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Perhaps his most public movie
making venture was as a Serviceman,
when in September 1945, with his
16mm camera, he shot the signing the
document of surrender, by the Japanese
in the South West Pacific at Morotai, in
front of General (later Field Marshal)
Blamey.
Graham also claimed to be one of
the first private moviemakers to use
Kodachrome cine-film in Australia,
when he filmed the Ballarat Floral
•
Graham Norman Smythe 25th March 1918 – 6th April 2011 Festival in 1938.
It is well worth viewing some of his
early cinematic work in one of the
ollowing a full and community- In between he recorded our excellent National Film and Sound
Foriented life, Graham died on the inspection tours of St Arnaud, Bendigo, Archive’s video tapes Living Ballarat
6th of April 2011, after a stay of about Castlemaine, Albury, Kyabram, 1901 – 1941, that is, if you can locate a
nine weeks in hospital. Warrnambool, Charlton, Walhalla, copy!
Riverina NSW, Adelaide SA, and the But there was much more to
Graham was a hard working
list goes on. In all over 60 venues were Graham than CATHS and movies,
Foundation Member of CATHS, who is
covered! although both were so much of his life.
remembered by most as the man with
He married Jean on Christmas day in
the camera. Older members would also
1941.
remember him as our bus driver! His
last CATHS activity was attending the As an employee of the old
Christmas Luncheon in 2010. Department of Civil Aviation, he was
an airport inspector in Queensland,
Graham documented many CATHS
New Guinea, Victoria and Tasmania
activities with his video camera, from
and had a lot to do with the siting of
the 1991 Regent Theatre open day
Coolangatta airport. While in
(held in conjunction with the National
Queensland, he teamed up with notable
Trust) to one of the many “last nights”
local movie makers, Paul and Iris
at the Mansfield Cinema in 2006.
Ruckert, of the Queensland Amateur
Cine Society.
Graham was associated with the
Mount Waverley Methodist Church
(which became the Uniting Church)
where both he and Jean were members
and often entertained the congregation
A skilled moviemaker, he was an
with their picture shows, frequently as
early member of the Victorian Amateur
fund raisers for the church’s activities –
Cine Society (later Melbourne
with of course the ever popular lolly
Moviemakers) which had a meeting
lady (Jean) at interval!
room and cinema in Napier St. Fitzroy.
Other community activities include
his membership and deep involvement
with the Masonic Lodge, leadership in
The Cinema And Theatre Historical Society Inc. is proud to have Scouting and working as a voluntary
The Sun Theatre Yarraville as our major sponsor. Many thanks to member bus driver.
Mr Michael Smith, the owner of the Sun Theatre, for providing the venue for
There is a story that of recent years,
CATHS meetings and events.
a crow-bar had to be used to separate
For program and venue hire inquiries, contact Theatre Manager Ms Kris Jannson
Graham from “his” bus when the
on Tel: 9362 0999 Fax: 9362 0338 Website: www.suntheatre.com.au

powers-that-be felt he should retire
Email: kris@suntheatre.com.au
from the position!
So typical of Graham, he gave his
all!
8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville 3013

CINEMARECORD 2011 7