It’s been seven years since his untimely passing, and yet the Rennie Ellis legacy endures . . . particularly at Carlton where footballers, supporters and Bluebirds alike have been forever frozen in time by the photographer’s insightful lens.
Which is why all who covet this football club’s rich history will be pleased to know that the Rennie Ellis photographic collection - an extraordinary archive of more than 500,000 of the celebrated photographer’s photographic negatives and transparencies - is to be acquired by the State Library of Victoria, with the SLV Foundation currently conducting a fundraising appeal to complete the purchase of the collection.
Ellis is remembered as a renowned and award-winning photographer who documented Melbourne life in a very humanistic way. The Rennie Ellis Collection provides a vibrant and valuable record of Victorian society, documenting the dynamic cultures and sub-cultures of Melbourne over four decades from the late 1960s until his passing in 2003.
Amongst his favourite subjects was VFL/AFL football, and many of his photographs are regarded as quintessential interpretations of significant games - amongst them the 1972 and 1979 Grand Final celebrations, together with a rare colour snap of Alex Jesaulenko’s famous mark taken in the second quarter of the ’70 Grand Final.
But that’s only the tip of the iceberg according to the SLV Foundation’s Executive Director, Michael van Leeuwen.
“There are some wonderful photos of the short lived Bluebirds and also the famous streaker incident with Bruce Doull. Many of the pictures are uncatalogued, and who knows what other treasures remain to be found,” van Leeuwen said.
“Once the collection is acquired and catalogued, it will be placed online to be appreciated by all lovers of AFL history. There is to be a talk on Rennie’s work at the State Library of Victoria on Wednesday 23 June at 6pm and we encourage people to come along and hear more about this wonderful collection.”
“The purchase and digitisation of the Rennie Ellis Collection will expand the Library’s Pictures Collection to more comprehensively cover the post-war generation and popular culture. $200,000 is needed to complete the purchase of the collection, and Carlton supporters are encouraged to donate via the State Library website at http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/supporting/rennie-ellis.html or call the State Library Foundation direct on 8664 7280.
Carlton Bluebirds Rehearsing, 1979
Alex Jesaulenko,Grand Final, MCG 1979
