MOUNT Gambier City Council has called on the community to share personal experiences during the COVID19 pandemic through creative mediums to archive the historic period.
The My COVID-19 project will collate short stories, poems, artworks, photographs and more from residents to create a broad collection documenting the differing experiences of participants.
“No matter the material we are aiming to capture history in the making by collating our community’s experiences during this extraordinary time,” Mount Gambier library manager Georgina Davison said.
“Changes to socialising, public spaces, schooling and just about everything has been changed during this period and it has impacted us all differently but we have all had to adapt the way we live,” she said.
Submissions could highlight changes such as adaptive working, an empty building, closure signs, the triumphs of learning a new skill or honouring a birthday or special occasion to suit the circumstances.
“A great example is the Anzac Day commemoration where so many in our community paid their respects at dawn at the end of their driveway or solitary location,” Ms Davison said.
“There are some great photographs and memories being spoken about and we want to collate and preserve them.”
Schools are also encouraged to participate as a classroom activity or promoting as a home project.
Council has also offered the chance to record stories for digitisation at the city’s library.
Submissions will be collated into the library’s history collection, with a view to host an exhibition in the future at The Riddoch and Main Corner Complex.
Email mycovid19@mountgambier. sa.gov.au to make a submission.
