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Friday, June 13, 2008 |

Chris Steffe interviewed William “Bill” Dunkan Stronach, as he was born overseas, which stood out to Chris. It was a challenge to find common interest between them initially. Bill is interested in communication and Chris had the idea to create a newspaper article about the change in communication, comparing modern communication to the past. They had two interviews. Chris has used tips from Robyn Douglas from the Blackwood Times to make his article more effective. The application has turned out better than expected. Chris believes that the features replicating real newspapers have made it better, but would like to get more in-depth information through a better interview process.

Leia interviewed Raeline Holliday, as she wanted someone who would interest her and who had a good story to tell. She was nervous during the first interview, but left with many pages of notes. She collected even more information during the second interview, and then decided to write an exert from a biography. She would focus on her time in the Army Reserves when writing her exert. She wishes she had managed her time better and decided on her application sooner so she could have spent more time on it and had more specific questions to ask during the second interview.

Bella had chosen to interview Jenny, as Jenny was a teacher involved with deaf people, and has a close friend whose family are deaf. Bella found it hard at first to decide on a storyteller, as she didn’t show much interest into the project initially. They held three interviews, the first lasting around a hour, while she took notes. The two subsequent meetings were much shorter. Bella chose to write for a publication. Jenny provided her a folder which she was presented at her retirement which Bella used as an extra resource. She is happy with her choice of application, and would only change her organisation skills if she were to do it again.

April interviewed Claire Phillips regarding family history, as this interested her. They talked about the changes in the Coromandel Valley area, and Claire’s family history. She decided to write for publication after Robyn visited the class and gave her many good ideas. She could use both the photos she had borrowed and the information she had noted to write an eye-catching and interesting article. She wishes she had planned further ahead to have more time to write the article.

Richard was assigned Frank Esvelt as his storyteller, as he had great difficulty in making his own decision. Richard has created a website based on information that has been presented to him through his three interviews with Frank. The website has information on engineering tools which have now been replaced by more modern parts. Richard is happy with his site, but would have liked to be more organised to get a draft.

Georgie Spooner interviewed Kurt Schmit, as she is interested in international history, and Kurt is immigrated to Australia from Germany as an adult. During the first interview, Kurt showed her photos and gave information detailing the differences between work in Germany and Australia, as well as the living standards in Germany at the time he lived there. She decided to write for publication, and made a pamphlet about immigration to South Australia during the 1950’s. She used Microsoft Publisher to make the pamphlet. She is very happy with her final product as it it original and eye-catching. She wishes she was more prepared for the interviews.

Thursday, June 12, 2008 |

James interviewed Bob Winn. He talked about his ancestors, as well as his life’s achievements and goals. He decided to do an investigation, so he could include as much information about the Winn family history as possible, as this was the topic he chose to focus on. He visited the Winn Bakehouse and the Winn Garden to research their history for the investigation. He wanted to show the importance of Bob’s ancestors in the development of Coromandel Valley. His first interview was a little awkward, but he received a lot of useful information. Too much, in fact, as the 1000 word count posed a problem for him when producing his investigation.

Sam has started off his presentation by showing his documentary that he has made for his application. Sam enjoys making films, and has lived in the area all his life. In the initial interview, they talked about different aspects that could be incorporated into the film. He first created a rough plan of how the film would be put together and then finially filmed on the third meeting. The short film was edited with final cut pro. The film shows change over time well as it is a fairly new technology. Sam didn’t expect that much help from Kevin, and found it hard to keep it to the 4 minute time limit. He would prefer to have planned more shots before filming.

Latoya interviewed Sallie Stanford. At the interviews, they focussed on lead lighting. After the interviews, she sorted out her notes and divided them into separate sections. The notes covered such topics as her life story, lead lighting and some of her most treasured memories. She designed and made a web page, consisting of a home page as well as three other pages giving information and pictures. The page has not been completed yet.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 |

Chelsea Willing interviewed Clyde Paton. She had three meetings with him, and he brought many photos and aids to help. He was very enthusiastic about telling his story about 4WDing along and around the Canning Stock Route. She wrote a feature article focussing on the history of the stock route as well as Clyde’s story. She was happy with her application, but wishes she had taken Robyn’s advice and written her article using more of the features of writing a feature article. She used a powerpoint to assist her presentation.

