Digital Stories mark History Week in Coffs Harbour

Friday 21st September 2007

Coffs Harbour Museum’s new permanent exhibition Coastal Waterways: Indigenous Elders Tell Their Stories was opened on Wednesday September 19 2007 by Professor Henry Reynolds from the University of Tasmania.

The new exhibition, which showcases digital stories of the local waterways from four Aboriginal Elders, is a collaboration between TAFE NSW North Coast Institute, the Museum and Coffs Harbour City Council and was funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Arts Fund.

Professor Reynolds, who is well known for his studies of relations between early colonists and the Australian Aboriginal population also presented a public lecture at the Museum as part of a series of events to mark History Week (September 15-23).

Professor Reynolds acknowledged the high quality of the presentations and their relevance and importance to local community history.

TAFE NSW-North Coast Institute’s Arts and Media Faculty Manager, Gordon Amann said that the professional level of the project impressed everyone who attended the evening. 

“The result of this project is that Aboriginal Elders have gained greater sense of pride in their past and become more familiar with technology,” said Mr Amann.

The Digital Storytelling workshops were facilitated by TAFE teachers Elizabeth Jones and Lynette Connors from Great Lakes Campus.

“A story is like a journey. The workshop has been a journey for all participants, teachers and all who have been involved,” said Ms Jones.

Lynette Connors explained that Digital Storytelling captures a diverse range of stories using voice, photographs, words, video and music.

“We ultimately produce a ‘mini- movie’ on DVD which is an ideal finished product to share with family, friends and the public,” said Ms Connors. “Digital Storytelling was perfect for enabling our Aboriginal Elders to tell their stories and share them with the community.”

Workshops are planned to continue early in 2008 within Coffs Harbour and it is hoped that funding can be sourced to develop a collection of local Indigenous and non-Indigenous stories from the Mid North Coast.

For more information on Digital Storytelling workshops please contact Elizabeth Jones, Fine Arts Teacher, Great Lakes TAFE Campus Art & Design School 6555 0629.