HCA getting started in 2022
HCA was set up after the June 2021 storm to see how creativity could be used to support rebuilding our communities.
These activities go back to share some highlights:
Monday 12th December at 7pm Annette Muir from DWLP joined a zoom session
‘Helping our forests recover after the windstorm’
As a local resident and plant ecologist from the Department of the Environment, Annette will talk about the natural recovery of our forests after the windstorm, and how to get involved in the citizen science project she is leading to learn more.
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Thanks to Dave Ferrier for updating us recently!
We also ran Community Focus Friday sessions at Olinda Community House - until Covid caused us to try online options:
'Community Focus Fridays' is a community led initiative, initially called ’Storm Stories’, which has provided opportunities for folks affected by the June 2021 storm, to chat with friends over a cuppa and to tell their stories of the storm and the challenges they may still have.
These weekly sessions started running at Olinda Community House on Friday's in April 2022, occasionally we move to Zoom if these are issues.
It has been suggested that to heal from trauma we need to tell our stories
over and over again to help us process and understand what happened and
move on ... and its also moving on to support the people who are still facing the challenges of rebuilding, moving on or coping with impact that Covid has had - this is a way to link with others and get some support.
Also each week we have invited people who have been helping us after the storm, as well as local organisations / individuals with stories to tell.
For more information and next speakers: click here
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Other activities planned:
The HCA 'Reflections of the Storm': Community Art Exhibition
- was on at Kawarra Gardens from 1.00 - 4.00 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. This was very successful.
'Reflections of the Storm': The Website
- with creative arts: painting, poetry, writing, stories and photos - is under construction - this work will be dispalyed on the Hills Community Focus site.
'Reflections of the Storm': The Book
- the plans are for photos, stories of the storm and the times after with poetry and creative art to be included in a short book - on sale for tourists and a gigger 'coffee table' book for the community. As yet (Feb 2023) this work has not taken place but we have funding to collect the stories.
'Stories of the Storm' The Archive'
Latest idea with HCA wrking with MD Historical Society and the State Archives to collect the stories and safely archive them fr reference and for future generations. We have funding for this now to work on during 2023.
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Happy Memories!
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‘The Hills’ Regrowth and Renewal - Free Community Festival Sunday 17th July 2022 11.00 – 5.00 at Kalorama Oval
Recognising the anniversary of the Healing Ceremony led by Murrundindi after the storm last October
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