In this, our final, episode we hear from different communities from around the Shire. We know that communities come in all shapes and sizes, and that people's relationships are central to resilience. When people come together adnd collectively do whatever they can to support each other, relationships are preserved, nurtured, strengthened and enriched. These relationships are key to small communities, and they are vital when building resilience and strength against future crises.
The stories we’ve heard throughout this series reveal grief or loss for many, but we’ve also heard how experiences have changed the ways people think about themselves, their relationships, and their sense of safety. These scars include both physical losses and psychological transformations. Stories of hope, loss and resilience take many forms and the storiespeople have shred with us during this podcast series inimately illustrate the different ways people in the Bega Valley remain connected and hopeful.
The story of COVID-19 isn't a single crisis but a compounding cumulative one: these are rural stories of grief and ingenuity, told with humour, warmth or rawness. In these stories we explore the different ways people stay hopeful, deal with loss, and remain resilient and connected. We explore the complexities and nuances of how people in a single rural shire prepared for, confronted and lived through the pandemic.
© Bega Valley Shire Council and Bega Valley Shire Library 2019-2024
Acknowledgement of Country
Bega Valley Shire Library acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians of the lands, waterways and airspace on which we live.
Mental Health Line (NSW Health): 1800 011 511
Lifeline: 13 11 14; SMS: 0477 13 11 14; W: lifeline.org.au
Acknowledgement of funding
The Talking Together oral histories project made possible by funding from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (Resilience NSW). The NSW Reconstruction Authority is dedicated to disaster prevention, preparedness, recovery & reconstruction.
Funded under the joint Australian Government–NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements 2018. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the NSW Government.
“Rocks and Snow” David Ross Macdonald: Bandcamp
“3XQ” Baron Grand: Epidemic Sound
“Fairy Tale” Livio Amato: Epidemic Sound
“Glitch in Reality” David Celeste: Epidemic Sound
“Rainbow” Borrtex: Epidemic Sound
“Hibernation” Hushed: Epidemic Sound
“Thoughts Of You” Dana Boulé: Epidemic Sound.
“Bush Sounds” recorded around the Bega Valley.
Project Lead & Management:
Sugita Wahl (and coffee partner-in-crime)
Craig Garrett (Producer, Sound Design, Audio Editing, Scripting)
Shona Hawkes (Producer, Scripting)
Oral Histories production
Craig Garrett (Interviewer, Workshop Facilitator, Audio Editing)
The complete Talking Together Oral Histories interviews are available at the Bega Valley Shire Library Catalogue
Oral Histories extra organisation
Anita Coakley for organising interviews and workshops in Towamba.
Carly McDonald at Headspace for organising the Youth Reference Group interview.
