About Untold Stories

Untold Stories is a project by the Tweed Regional Museum supported by the New South Wales Government through Create NSW.

This project explores the private, personal and extra-ordinary stories of individuals living with disability. Stories like these often remain untold, or aren’t included alongside those of other citizens contributing positively to their communities.

Participants have generously allowed the Museum to record and share their stories through audio, video, and text, complimented by objects that are emblematic of their personal journeys. Their stories were told in an exhibition at the Museum in 2017 (21 March – 24 June) and now form part of the Tweed Regional Museum collection.

In the video above, four project participants talk about the experiences and ideas that informed the project, and about their involvement. Left to right:

• Dr Joanna Kijas, Oral Historian who worked with the project group to develop a shared understanding of oral history philosophy and methodology and to help shape the framework for audio and video interviews;
• Suzi Hudson (accompanied by Cooper), who participated in the project as both interviewer and interviewee. Suzi was also part of the project coordination group for Untold Stories and a member of Tweed Shire Council’s Equal Access Advisory Committee;
• Karen Collins, Tweed Shire Council Community Development Officer – Aging and Disability, member of the project coordination group;
• Melina Morrow, member of the project coordination group, member and chair of Tweed Shire Council’s Equal Access Advisory Committee and author of her own story Sipping Champagne Through a Straw.

All exhibition installation and object images featured on this website: photographer Justin Ealand. Portrait image of Bev Larsson, photographer Barry Anderson.