State Library Victoria has launched a public appeal to raise $100,000 to document the devastating effects of COVID-19 and recent bushfires on the State’s regional and rural communities.
Manager of Collection, Curation and Engagement at the Library, Toni Burton said public donations towards the Library’s Focus on country Victoria project would fund photographers and researchers to unearth individual community stories.
“The photography project, Focus on country Victoria, will engage five local photographers from five Victorian regions to unearth the untold stories of loss and resilience in the aftermath of an extraordinary 2020,” Ms Burton said.
“These pictures, along with a collection of oral histories, will be added to the State collection,” she said.
“Ensuring that the unique and deeply personal experiences of regional and rural communities can be shared with current and future generations.”
Ms Burton said many voices would contribute to a total of 40 stories, including those of emergency service workers; healthcare workers; park rangers; teachers; education staff; community leaders; agricultural workers; local industry workers; shopkeepers; delivery drivers; and tourism operators.
“Regional and rural communities have been hit especially hard by COVID-19 and last year’s bushfires, and they responded with courage and an incredible sense of community spirit,” she said.
“Our role as a Library is to collect and protect the records that tell these history-making moments in time.”
She said Focus on country Victoria aimed to document and share the irreplaceable memories of regional and rural Victorians, and to ensure that others could better understand them through the Library’s Collection.
Ms Burton said the appeal would run until 30 June.
Further information on the Library’s appeal and project can be accessed at this PS News link.
