentice usherettes, etc.
Georgia Stynes: Bimbi Turner is my guest. She's the president of the Friends of Yass Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre. There's a bit of love on the text line for the theatre. There's something about the theatre. isn't it, that I think for people who grew up in and around the area, they've got memories of it. What do you think it means to the town of Yass and the surrounds?
Bimbi Turner: Look for me, who grew up in the Yass LGA 40kms out of town, but was a regular user of the theatre.as it has a warm glow about it and we could feel it actually, Georgia on Saturday night, when people were walking in, they started arriving 40 minutes before the film was due to show and you could just feel the vibes and the anticipation that we are going back memory lane. We are seeing sitting in the seats, we are looking at this beautiful art deco building, which has got so much promise but also so much past. And for a lot of people, they are excited. But I think one of the main things is we don't have public transport to Canberra or Goulburn on weekends. So, we're trying to encourage young people to experience going to an art deco theatre. So, in the fullness of time, as we, as we learn the ropes, we'll be sort of gauging what sort of films to put on at what times of the day or the afternoons for different families or age groups, and perhaps during the week having a film club and a seniors day. But it's really about trying to get people to be able to have the opportunity for enjoyment and pleasure, but also for the younger people, education and hopefully down the track employment, if we can get them involved in showing, actually being involved in projection or lights or the live theatre because that's what the theatre is going to offer.
Georgia Stynes: Tell me a little bit about what the state of it was when you sort of went into it and what works have been done.
Bimbi Turner: Well, the state of it is actually it's a very sound building. Obviously it shows the test of time. It needs a good clean and a good paint and the roof needs replacing. But we've done a lot of electrical work, we've updated some of the lighting and currently it has three tenants in the front section of the theatre. So, we're only using the auditorium and the stage area and the dressing room. So, I'm wearing two hats. Both the Friends, the Liberty Theatre and the Repertory Society, but they're walking this RO with us. So, the beauty of what we've done by putting in this digital drop down screen, electronic drop down screen, we can have a set for repertory on the stage and have a matinee performance in the afternoon and in the evening we can just drop the stage, the screen down because it's right at the front of the stage and show a film. So, it's sort of multi purpose.
Georgia Stynes: I understand too that you got a gift, a very special gift we got.
Bimbi Turner: Yes, I was saving that for last.
Georgia Stynes: Oh, tell me now because I want to know more.
Bimbi Turner: We have the 1924 Wurlitzer Organ which used to be in the Regent Theatre in Sydney. And it's a complete organ and it's in storage and it will go under the stage, the console will go under the stage and actually come up and somebody will be playing that organ while people are getting into their seats. And then there'll be a little recital or something before a film starts. And it has massive pipes and clock and wheels and drums and bells and all sorts of different components of music and all those bits of the instruments and the pipes will all go either under the stage or along the walls or up the walls. So, it's an amazing piece of equipment and we do hope that we were promised by a group that they would help us restore and install this Wurlitzer Organ into the theatre. And we're hoping that that conversation will still happen, but we can't do that until we own the building. So, we're really working very hard. That's our priority now is to actually own the building and then we will be able to apply for Government and charitable grants to do the work because it's a building of national significance classified by the National Trust NSW because it's an art deco ocean liner style. There's only one other.
Georgia Stynes: Yeah, it's a pretty special building. How many volunteers have been involved in this?
Bimbi Turner: We have a committee of nine, but last weekend we had a big weekend because the National Trust NSW had a visiting weekend in the Yass area and we put on a high tee at Peter Crisp Galleries to show the Wurlitzer, just in storage, to show people, tell people about what we're doing with the theatre.and things like that. So, we actually have a volunteer of about 20 people that includes the people who are happy to be ushers or ticket operators or waitresses if we do a fundraising thing or do some IT work, any of that sort of thing. We've got a really good cross section of volunteers and a really vibrant, harmonious committee.
Georgia Stynes: What about some of the older fixtures? Because I know the original sign's still there, isn't it? But inside that, were you able to find any of the original things that were part of the theatre.
Bimbi Turner: Oh, yes, it's still got the original lights, it has the original seats. So, the ones downstairs in the auditorium have all been reupholstered and re sprung. And the intention is that we'll do that with the ones in the dress circle in the fullness of time. And it's interesting, some of the seats upstairs are double seats, so you could see two people in one seat with no armrest and that's circa 1939. We have some armchairs. Well, they're not really armchairs, they're just nice timber chairs, upholstered, that are four of them from the original mezzanine level, which was the upstairs lounge. We obviously have all the artwork, the art deco work on the walls, it's all still there and in very good condition.
