Redland City Council Libraries’ Local History Team is spearheading a project to capture the experiences of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Karen Williams said the COVID Oral History Project would build on the groundswell of similar projects worldwide and throughout Queensland.
“This ongoing global pandemic has been a major part of all our lives for about 19 months,” she said.
“During this time we have been bombarded with harrowing stories and images of large case numbers and deaths in many countries.
“Although Australia has been lucky in many respects, it has not come through unscathed.
“Many of our Redlands Coast residents have struggled through the stresses and strains of self-isolation during lockdowns and restrictions.
“There are many parents and carers who have been challenged by supervising young people through home schooling, often while juggling working from home.
“Our businesses, community groups and sporting clubs have similarly all been impacted, prompting Council to provide grants and other assistance and support to help them through these testing times.
“The aim of the Oral History Project is to gather a snapshot of feelings and experiences throughout Redlands Coast and show how our families, communities and workplaces have been impacted by the pandemic.
“All interviews will be recorded and will become part of our local community story, to be preserved as an historical record of what it was like to live through this moment in time.”
The project is a partnership between the Council Libraries’ Local History Team, Redland Museum in Cleveland, North Stradbroke Island Museum on Minjerribah, Coochiemudlo Heritage Society and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands Museum on Russell Island.
Interviews will be conducted between October and December, and all participants will receive a copy of their recording.
For more information or to express an interest in participating in the Redlands Coast COVID Oral History Project, email [email protected]
