VISITORS to Uralla can now access a GPS-based program that will give them, through their mobile phones, an informative and entertaining “soundtrail” as they walk around the town.
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The Soundtrails Smart Phone App will be launched at McCrossin’s Mill, Uralla on Saturday.
It had been a two-year project conceived by the New England North West Soundtrails project, and is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia.
The app lets listeners hear professionally produced soundscapes (including music, poetry, readings from historical documents and recordings of local people telling their own stories) relevant to the sites they are visiting.
It can be downloaded by going to www.soundtrails.com.au on your mobile device and clicking on the “iPhone App Store” or “Android Google Play” icon.
Then, as you walk through the landscape, the GPS automatically activates the recordings as you enter the appropriate geographical area.
The app was conceived two years ago during Uralla’s participation in The Story Project, a Queensland-based program that facilitates the sound recording of residents’ stories in local communities.
Hamish Sewell from The Story Project came up with the idea while working with Uralla Arts on the recording of stories in Uralla; stories that are now accessible online.
Then, when Andrew Parker of Uralla Arts and Helen Wilkinson of The Story Project were invited to present the idea at a forum hosted by a group from the Queensland University of Technology, the project really took off.
Mr Sewell has been working with local people – including local historians, artists and community facilitators – and a team of app developers to bring the project toQueensland University of Technology, the project really took off.
The project has been supported by organisations including New England Mutual, Federal and Local Governments (Uralla and Gywdir Shires), Phoenix Foundry, Starfish Initiatives, Uralla Arts, QUT and The Story Project.
The Chief Marketing Officer for New England Mutual, Darren Schaefer, said he was delighted to be a partner in Soundtrails. “It’s a wonderful success story of how passionate people with an idea for their town can get it off the ground and make a difference,” Mr Schaefer said. “It’s been great to be able to provide assistance to something that has so much potential for preserving and promoting the heritage of our region.”
Dr Christina Spurgeon from QUT, who has championed the Soundtrails project, will perform the official launch at McCrossin’s Mill. Everyone will be welcome at this event.
