November 15, 2012
The 2011 floods left an indelible mark on many local residents … and now they’re going to leave another legacy: a video documentary, a book and a theatre play plus song and art competitions.
This remarkable array of activities is part of the “Spirit of the South Burnett” project which is being organised by Boots’n’Bulldust Inc with funding by the NDRRA Community Recovery Flexible Funding program.
Project co-ordinator Sandy Towell said the project would provide an opportunity for South Burnett residents affected by the floods to tell their story.
It would also allow lessons learned to be shared so that the community can be better prepared if future disasters occur.
A series of Community Round Tables (see below) are being held around the South Burnett in the lead-up to a big community celebration which will be held on Saturday, February 16, in Nanango.
Planning for this celebration is in the early stages, but it is envisaged that events will be based around the Nanango Cultural Centre and Winds of Change Art Gallery, with George Street blocked off for activities.
Sandy said the stories collected at the Community Round Tables would be gathered up to be published in book with photos of the floods.
They would also be used to inspire a play, documentary, songs and paintings.
Sandy said Liz Schneidewin, from The Silicon Word, would write a play to be produced by Nanango Theatre Company’s Trevor Dent and performed by actors from across the South Burnett.
She said Nanango resident Dean Love, from the Nanango Arts Network Alliance, would produce a documentary.
A song competition – with $1000 in prize money – was being organised by Ellie Hay. Sandy said the Top 10 songs would be recorded locally and published on a CD.
An art competition – with $750 prize money in the open category and $250 for novices – would also be run in conjunction with a series of art workshops by the Nanango Art Society,.
“At the workshops, people will be able to interpret their journeys into any medium. They will then be encouraged to enter their works into the Novice category,” Sandy said.
More accomplished artists will be invited to submit works that reflect the “Spirit of the South Burnett” themes of “Validation”, “Synergy” and “Preparation”.
Elaine Madill, from Wondai Art Gallery, would be co-ordinating this art competition.
To find out more about the “Spirit of the South Burnett” project, contact Sandy Towell on 0423-830-224.
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The “Spirit of the South Burnett” project team will be holding its first Community Round Table on Monday (November 19) from 6:00pm at the Blackbutt Community Hall.
Everyone is invited to come along and discuss what has happened to them since the floods.
“This is your chance to make a difference to the way the South Burnett responds to disaster situations in the future,” Sandy said.
“This is your chance to build a united community that cares about its residents and provides support for them in times of need.
“This is your chance to be a part of history and have your story recorded in a documentary, book and stage play.”
Future Community Round Tables will be held at
- Nanango, November 20 – 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Nanango Cultural Centre
- Murgon, November 24 – 2:00pm-5:00pm at Graham House
- Kingaroy, November 27 – 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Kingaroy Town Hall Supper Room, and
- Wondai, November 28 – 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Wondai RSL.
