A fresh look at an old problem

In recent months the McEldowney House of Porter has been one of relatively low stress.

With Scottish-extracted husband in training (SHIT) still fulfilling his contractual obligations in France and Dog still living in fear of being returned to doggy daycare, everyone has been on their best behaviour.

That was of course until the day Dog decided to go on unsanctioned leave.

Seemingly tired of playing by the rules, that bloody mutt decided to dig his way out of domesticity and go in search of real action - on the golf course.

While he was merrily running among the rabbit holes, gyrating on the greens and grinning at the golf balls, I was hare-ing home on my pushbike to help in the search.

Fearing he may have been eaten by the neighbour's marauding mongrels, picked up by a stranger or, worse still, wound up stuck under the concrete base of the Five Dock skate park (again), I began preparing myself for the inevitable.
Having compiled a series of "missing" posters following a previous escape, I went in search of a current photo to illustrate my admittedly tear-sodden plea for the return of my pup.

And then it dawned on me, I had no photos. Having always had the real deal snuffling around my feet, I had never thought to immortalise his presence anywhere - let alone on celluloid.

But while my tale has a happy ending - Dog was returned by the local ranger without the need for a taxidermist thus meaning chaos in the McEldowney House of Porter was duly restored - it reiterates the importance of documenting our history whether personal or professional.

Which is why I reckon Doug Potts is somewhat of a treasure himself.

In an email plea addressed to yours truly Doug says it has become "abundantly clear" that the material related to the history is disappearing. Fast.

And he for one is keen to do something about it.

Doug, a former rag trader who now works in the national archives, is attempting to fire up the high brows at the national museum in an effort to get them to acknowledge the importance of the local clothing, textiles and footwear scene.

He suggests that by virtue of the popularity of similar exhibitions staged at  Sydney's The Powerhouse Museum - but which normally concern overseas fashion production - a display showcasing the local industry would go down a treat.

With attention to detail being a pre-requisite of his work, Doug has already launched a rather extensive action plan, compiling a list of factors he believes the museum should take into consideration when putting together such an event. These include the history of the industry, social impacts, the influence of migrants, war and rationing, the impact of film, aboriginal influences, fashion in sport by way of the Olympics, fashion at the races for example the Melbourne Cup, Australian fashion schools and the rise of the boutique.

In the course of his archival work - which, incidentally has nothing at all to do with the fashion industry - he has already identified more than two and a half thousand references to fashion related material.

But an exhibition is only part one of Doug's multi-pronged attack. What he would eventually like to do is to obtain a disused factory in warehouse where he could start accumulating relevant material. Doug's "museum" would not be static but would show machines and operators actually producing the product.

And in the interests of preserving history, I for one reckon we should be doing everything we can to help Doug's dream come to life.

By Tracey McEldowney