An ongoing documentary project, exploring Newcastle’s contemporary women and their connectivity to water; a city that has done, and continues to build, its identity around the sea.
Vera Deacon, Hunter, NSW
The deep connection local icon Vera Deacon (1926-2021) had to the Hunter is legendary. Growing up rowing on the river not only ensured a lifelong love of water and all her local surroundings, but also encouraged passionate activism and engagement for countless issues that remain relevant today. A phone call between us ended a few years ago, with a longer pause from Vera, before saying..."you've got the right vibes oozing from you Brydie". I chuckled and said, "right back at you Vera". Truly Vera, you had incredible vibes.
Inspired by chats I was lucky to have with Vera at ‘late middle aged’, along with the title of her book of selected works, ‘Singing Back the River’ and previous portraits we had made together inform a creative collaged response as part of my ongoing project, ‘A Woman of Water’. Exploring how identity is shaped through our social landscapes, with a particular focus on Newcastle’s contemporary local women and their connectivity to water, a city that has done and continues to build, an identity around the sea.
