11 Stories from the River arts project seeks reflections on the Hawkesbury River

Creators of 11 Stories from the River are seeking stories about, experiences and knowledge of the Hawkesbury River, to become part of an audio walk along the river at Windsor.

Devised by Hawkesbury composer Oonagh Sherrard, the project has been funded by Create NSW to develop music, imagery and record stories inspired by the river.

Mr Sherrard said it was an opportunity to reflect on "this mighty river, the geological heart of our area".

Ms Sherrard is hoping to Hawkesbury locals will get in touch with her with their personal stories, recollections or experiences on the river around the Windsor area.

The team also welcomes input in the form of "thoughts, comments, hopes and dreams for the river system as a whole".

"Perhaps you've spent time canoeing or waterskiing on the river and can share some highlights, or maybe you've been involved in landcare or clearing weeds," said Ms Sherrard.

"Perhaps you know a story that's been passed down through your family, of farming, floods or living along the river."

Ms Sherrard shared the following as an example of input her team received that would be useful for the project. The story was shared by "a local gentleman whose family had lived on the river since the early 1800s".

"[The story was of] his mum and auntie who were travelling to a dance at Sackville North one evening in a sulky pulled by a blind horse. The horse lost its footing and ended up in the river where they managed to stay dry but lost one pair of shoes which made for an interesting night at the dance!" Ms Sherrard said.

"He also told us about his great grandfather who was very fond of river perch and exchanged fish from Darug fisherman for 'tobacco and other essentials'."

Alternatively, maybe the river has inspired some writing, artwork or a poem you would like to share.

"One poem shared with us by the daughter of a European immigrant who used to sneak off to the river after school to jump off the pylons on Windsor bridge said 'it was safe 'cause you could see the bottom'," Ms Sherrard said.

"We've also been talking with Aquatic Management students from WSU who are testing the river water around Windsor and shared their concerns with us at the water quality and the effects of mining, and urban runoff."

You can meet Ms Sherrard at the Hawkesbury Regional Museum, Baker Street Windsor on Sunday June 16, 12-2pm, where she will be working on music for the project.

A small recording booth is also located in the Museum foyer where you can record a contribution until the end of July, or simply record something on your phone and email it to 11storiesfromtheriver@gmail.com.

Recordings made by the project will be held in the Local Oral History Collection at Hawkesbury Library. They may also be included in the downloadable story trail or an exhibition held at the Museum when the project is launched in 2020.

School groups will also have input when stories are workshopped with students at Brewongle Environment Education Centre, including Windsor Public School and Windsor High later in the year.

The story trail will be freely downloadable along the public walkways on the river in Windsor.

"It's about bringing people to the river and enhancing their experience culturally," said Ms Sherrard.

Stories will be part of a mix of music by Ms Sherrard and photos by photographer Sarah Rhodes.

The project will draw on stories from local knowledge holders WSU Scientists Dr Ian Wright and Professor Basant Maheshwari, Darug custodians Leanne Watson and Erin Wilkins and Historians Jan Barkley-Jack and Professor Grace Karskens.

As a member of Hawkesbury Council's Enhancing the Arts Working Group, Ms Sherrard has initiated the project as a means of delivering more arts projects into the local area.

"I've lived most of my life on the tributaries of the Hawkesbury, it's a great source of inspiration for me, this project aims to reconnect people with the river and its stories," she said.

"Why 11 Stories? The number 11 comes from geomorphologist Luna Leopold's remarkable River meandering theory where in any river the wavelength from one curve to the next is known to be 11 times the channel width."

To keep in touch with the project connect with the team at www.facebook.com/deerubbinhawkesburyriverstorytrail.