What has defined your time during the pandemic? What will you tell your grandchildren about getting through COVID-19?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
These are just two questions you could consider to be part of a recorded moment in history.
The Western Plains Cultural Centre has opened up a COVID archive, with the idea that residents can submit stories of their time during the pandemic.
The WPCC Cultural Development Coordinator Jessica Moore said the archive was initiated last year during the first wave of the pandemic. They received mainly photographs, including closed shops and deserted streets. This time around, it's anticipated there could be a focus of life at home.
ALSO READ:
- UPDATED: See the full list of Dubbo and Wellington venues of concern
- Restrictions remain in place for Dubbo as lockdown lifts for other regional towns, 24 new cases
- Parents plead with council to keep their children safe at planned new play space
- 'I love life and I love people', says Wiradjuri Elder Riverbank Frank
- NSW Health working with businesses to keep them operating
"What are the things we're going to remember at this time?" Ms Moore said.
"As a museum it's so important for us to try and capture the good, the bad and the ugly, so that we can accurately record what our community goes through.
"It could be photographs they took, it could be poems they were writing, kids artworks they were doing...music they're composing. Just anything to record how it felt to go through COVID."
As well as life under lockdown, it's encouraged to look at the people who have been standouts in the community. These could include healthcare staff and essential workers.
"Who are the people that you want us to remember, who are the people who are stepping up, who are the people who are working so hard to keep our community healthy and safe and positive, how can we remember those people in the future," Ms Moore said.
There have been some submissions already, including a photo of the first person to receive a jab at the Dubbo Vaccination Hub at the Showground (pictured).
The material becomes part of the museum's local studies collection which will be digitally preserved and at any point in years to come, retrieved, researched and put on exhibition.
It's a rare period in time where we actually realise we're part of an historic moment. As horrific and dark as that moment has been for so many, it's also a chance to document how the community pulled through.
"All of those beautiful things that we love about living in a place like Dubbo are coming to the fore.
"It's important we take this opportunity to remember, not just the awful things that we're going through but try to remember the community spirit as well and hopefully...in 100 years time when they're looking back at this, they can see the resolve and the positivity and the strength of the community."
You can make a submission through the WPCC website: https://www.westernplainsculturalcentre.org/testing-times-a-covid-archive
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News