Deakin University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Big Stories, Small Towns: Beaudesert

educational resource
posted on 2014-01-01, 00:00 authored by Martin PotterMartin Potter, Peter Hegedus, Samantha Ryan, Elijah Cavanagh
Big Stories, Small Towns: Beaudesert is a transmedia documentary series produced in 2014 that is part of the Big Stories, Small Towns project (http://bigstories.com.au/towns/beaudesert). Big Stories: Beaudesert was designed to extend on a series of initiatives that addressed the complex history of Beaudesert and the shared, but often conflicting, histories of Indigenous, settler and Vanuatu and South Sea Islander groups who live there. 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of South Sea Islanders as indentured labourers in Queensland to work on cotton and cane plantations. Many of the labourers were taken to work in Beaudesert, around 90 kilometres from Brisbane. To commemorate this, a series of events were held culminating in This is Our Story - a community commemoration held in Beaudesert in August 2013 on the site of the original cotton plantation outside of the town where the first indentured labourers were brought into Queensland. The project emerged from a series of consultation and dialogues led by the Peace and Conflict Studies Institute of Australia (PACSIA). During PACSIA’s work with Australian South Sea Islander groups, the Mununjali Traditional Owners, descendants of original plantation owners, current landowners, the Historical Society of Beaudesert, artists and other interested Beaudesert community they discovered a wealth of stories and experiences which are central to the identity of the community. PACSIA and Scenic Rim Council workers identified Big Stories, Small Towns as a mechanism to facilitate the telling and sharing of these stories. The Big Stories project aimed to build on the substantial work of the 150th commemorations with the intention to: •tfacilitate the Beaudesert community to tell their stories, •texplore the diversity of people and stories in the community, •tshine a light on people who create and care for their community, •tenable the community to reflect on shared history and experiences and develop of a shared vision for the future, •tarticulate Beaudesert stories to other communities and broader audiences. Ultimately the aim through the process of facilitation of storymaking and reflection on these stories was to further connect the community through the process of creating and reflecting on their shared stories. The Big Stories team, led by creative director and producer Martin Potter with lead filmmaker Peter Hegedus, co-producer Samantha Ryan and local filmmaker Elijah Cavanagh delivered participatory media workshops for Beaudesert community members and produced a series of documentaries, photo essays and local events and exhibitions. As creative director and producer I was responsible for defining the key story threads and participants, the production process, developing all partnerships, resourcing the project (in terms of financial and human resources), project management , monitoring, evaluations and acquittals. The project was funded through the Scenic Rim Council, the Queensland Government’s Regional Arts Fund Artslink and the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Development Fund. The project was supported by the University of Queensland’s Centre of Communication for Social Change, the Peace and Conflict Studies Institute Australia, the Vanuatu Australian South Sea Islander Community Inc., The Centre Beaudesert, Munanjali Centre, Beaudesert and District Arts and Community Projects and the Griffith University Film School. Further information: Beaudesert Launch: http://www.liveatthecentre.com.au/Big-Stories-Small-Towns-pg29286.html Article by Samantha Ryan: http://www.waccglobal.org/articles/co-creative-processes-in-the-big-stories-small-towns-film-project Griffith University article on Big Stories: Beaudesert: https://app.secure.griffith.edu.au/news/2015/02/11/beaudesert-a-small-town-with-big-stories/ UQ Centre for Communication and Social Change articles on Big Stories, Small Towns http://uq.edu.au/ccsc/centre-collab

History

Series

Big Stories, Small Towns

Publisher

Big Stories Co.

Start date

2014-01-01

Material type

website

Resource type

website

Edition

5

Language

eng

Notes

Research Backgroundt: Stories can be used to build cross-cultural understanding (Ryan 1995) and for reconciliation (Jackson 2013). In 2013 a program of reconciliation events was part of the 150-year commemoration of 'blackbirding' indentured labourers to Queensland. It became the basis for Big Stories, Small Towns: Beaudesert. The research investigated if, through the telling of stories from multiple perspectives using participatory media, a community can commemorate contested, traumatic histories and engage with this history. Research SignificancetThis project drew on partnerships with diverse stakeholders in the community, universities, local, state and federal government. The project launch in Beaudesert drew over 1000 people. The project has been used by universities (Griffith, UQ and JCU) as a model for participatory media. The research received funding of $50,000 from Scenic Rim Council, Queensland Government's Regional Arts Fund and Australian Government's Regional Arts Development Fund.

Publication classification

J1 Major original creative work

Copyright notice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the following works may contain images and voices of people who have died.

Extent

Website; Documentary series; digital stories; photo essays; community exhibitions and events; DVD; social media

Usage metrics

    Research Publications

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC