Count Us In Initiative 2010-2011

When Orbost Regional Health submitted a nomination for a media award in the ACCV Awards for Excellence 2011, we did not imagine it would win a State Award, but also the National Award presented in Sydney on 12^th September, 2011.

The Media Award recognised the portrayal of older people in a positive light, clearly depicting social connectedness of the elderly residents living in our residential care facilities.

With funding from the Department of Health’s Count Us In initiative, a project entitled Lochiel Lives and Waratah Wisdoms ran for a period of 12 months, concluding in March 2011. During this time the residents were exposed to art and craft exhibitions and galleries; an artist-in-residence was employed to teach them how to draw, paint and use various art mediums; pottery artists worked with them; and visiting authors encouraged them to consider how they could share their histories.

The challenge to promote the project in this rural environment, with no specific budget for advertising, brought about innovative strategies to profile the resident’s themselves, telling their stories and showcasing their ability to create art and craft that was worthy of being exhibited for all to see.

During the course of the project articles and photographs were submitted to the local newspaper, the Snowy River Mail, to draw community attention to the activities the residents were participating in.

At the conclusion of the project community members were invited to attend an exhibition at the Orbost Exhibition Centre. This was strategically important because of its close proximity and also because it is one of the main attractions for both Victorian and New South Wales tourists to this area.

Personal invitations were sent from the Chief Executive Officer; posters and invitations were located throughout the Orbost business district and outreach catchment areas; the regional art network; and Orbost Regional Health facilities, staff newsletter and website.

Just prior to the end of the project Peter Somerville, Editor of the Snowy River Mail, was invited to meet some of the residents and hear firsthand what the project meant to them. He also had the opportunity to see some of their art and craft works and meet the artist-in-residence. He was so enthused he sought to capture the story in feature articles published just prior to the exhibition opening.

The project culminated in residents producing 102 items that were placed in the exhibition. 22 residents shared their stories in the Lochiel Lives and Waratah Wisdoms book that was launched at the exhibition.

The official opening on 10th March, 2011 saw around 120 attendees, the largest group of people for any art exhibition opening recorded by the Orbost Exhibition Centre and a total of 435 visitors during the course of the exhibition. This far exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Attendees expressed their amazement at the works on display, with residents themselves feeling slightly overwhelmed at the response, yet proud of their achievements. The 200 books published were ‘sold out’ before the exhibition closed a few weeks later.

Click here to view the Lochiel Lives and Waratah Wisdoms book.

(PDF - 7.4MB)