By Jed Lanyon
Major community project, ‘Hello, Healesville’ is still looking for local residents to share their story.
Leading Australian playwright Hannie Rayson has moved to Healesville with her husband Michael Cathcart, an award-winning historian, well-known to listeners of ABC Radio National.
Together, they are running a series of workshops for residents of Healesville who want to write their own life stories.
To promote ‘Hello, Healesville’, Ms Rayson and Mr Cathcart toured main street Healesville to meet and hear the stories of the local shopkeepers.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are 18 or 80. Everyone has a story to tell, but most people are unsure how to start,” Ms Rayson said.
Mr Cathcart explains what participants will be able to take away from the ‘Hello, Healesville’ project.
“Lots of people write an autobiography for their families. And many of these books are disappointing, because people really don’t know how to turn the colour and passion of their lives into a vivid story,” he said.
“We’ll provide you with the space, the skill and the support-group to get your project up and running.”
Ms Rayson is the author of ‘Hello, Beautiful!’, a best-selling collection of her own life stories.
Last year, she performed selections at The Memo in Healesville.
Mr Cathcart’s grandfather owned a large grocery store in Lilydale, and says that he has fond memories of coming to Healesville when he was a child.
Life writing workshops begin on Sunday 17 March at The Memo.
For more details call 1300 368 333 or visit the Yarra Ranges website.