Jared Daly has written his application on John Whitbread. He has chosen him because he had a very interesting story about his experience in the police force. He has had two interviews with John. Jared had written a feature article as it was the most appropriate form to outline John’s story. John is a very community minded and humble man. Jared has looked at a few examples in local papers as well as a previous article written about John. The purpose of this article was to demonstrate John’s achievements in the local police force. Jared mentioned that he should have had more interviews to get more information about John’s personal life, and looked at more examples to get a better feel of newspaper style.

Jos Spurr has chosen to create a booklet on her story teller, Dorothy Pargeater, who served as principal of St John’s Grammar for 23 years principal. Dorothy has also had a career in education for over 45 years. Jos though it would be good to learn about the history of St John’s in its Jubilee year, and wanted to create a documentary on school initially, but thought that a book was better suited to her skills. She had three interviews with Dorothy. Jos was given a box of materiels to sort through. Her target audience was for year 8 onwards and has kept a consistent layout throughout the booklet, and has used yellow paper to give it a more professional and authentic feel. She has taken many pictures from previous St John’s year books. If she could repeat the application again she would dedicate more time to the project, so that it would not have been rushed.

Jade Bennett interviewed Eve Holmes. During the first interview they discussed possible topics for Jade’s application, and ended up choosing a feature article focussing on Eve’s impact on the Blackwood schooling community. She was going to write an investigation about the differences in schooling, but decided to write a feature article after Robyn visited the class. Unfortunately, changing her mind on what to write about meant she didn’t have time to write a draft, but she is happy with her final product. She used a powerpoint to assist her oral presentation.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 |

Michelle Shakeshaft’s storyteller is Fran West. There are more components to her life than just flying. She has had many other achievements. Michelle has created a piece for publications. She has written a biography on Fran. The main focus was on her flying achievements around Australia. She has decided to compile her biography into a small booklet, representing a part of a larger book including biographies on all the storytellers involved in the project. Her biography is targeted towards the older population. She has found the whole process very enjoyable, and Fran has opened up to her, telling her information that she would otherwise not tell a stranger.

Eveleen Fazzalari interviewed Bevan McFarlan, and talked to him about living in Clare, and the changes in Clare between now and when he was a child. She began her application, an investigative report after two interviews with Bevan. The application was written for members of the Coromandel Community Centre. She researched the history of Clare from the council, as well as some various internet sites. Bevan also provided her with school magazines from when he was a child. She used black and white photos rather than colour versions in order to connect with the older storytellers and demonstrate the history behind Clare. To assist her oral presentation, she used a poster.

Sophie Kitchen chosen to write a feature article on the comparisons of school between the past and present. She has had two visits with her storyteller, Ian Will. The target audience for her article was teenagers, as well as the older people in the area. It was written to be published in the Blackwood Times, limiting the target that it may reach if published. She would have liked to have more interviews with Ian, and would have been better if they had been less awkward. Ian was very open in telling her facts, and that made the whole process much easier.

Tim Gibson interviewed Fleur Delaine. She has travelled to Antarctica and the Arctic. The first interview was a little awkward, but the second was much better, with Tim having a list of questions to ask, and Fleur having some maps and itinerates to loan. Tim wrote a feature article, and used and explained the features he used in order to write the article well. He thinks his article meets his expectations, but thinks it may be a little too short, and wishes he handed in a draft to help improve his application. To assist his presentation, he used a powerpoint.

Friday, June 6, 2008 |

Richard Fergusson has completed a website on his storyteller Frank Esvelt. You can view it here

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 |

People have begun to write their oral presentations, which will be presented during English lessons next week. Some storytellers will be present to listen to their student present their project to the class. Mr Scobie sent a long email off to Helen at Coromandel Valley Community Center. He is getting anxious about getting it all finished. Four people don’t want their storyteller present at their oral. People that don't want their storyteller present will be presenting theirs to the class on Tuesday.

Monday, June 2, 2008 |

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This image is of Chris Steffe interviewing Bill Stronach at the Coromandel Community Centre.

About the project...

Coromandel Community Centre and St John’s Grammar School, with funding provided through the Positive Ageing Development Grant will implement the project ‘Telling Our Stories’.

The project aims to provide opportunities for school students to listen and record stories as told by older residents thus developing understanding and appreciation of one another.

Through meetings with older residents, school students are able to interview, record and collect information about a story that the older resident recalls.

On return to school, students collate and record the story using digital technology. Story tellers will be invited to observe the students in the production process.

School students and older residents will attend a launch and distribute copies of the end product a the end of the project. Selected stories may also be printed in the Blackwood Times (local community paper).