Memories of home documentary

Memories of home documentary

Colonial Cottage Museum will be screening a new documentary, my memories of home
featuring stories from city housing tenants aged 65 and over. From Wednesday 9 July 2014, the documentary will become a permanent exhibition within the Cottage’s Visitors Centre.

In a unique collaboration between Voice Arts Trust, City Housing and the Wellington Museums Trust, the project seeks to inspire storytelling within the community. The Cottage has been the starting point for inspiration, with the participants asked to reflect on and share histories, experiences, cultural identities, ideas and beliefs.

Head of Content and Deputy Director, Paul Thompson says, “We’re excited to see how the Colonial Cottage story and environment inspires the stories within our community. Further to that, the full Cottage experience will be significantly enhanced with the display of the documentary within the Visitors Centre.”

In the documentary, participants recollect memories of their childhood with a specific focus on family and domestic life. From stories about a grandma’s nipple getting caught in a mangle, to songs from participants’ culture; the documentary highlights a sense of home.

Speaking about his stories in the documentary, participant Norrie Power says, “Do memories matter? Well they do. And it’s because of this exercise that I have started to remember more, and make sure that my family remembers.”

Another participant, Margaret McCormick says, “Memories are how I survived, and I can look back on the good times and the bad times and to know that we coped with it all.”

Colonial Cottage Museum is open every Saturday and Sunday in winter and every day in summer. People can watch the documentary in the Cottage’s Visitors Centre.

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