In & Out of Control: Kearney Connections
If you knew ‘Kearney’, or found our film's rambunctious leading lady and the world she lived in, kind of fascinating, welcome!
If you haven’t seen In & Out of Control: The Ann Kearney Story click HERE
The film reveals Kearney's great gift for connecting people. Making the film, there were lots more stories we just couldn’t fit and so many lives and times glimpsed that we'd love to hear more about. So, in this era of Covid isolation, what a waste if we didn't put the Kearney cure of connecting to work and see who shows up!
That’s why, as well as Kearney tales - even if you never knew her - we're inviting you to tell us a story especially a Northern/Magnetic yarn we can all enjoy.
Kearney was one lippy lady. A larrikin tomboy 'unleashed' in frontier, 1970s' Townsville; out-drinking the pub's hard heads, armed with put-downs that could maim, but who’s also a passionate anti-racist, inclusive social-justice advocate, art loving, sometimes hippy and feminist! What a mix! Was this bipolar too?
We'd love to know more about those times, before and after. If that was part of your life, what was happening then for you? Were you growing up in Brisbane in the late 1960s or 70s? Did you party at Max 409 Club or catch shows at La Boite Theatre? Did you ever get arrested by Joh's corrupt cops? Were you in Townsville as the new university began to change the feel of the town? Have you lived in Indigenous communities on Cape York? And through many more recent years, what’s been your Magnetic Island experience? Have you had bipolar or booze addiction? Is Kearney’s story useful for you?
Kearney was a serial apologiser - for good reason - she sometimes did things she really shouldn't have. But what we found, even among people we know she wronged, was an acceptance of her struggles and willingness to take her as she was. So we are mostly drawn to the funny, exuberant Kearney, managing her demons, drawing people together and showing that a rich life could still be lived, even when staring at alcohol addiction, bipolar and cancer.
And, if you have a story but would rather not be identified, that's OK. You don’t need to name names and we don't need to know your details but we do want to hear the yarn.
We’ll be posting graphics and release bits that never made the final film, but if you have photos or videos you’d like to share, we’d love to add that too! And the best way to do this is by using the DISQUS comments link below which opens
But for now, over to you.
Penelope & George Cranky Curlew Productions
And for anybody who could use some help right now: Alcoholics Anonymous 1300 222 222 Bipolar Australia Lifeline 13 11 14