The walls of the Red Dove Cafe at Manning Uniting Church are lined with vibrant photography for the Do you see what I see? photographic exhibition, officially opened on Monday, October 21.
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While some of the photographs depict activities in beautiful locations in the Manning Valley, many are portraits of people. The people look like any other person - and that is exactly the point of the exhibition.
Do you see what I see? is a project by Parramatta Mission, Taree to celebrate Mental Health Week. The exhibition highlights some of the work Parramatta Mission does in the comunity, and a glimpse into the life of people they support.
The subjects of the professional looking portraits are consumers of the service, and some of them have provided stories to accompany their portraits. The majority of the photographs were taken by mental health support worker, Amanda Francis, with others by other support workers and Danni Harrison.
"The photographs show the recovery side of having a mental illness," Amanda explained.
Some of the photos have been gathered over the past 12 months and show some of the activities the service does with it's consumers - bushwalking at Saltwater, Diamond Head and Brimbin, and fishing at Forster, Croki and Manning Point.
The exhibition was officially opened by Parramatta Mission senior minister/CEO, Reverand Keith Hamilton.
"About 38 years ago I was a member of the church here, so I'm pleased to be here today," Rev Hamilton said.
The photographs show the recovery side of having a mental illness.
- Amanda Francis
"But it's also as part of raising awareness that people who have a mental illness can life an ordinary life and make a great contribution to our society, and that one in five people in our society live with a mental illness.
"Which means for example that in a classroom of 25 kids there could be four or five kids that have a mental illness, or in a workplace with 100 staff there could be 20 staff with a mental illness, or in the local netball or soccer or basketball team, there will be people there living with mental illness.
"I think we can find ways to engage and encourage people so that all of us can live life to the full. For me that's really important," Rev Hamilton said.
The exhibition runs until Friday, November 15. Red Dove Cafe is open Mondays to Fridays 9.30am-2.30pm.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
