Monday, 16 July 2012
(Above is a letter card postcard of the Victoria Bridge over the Nepean River 1970’s from the Joyce Cole Collection.)
written by Daniel Kojta for the No Boundaries Project
Through the ‘No Boundaries Project’ we are seeking footage or prints from those who may have experienced the Mud Baths or the Weir of the Nepean River around 1940’s to 1970’s. Specifically film footage, prints, or memories from anyone with experience of the Mud Baths near the weir. Also the Nepean’s giant rope swings under the Victoria bridge or those who climbed the bridge, or used the weir for swimming and family Bbq’s…fishing, swimming, collecting, rowing… to contribute to this project which looks at the way our collective childhoods have evolved through time with the experience of adventure through our mediated, moderated, modern lives…
The Nepean River has been a summer focal point of adventure and family fun through many generations. Please contact us to share your memories.. this may be simply sitting down with myself, Daniel Kojta, and describing your memories whilst they are recorded on video or audio. You may like to produce a series of drawings of your memories of the Mud Baths, or Camping. Any footage and/or prints can remain your property and we are happy to pick up any material.
Teresa Kojta as a child enjoying the Nepean River Weir 1950’s Photo Henryk Kojta
And to get you thinking about what is in your photo collection, here is a treasure from the Kojta family album:
A beautiful image of a great sunday celebration in the style of the Great Gatsby. I hold such fond memories of running around amongst the Europeans with their philosophical arguments, the endless eating of small goods, all home made; home made salami, prochuetto, sledge’, black bread hot from the oven… and Vodka made by the loving hand of my grand father, Djadek. The river provided cooling waters that smelled like summer, an abundance of fish straight from the bank to the table, and the perfect geographical ensemble of shading she oaks and granite punctuating the landscape, on cloud like green grass. I remember families of all nationalities uniting through the sharing of food. The river was the conduit to all.
I think this image will inspire memories from others of their experience on the weekend river expeditions.
Dan Kojta
A Polish gathering by the Nepean River. late 1950s. Photographer Henryk Kojta.