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Flood recovery event offers more than a snapshot of residents’ flood experience

Splash of colour: Linda Prosser’s artwork radiates, signifying brighter days ahead of the October 2022 floods. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

When the camera was flashing, paint was splashing at a unique An Item of Connection session.

Funded by the Greater Shepparton Foundation, the Federal Government and the Victorian Government, An Item of Connection is an initiative in response to the floods that occurred in Greater Shepparton in October 2022.

On Thursday, November 16, participants stopped by Shepparton South Community Centre to share their flood experiences and be photographed by Cam Matheson while holding an item that signified that period.

The photography session also included a pop-up art-making workshop.

The event was organised by the Shepparton Festival and Greater Shepparton City Council’s Resilience in Recovery program with the intention of using art to promote healing and giving people an opportunity to open up about the emotional and psychological toll a natural disaster such as the floods has.

The News photographer Rechelle Zammit stopped by the hub of creativity to capture the special photography session.

The last An Item of Connection drop-in photography and story-sharing session is on Tuesday, November 28, from 11.30am to 3pm and 4.30pm to 7pm, at the Shepparton North Community Centre, 10/14 Parkside Dr, Shepparton.

Locals can drop in or book a session via https://sheppartonfestival.org.au/

Sharing is caring: Norma Harrison talks through her experience of the October 2022 floods with photographer Cam Matheson. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
Big picture: Norma Harrison used nature as inspiration for her flood recovery art. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
Start afresh: Jenny-Ann Thorsen lays a coat of blue and green paint. Photo by Rechelle Zammit