In this exhibition Flossie Peitsch uses mixed media textile artistry as the medium for imaginatively reinstating Caroline Chisholm into her rightful place in the goldfield’s history. Pillowcases, placemats, saris, blankets, floor rugs, embroideries and weavings, paper parcel tags and buttons as fine art are used as the domesticated language of protest.

Visitors are invited to inscribe the names and roles of unheralded women today and on the Victorian goldfields. Adding one’s own story about ‘strong females being recognised for being themselves’ is key to this installation art. Peitsch’s passion and skill joins the rising global expression demanding a renewed place for all women in society.

Dr Flossie Peitsch, is currently a PhD candidate at Federation University, Ballarat, and this exhibition will form part of her thesis on Caroline Chisholm.

Free community workshop: 2pm Sunday 19 July 2026. Make a mini finger-hooked rug with Dr Flossie Pietsch.

Exhibition installation of RAGGED & TAGGED & FLAGGED Caroline Chisholm, Domesticity and the Victorian Goldfields by Dr Flossie Peitsch at Central Goldfields Art Gallery June 2026.

Above and below – Procession of banners at the exhibition opening event.

Some thoughts by Flossie Peitsch about her exhibition:

Me and My Place
It is true. I have never known ‘my place’ as determined by others in society. I have almost always learned to follow in others’ footsteps… the hard way! Meaning, I have not intentionally ‘submitted’ to anything that seems dubious to me personally without giving argument – not even marriage! For example, my mother with tailoring training, wanted to teach me how to sew properly. At a tender age I remember making clothes for my Barbie doll out of 50’s evening dresses found in our dress-up box. I would say to Mom, ‘Why do I have to leave this there or why do I have to cut that away?’ Mom would shrug her shoulders and say, ‘Well, suit yourself then!’ And I did just that… then often I would have to rip out my machine stitching and do it the way she had shown me. But, undaunted, I always added that little bit extra pizzaz! Hildegard, my poor patient Mom!

I made some fabulous outfits for myself. Many were revamped from my three older sisters’ hand-me-downs! I expect many of us here today did the same thing to make over and make do.

Caroline Chishom and My Art My being outspoken is a given! It may even be one of my best qualities! I hope I humbly follow in the path of persistently and productively ‘outspoken’ Caroline Chisholm. Chisholm was a Victorian immigrant when – six children in tow – she took on a decidedly women-adverse system.

In 1855, Caroline Chisholm successfully cajoled the government of the day to quickly build ten shelter sheds, each a day’s walk from Melbourne to the goldfields. In doing so, the women and children of that treacherous time, could safely join their wayward husbands at the diggings and bring humanity to the settlements. Chisholm’s philanthropic activity is largely overlooked in the current story of the goldrush. I hope to renew interest in this Australian ‘good news’ story.

Besides emulating the tenacity of Caroline Chisholm, this body of art is inspired by my recent trips to Bali, Canada, and India… where I had to process the experience of being ‘other’… as a person being outside of the dominant culture.

Feminism
‘Sister Suffragette’, which was played as the processional, is a song from the 1960s’ movie, Mary Poppins. Despite powerful lyrics and campy delivery, in this movie from my childhood the politically active mother, Mrs Banks, is scornfully portrayed as an addle-headed menace, wholly without redemption until she returns, solely, to motherhood. I accepted this as normal as did most of the 1960s audience. I was being gently socialized into this way of thinking. Many of us were. Think about it.

But we have moved on from this thinking. Right?

And then there’s ‘unpaid work’ effected by women. Countless hours of domestic work which are never counted and rarely valued. Regarding unpaid work…

The older I get I wonder if patriarchy’s greatest trick wasn’t getting women to participate in it but getting women to believe that they’re responsible for fixing it. Because ‘ending patriarchy’ is beginning to look like just another unpaid job assigned to women. – FB meme

Artists today
Art is not a luxury. It reflects the soul of humanity. Art evidences spirituality which reveals the soul. When craft disappears, history disappears with it.

Catalogue
I have provided the catalogue free to visitors to the exhibition. Take a copy home to read and then pass it on to a friend, a library or take it to a reading café. Please do not add it to hard rubbish.

Conclusion
RAGGED & TAGGED & FLAGGED has a life of its own, now that it is all together in this room. Stop a moment and watch it breathe.

PAUSE to notice the air current of the gallery passes through the art installations.

If in fact, I have now learned what my place is, I am also learning to respect myself as a useful voice of reflection in an uncertain world. My active place is here, now.