Mullewa women were invited to use creative arts to express the challenges and hopes they face in their daily lives.
The Barndi Nyarlu: Good Woman creative arts project was run by the WA Centre for Rural Health as facilitated weekly workshops at the Mullewa Arts Centre.
A Department of Communities $5000 grant and a Healthway health promotion grant supported the running of the six-month creative project.
WA Centre for Rural Health (WACRH) Community Development Office Lisa Lockyer began working with the women at the Mullewa Arts Centre about a year ago.
Lisa listened to what they were saying and they wanted to focus their creative energy on how to cope with the many traumas experienced in their lives.
Initially the trauma that was dominating their lives was about the loss of loved ones.
Andy a participant of the project said “We never realised how much we were carrying around. Then we got involved in making these pieces and talking about them. There seemed to be so much that was affecting us all. Not just the loss of loved ones, but loss of health and community, looking after family and trying to get by day to day. And then we started talking about where we get the strength to carry on and what keeps us going.”
Geraldton art therapist Sonya Bandy worked with the women during some of the weekly sessions.
“We seemed to hit it off right at the start. I would listen to the ladies and then suggest some ideas and they were open to trying out different things a bit outside their comfort zone,” Sonya said.
Debra was another participant of the program who said “You just get on and take what life brings – roll with the punches. And then along comes the chance to make a story – your own story, that makes sense to you. It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t make sense to someone else. Although we hope that other people might see some of their own story when they look at our projects,”
Acting WA Centre for Rural Health Professor Monica Moran said “The ladies of Mullewa have generously shared their very personal creative journeys with us through the displays created at the Mullewa Arts Centre. We may find some of their creations resonate with our own lives”
“The works will be available for viewing by the public as soon as we are able to meet together again,” said Monica.
Photo caption: Participants of the Barndi Nyarlu: Good Woman creative arts workshops run weekly by the WA Centre for Rural Health at the Mullewa Arts Centre.
Media contact: Mia Jeffrey, Marketing and Communications Officer - (08) 9956 0225 - Mia.Jeffrey@uwa.edu.au