Some of the most valuable and interesting information about the society we live in is not contained in books but in people’s memories. Recognising this, Toowoomba City Council has produced a video featuring the recollections of its older citizens.
Celebrating the International Year of Older Persons, the video, titled ‘Changes We have Seen’, was produced by Media Studies students at the University of South Queensland. Community Services Library Assistant Veronica Thomas said the great thing about the Project was the involvement of both the young and old.
“They got on wonderfully,” she said “The older people included many who had contributed a great deal to the community during their lives and many who still do so. They felt suitably honoured to be able to pass on their wisdom in this way.”
“The students, for their part, were highly enthusiastic about taking on the production.” Mayor Graham Barron said the video caused him to recall an old African proverb, ‘When an old man dies, a library is burned’.
He said while libraries have housed the collective thoughts of mankind for centuries, it is often the memories and experiences of everyday people that are irretrievably lost. “This video will prevent this from happening,” he said. “It also bridges the generation gap because USQ students performed all the interviewing filming and editing.”
In launching the video, the Mayor thanked the City’s older generation for the contributions they have made and continue to make to the community. Copies will be housed in the library’s general collection, its local history collection and the young people’s collection.
Veronica Thomas said the video has proved very popular and has been requested for screening by St Vincent’s Hospital during Seniors Week.
For further information contact Veronica Thomas, telephone (07) 4688 6461.
