Shire of Gnowangerup time capsule to record the COVID-19 crisis

The Shire of Gnowangerup is documenting what the COVID-19 crisis has been like for its community through a time capsule.

Residents are collating images, video, and ephemera from the community from the past couple of months until the end of September.

Whether it is something good, bad or a little bit weird, they want to make sure people do not forget how the pandemic changed lives.

The community is being encouraged to think of all the unusual things that have happened since the coronavirus crisis reached Australia and asked to bring them forward to be included in the time capsule.

Library Services co-ordinator Olivia Letter said she thought it was important to record the events of 2020.

“We were looking for a way to preserve and remember how our lives were affected during the pandemic as a community and thought a time capsule would be a great way of doing this,” she said.

“As a community we have experienced such strange and unprecedented times and have all done such a great job at adjusting to this new normal.

“I think this is such a turning point in our shire’s history and something we should preserve.

“It will stay with locals for a long time to come and hopefully with our time capsule we will have a fantastic and personal record for our future generations.”

Students in the shire have been sent booklets to complete with their parents over the next term, where they and their parents can write a letter.

The logistics of the time capsule are yet to be finalised, but the Shire is planning for a physical and digital version.

Ms Letter said they hoped to have a community event when the capsule was buried.

To get involved, phone 9827 1007.