Portrait Of A Town

Portrait Of A Town was a two year documentary project exploring the collective identity of a small regional town surrounded by large coal mines in regional NSW. We created a time capsule of the town at a pivotal time in history amid Covid and floods.

I carried a portable backdrop across Wonnarua Country to celebrate Singletonians in places important to them - in cow paddocks and shopfronts, on military sites and important cultural sites - and together we recorded their stories in words and photographs. Around 100 people were involved by the time I finished the project in 2023.

" I’m twenty-nine years old and I’m a proud Aboriginal woman from the Gringai clan of the Wonnarua People. My passion is sharing Culture, keeping Wonnarua Culture alive and working towards closing the GAP in health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I was born and raised in Singleton on Wonnarua Country. It’s my Father’s Country, my Grandmother’s Country, my Great-Grandmother’s Country and my Great-Great Grandmother’s Country dating back to 1847. We have an unbroken physical cultural connection to the Hunter Region. The word Wonnarua means ‘hills and plains’ in language." - Jade Perry

"In 1955 when I was a novice, the flood swept through the Combo Lane gates, not sparing this beautiful Chapel as the waters filled the whole Convent.  In the middle of the night we young women scrambled up and down ladders from the gallery to remove precious objects from below. In the candlelight we watched and prayed as the water gradually reached the top step of the sanctuary.  Despite the damage, many restorations over the years have brought this Chapel back to its current beauty". - Sister Monica

"I’ve experienced the blended benefits and challenges that living in a rural community presents. What I like most about Singleton is being able to take a walk down the street, bump into a local, say hi and have a chat – something that is maybe not a common occurrence in a larger city.  One of the drawbacks is the need to travel for specialised medical care and appropriate disability support. I have been privileged to enjoy the beauty of growing up in the Westbrook Valley, something I have come to appreciate in later teenage and adulthood. As I have matured, I can see the value in living amongst nature with its peace and tranquillity. Going for a walk, feeling the sun on my skin, hearing the birds chirp and the texture of leaves crackling under foot gives me a sense of rejuvenation and makes me feel grounded." - Harry Kirkwood