Georgia Stynes: If people listening to you right now and they're not from Yass, or maybe they are, but they didn't know what you were doing, what's the best way they can Support you?
Bimbi Turner: Through www.libertytheatre.com au which is our website. And they can also just come and see us when the theatre.s open like this Saturday. But we'd love volunteers who can do things like clean the furniture and help us do those sort of things, or volunteer to be ushers or donate. And look, we are happy with a five dollar donation because as you know, every dollar five counts and it's all.
Georgia Stynes: Tax deductible and this weekend, because I know it was a full house last weekend. Is this weekend got spots. You've still got a few tickets left?
Bimbi Turner: We've still got a few ticket spots and if you go into the website, it will show you the direction to 123Tix, which is the organisation that is actually doing the ticketing for us. And we've sold a lot of tickets, but we've still got some available bimby.
Georgia Stynes: I've heard by quite a few people that you're the driving force behind this. Why is it so special to you personally, this theatre.
Bimbi Turner: Well, it's so special to me because I've always loved it. I went and saw Flick of the Horse with the Flying Tail, the Sound of Music and things like that in this very theatre. But I've also been very. I'm also very passionate about our Australian heritage buildings and our environment and I think it's really, really important that we preserve what we've got because unfortunately we have demolished a huge number of magnificent old heritage buildings. And I really appreciate the hand workmanship that goes into these older buildings like the Wolitza. It's all hand carved and hand done and I think in this technical age we forget that people actually sat down and did these things in dim lighting. And this building took six months to build from when the architect finished his plans to when it opened on 16th December 1939. Could you imagine a picture theatre which was then 700 seat being made, built in six months? It just doesn't happen these days.
Georgia Stynes: On the text line, one listener has said, who actually owns the theatre.
Bimbi Turner: It belongs to a family in yes District who are on the same ambitious road that we are on to see this as a community venue. So, we want the community to own it and it'll be run by our board. Our board. But it needs to belong to the community because then it can stay with the community in perpetuity.
Georgia Stynes: Also on the text line, Kat says once a YAS cinema has its cinema organ in place, they should chat with the Film and Sound Archive. There are many silent movies that could be screened at an event with real organ music. That sounds pretty cool.
Bimbi Turner: Can I let let your listener know that we have already had many conversations with the National Film and Sound Archives and we've got somebody who used to work there who's who' helping us greatly. And yeah, that's absolutely the plan that we'll have the organ up and show some lovely silent movies just like for.
Georgia Stynes: This weekend and for other events. How many does it actually seat?
Bimbi Turner: The moment it actually seats 98. There's a further 250 seats in the dress circle upstairs, but that is for a few years yet before we will get those restored and the dress circle ready for showing. Because, as I say, until we own the building, we can't do any structural things to the building.
Georgia Stynes: Is there. Is it? I guess. Are you having any difficulties getting certain materials or certain trades? Is that a problem at the moment or not yet?
Bimbi Turner: No, I don't think it is. We certainly uses specialised people when we put in the film equipment and the screen, they had to come from Victoria and Sydney to do the trusses to hold all the equipment. But, fortunately, there was some [sic], you know, we're very lucky. And, yes, you can tap into some expert people who don't necessarily work in Yass, but work in Canberra or surrounding area, or people that have retired that want to give us a little bit of advice. And we're very happy for anyone to contact us if they think they can help us. We're very happy to listen to them and take them on board.
Georgia Stynes: It's been so nice hearing about all the work that you've done at the stage that you're at now. Thanks so much.
Bimbi Turner: Thank you so much indeed for having the time to hear about what we're doing at the Liberty Theatre in Yass.
Georgia Stynes: I can't wait to see it. Thanks. That's Bimbi Turner there. She's the president of the Friends of the Yass Liberty Theatre and Cultural Centre and they're trying to raise enough money, as you mentioned there then to be able to buy it and keep it for the community. But if you want to go along and see what has been done, then you can actually go to their website and you might want to get tickets for this weekend or even just have a drive down the main road of Yass and have a look too. It's a really beautiful building and particularly if you're a fan of art deco architecture.