Maggie Woods and Madeleine Preston - circa 1983.
This is one of hundreds of photos taken by Maggie Woods. The images depict her friends, community and environment in and around Palmer Lane Darlinghurst where she lived in the early to mid 80s.
Madeleine and Maggie were the closest of friends. When Maggie committed suicide, she left Madeleine a box containing the photos. The box remained untouched for many years.
In 2010, Madeleine decided to exhibit the photos. The exhibition and body of work became known as ‘Darlinghurst Eats Its Young’ (DEIY). I remember helping Mad set up the exhibition in the front window of Sedition Barber shop on Darlinghurst Road. She had no expectations. Posting some of the photos on social media resulted in a dramatic response. Not only from the people in the photos but a broader audience. Hundreds of people engaged with the images and chat online.
After this first iteration at Sedition, DEIY evolved with further exhibitions at Sawtooth Gallery in Launceston (DEIY, 2011), Firstdraft (The Future is Known, 2012), Gertrude Contemporary, Melbourne (Octopus 13, 2013), Stills Gallery, Paddington (Bookmarked, 2015) and 55 Sydenham Road (DEIY, 2017).
In 2016, Madeleine started working on a short film about DEIY with friend and cinematographer Michael Filocamo. As the funds dried up the project remained unfinished. Madeleine was busy with her art practice, teaching and running Home@735 Gallery with me. Although she intended to complete the film, due to a lack of money and eventually running out of time, it remained incomplete.
Madeleine became critically unwell in July 2021. She collapsed at home and was taken to the emergency department at St Vincent’s Hospital. The paramedics were not able to detect any blood pressure. Something was seriously wrong. A few hours later I received a call from the ICU.
The doctor informed me that she had abdominal bleeding from a tumor on her liver and that she was not expected to survive the night. This was during covid lockdown so I was not allowed to visit her. Early the next morning I got a call from another doctor telling me that they had been able to stem the bleeding but that it was unlikely she would see out the day. This ‘clinging to life’ state went on for several days.
Owing to her strength and the skills of the doctors and nursing staff, after 3 weeks in the ICU, Madeleine came home. She had survived this ordeal but her prognosis was grim. The specialist who was looking after her told us that her condition was terminal, and that she had 5-7 months left. Apart from the emotional stress of have this terminal ‘black cloud’ diagnosis hanging over her, Madeleine also had to deal with daily physical symptoms including nausea and fatigue. My purpose over these final months was to try and make each day as good as possible.
During this time, I asked Mad about her film. I told her if she was able to finish the script, I could complete the film for her. She told me she didn’t have the energy. I knew that without her words and voice, the project was unlikely to be realised.
Madeleine was awarded a residency at Bundanon in February 2022. We didn’t know if she would be well enough to attend or still be here. Mad would not have been able to attend the residency without assistance so I travelled to Bundanon as her carer.
Just before we left for the residency, Madeleine told me that she would try to finish the script while away. We worked on the script together at Bundanon and I recorded a number of versions of her narrative. When we returned home, I contacted producer and friend, Wayne Connolly. He said he was available to do a recording session in late February at Hercules Street studio in Surry Hills.
I’m not sure how she garnered the strength for a long day of recording, but she did. Spending the day in the studio with friends Wayne and his wife, writer and musician, Tracy Ellis lifted her spirits.
Tracy added some astute changes to the script and by late afternoon, the recording was done. Madeleine’s condition deteriorated over the coming days – two weeks later, she passed away.
I’m currently researching the various components for the film. If you knew Maggie and Madeleine in the 80s and lived in or around Palmer Lane Darlinghurst, and you would be prepared to speak to me about your memories from that time, I would be pleased to hear from you. You can email me at homeat735@gmail.com
Cheers, Anthony
