celebrate inspire connect - Warringah Council - NSW Government

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Connexions in Time
‘Connexions in Time’ was a photography
project for young people between the Sister
Cities of Warringah and Brewarrina.
The project participants were young people
aged between 12 – 20 years and included seven
Indigenous young people from Brewarrina,
and nine from Warringah. These young
people learnt new skills in photography and
also discovered aspects about each others
lives through exchange visits to each sister
community.
Some 80 photographs were selected and
presented for an exhibition shown in both
Warringah and Brewarrina and NSW Parliament
House during NAIDOC Week, 2006.
The ‘Connexions in Time’ Exhibition reflected
common issues and differences between the
lives of young people on the northern beaches
and those in the remote outback.
Connecting our Community
Strong community networks are indicators of a
healthy community. Providing opportunities for
people to be involved in their community is an
important way for local government to foster social
connections. Active participation in community life
can be a way to promote partnerships, cooperation,
understanding and to bridge divides in the
community.
Volunteering is one of the ways in which people
can express their commitment to community life.
There is a recognised culture of volunteerism in the
Warringah community which is seen as something
that makes Warringah unique and special.
Preserving this culture of volunteerism, recognising
volunteers and providing information on how to be
involved is seen to be an important part of Council’s
role within the community.
Significant numbers of people involved in the
consultation process said they felt part of the
Warringah community because they had lived here
all their lives, and/or they knew their neighbours.
However, for people who live in unit blocks, or have
arrived here more recently, there is more commonly
a lack of a sense of belonging or community. Within
these communities there is a need for opportunities
to meet and connect with their neighbours and local
community. This issue seems prevalent amongst the
Dee Why community where community comments
“Community grows from a recognition of common identity and shared values
expressed through cultural practice and objects” – Matarasso: 2001:8
have included references to “faceless unit blocks”.
Using creative practice or the arts can be a powerful
mechanism to connect community, increase
community pride and enhance community networks.
ABOVE: (left) Photo by Tiffany Winters - Brewarrina.
(right) Photo by Adam Smith - Warringah
‘Connexions in Time’ Exhibition
Promoting and preserving community spirit and
creating events or activities that strengthen the
community are also seen as important to the cultural
life of the Warringah community.