A Place of Healing - by Harry Alla (a digital story from the Lake Illawarra MAP Project)

SYNOPSIS: A meditation on Hooka Park and the peaceful refuge there created by artists,
the community at Berkeley and families of children with cancer.

SCRIPT: This is a place of healing and wellbeing. Come along, have a look at the surrounds and be at peace.

Curving round from the lake foreshore to Hooka Creek, theres a story as you go. Starting on a beautiful Sunday in the year 2000, when the families of children living with cancer were invited here on a picnic.
In 2001 they took part for three years in a community art project creating work that reflected their thoughts and hopes in life. This park evolved as an expression of that. A tranquil place where people could come to contemplate and visualise healing.

From Southern entrance you come to the sandstone seats with their carvings of Hooka and Gooseberry islands and the words past, present and future written in the aboriginal language. Following the path by the stone sculptures youll find a carved seat, sit and read the words at your feet:

pebble on still water
makes dancing suns
the silent bird glides
ever higher

When you lift your eyes, you find yourself looking at the water, contemplating.

Carved timber railings on the Hooka Creek Bridge show natures progress; small sea creatures being gobbled by bigger ones.

Walk the boardwalk with its timber carvings, inlaid shell and mosaics. This was inspired by the patient cancer group, who provided insights into the conditions of healing.

Ocean waves ripple on floor planks by the water pavilion. Theres an impression of footprints from the survivors of cancer, engraved at the edge of the decking, perched as if ready to dive into the water.

Hooka Park, this is a place of healing, and a place for everyone.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Lake Illawarra
• digital story
• cancer
• Hooka Park
• Berkeley
• community art project