|
As part of the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Grant Program, the town hall transformed into a vibrant hub of activity for the Biosphere Boodja Workshops, held from 9th -11th June and 5th-8th July 2025. Designed to foster intergenerational connections and celebrate the joy of hands-on creativity, these workshops brought together community members of all ages to collaborate, create, and share in the spirit of achievement.
The workshops were a celebration of shared experiences, encouraging participants from all walks of life to share their stories and explore their creative potential while engaging with one another across generational lines. With activities ranging from clay sculpture making to sewing bunting, lantern crafting, and drawing, the atmosphere was one of unity, creativity, and community spirit.
The mixed-media projects included crafting bilbys, echidnas, canola flowers, and seed pods from clay, which reflected the region's natural beauty and cultural heritage. These intricate sculptures were more than just art; they were a means of storytelling, with each creation carrying a piece of the community’s history and identity.
One of the workshop's most significant achievements was the way it brought together a wide range of age groups, from toddlers to elders. Over the course of four action-packed days, an estimate 100 participants came together over the week, each contributing their own unique touch to the projects. The workshops illustrated the power of intergenerational collaboration, where wisdom and energy flowed freely between young and old, enriching the creative process and deepening community bonds.
All the creations made during the workshops are set to become part of the Biosphere Boodja Community Festival 28-29th September 2025. The sculptures, bunting, lanterns, and drawings will be featured as decorations and exhibits, bringing the town hall to life with the spirit of collective effort and creativity.
This festival is brainchild of renowned local artist Fleur Schell, and will celebrate the shared heritage, culture, and values of the people who call this region home. By involving participants in every stage of creation, from the workshops to the festival itself, the Biosphere Boodja initiative highlights the power of art in fostering connection, education, and appreciation for the natural world.
Ultimately, the workshops were a reminder of the simple joy that comes from creating something with your own hands. Whether shaping a clay bilby, sewing a piece of bunting, or sketching a delicate flower, every participant was engaged in a deeply personal, yet communal, experience. These creative expressions also serve as a reminder that art is a universal language that unites people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences.
By the end of the four days, the town hall had become a beacon of inspiration where community members came together not only to craft physical objects but also to weave the social fabric that holds them together.
The Biosphere Boodja Workshops not only served as a springboard for the upcoming Community Festival, but they also highlighted the importance of fostering a culture of connection, creativity, and collaboration, especially across generations. It was a beautiful showcase of how art can build bridges, inspire joy, and create lasting memories for everyone involved.
This initiative was funded by the Department of Communities and Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Grant Program
|
 
|