Turning The Pages
The Turning the Pages project began in 2007, as an ambitious and innovative community-based project, aimed at raising awareness of the Pages River running through the small town of Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter. The project brought together the local community with writers, sound artists, visual artists, scientists, teachers, and students to conduct integrated arts and natural science workshops.
Five Primary and High Schools from the local catchment area participated in Stage I of the Turning the Pages Project. It was the first time the schools had collaborated on a project together. The Artists, community volunteers, principals, teachers, students and families from the school community were able to learn together about the health and importance of the Pages River.
The workshops culminated into a large community celebration, called River Day on the 18th November 2007. River Day was the unveiling of ‘River Quiver’, a 120 metre major environmental wind responsive artwork, of 180 lightweight, translucent sculptures – created by local schools students – which hung from structures made of local river plans – and representing the native inhabitants of the river.
The River Day Festival provided a platform for every individual and organisation involved in the Project to date, to interact with the wider community of the district in a fantastically colourful and inspiring celebration of the Pages. Through River Day the future needs of the river system were able to be publicly raised and reinforced, and a broad audience was able to be engaged in future stages of the project.
River Quiver installation
In parallel to these activities, rehabilitation works, river restoration days and planting days were undertaken along River. Due to many years of drought and neglect – this section of the River was badly degraded and had ceased to be the centrepiece of the township. These on-site works were conducted by local community groups such as Landcare and Tidy Town, Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority and local schools.
Due to the success of the project so far, and recognition of the beauty of the Pages River the local community has committed to the next stage of the project which includes ongoing rehabilitation works and the design, development and construction of the ‘River Walk’. River Walk will include a pathway and cycleway weaving through the township along the banks of the river through Murrurundi and Blandford. River Walk will provide a tourist feature, and a local leisure, fitness and educational resource, for the community to enjoy for years to come.
The Turning the Pages project is an inspiring example of how, through a combination of art, science and innovative community based education, projects can creatively engage a much broader –than-traditional audience in NRM issues in an ambitious and innovative community-based project designed to
- raise awareness of the significance of the Pages River,
- increase knowledge,
- understanding and appreciation of the Pages River, including its ecological functioning, its cultural history, and its strategic importance at the top of the Hunter catchment
- celebrate the significance of the Pages River, and the many roles it plays in the life of the community
- inspire commitment to a multi-stage program of works to rehabilitate and manage the ecosystem and to promote active local stewardship of the River over the longer term
It is hoped this example of arts and environmental education will inspire other areas to use such mediums in motivating community development and addressing local environmental issues.
For more information on this project please contact hccrems@huntercouncils.com.au or visit the Turning the Pages website or view the video for River Quiver produced by Leslie Wand on vimeo by clicking here
Turning the Pages Logo
Classroom Workshop with local school students
One of the creatures created by the studnts ready for the River Quiver installation
One of the creatures created by the studnts ready for the River Quiver installation
Key partners in the Turning the Pages project include:
- Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS)
- Murrurundi & District Arts Council
- Arts Upper Hunter Inc / RADO
- Upper Hunter Shire Council
- Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Authority
- Landcare / Tidy Towns Committee
- Upper Hunter WaterKeepers Alliance
- Public Schools of the DistrictJennifer Turpin Studio, Sydney
With funding received from;