Young and old get creative together

A NEW Goonellabah initiative, the Cross Cultural Intergenerational Photography Project, is set to bring together younger and older citizens for a creative and fun project.

COMMUNITY PROJECT: Young snapper, Tahlia Brice, 15, and Una Hunter both of Goonellabah will be working together as a part of a Lismore City Council Photography Project aimed at bringing youth and the older community together. Picture: Patrick Gorbunovs

A NEW Goonellabah initiative, the Cross Cultural Intergenerational Photography Project, is set to bring together younger and older citizens for a creative and fun project.

The project, from Lismore City Council as part of the Goonellabah Community Plan, brings together residents in Goonellabah aged 10 to 18 and over 55 in the hope of building trust and better relationships, said Council's Youth & Community Development Officer, Lizette Twisleton.

"We'll be asking a young person from Goonellabah and a resident over 55 of differing cultural backgrounds to take a photographic portrait of each other," she said.

"They will meet to share stories of their lives and again to do the portraits. Hopefully creating a friendship and better understanding of one another along the way. The portrait will reflect their individual generation, culture, family and/or friends."

Project officer, Virgina Waters, explained how each portrait will be accompanied with a story by each person about the other of 150 words or less, again enabling a deeper empathy with that person's particular life story.

Una Hunter, of U3A, and 15-year-old Tahlia Brice, a Youth Connections participant, will be getting involved in the project.

Mrs Hunter said she had been doing photography since 1976 and finds it a great way to "express yourself."

Tahlia said she is looking forward to getting to know other cultures firsthand from an older person who has lived within it.

Photographs and stories are to be emailed to [e-mail] by Thursday, March 28. The exhibition of portraits and stories will be held in May.

Any queries please contact Virginia Waters on 1300 878 387 for assistance.