EVERYONE has a life story to tell and it becomes even more focussed when death begins to loom large.
That’s the experience of two Geelong people involved in Palliative Care Victoria’s The Two of Us, a unique collection of stories and photographs with palliative-care recipients.
The organisation commissioned visual artist and writer Pippa Wischer for the project, part of Palliative Care Week, to encourage people with terminal illnesses and to inspire volunteers.
Project participant Peter Hinchliffe spoke of meeting Barwon Health volunteer and artist Ros Pollard when she stopped for a chat as he began palliative care six months ago.
“At the time I thought, ‘Everyone, please leave me alone’,” Peter confessed.
“Nine times out of 10 you haven’t processed it yourself and that’s all part of this journey, I guess, but Ros offered the art side of things, which has been good.
“I used to love drawing when I was seven or eight and my mother used to have art books. In the hospital everyone, including my family, started having a go.
“Ros has got the knack of getting people into it.
“With the brain tumours, it’s hard to see sometimes and it’s good that I can concentrate and know that I’m making things work again.”
Ros discovered art therapy when she was in hospital as a long-term patient with a life-threatening condition.
“My biggest aim is to spark that bit of joy in people, no matter their circumstance,” she said.
“I’m humbled to sit with people who are going through a hard period in their life. I guess when you have a little understanding, even though every person is different, you can relate to each other.”
Barwon Health palliative-care patient Sigrid Mould has been sharing her life story with volunteer Tonya Court, creating a valued legacy for Sigrid’s family.
“We got on very well, right from the beginning,” she said.
“We talked and covered virtually my whole life history that I can remember. It was a good thing too because there are probably things that my daughter doesn’t know and she’s the only one left.
“The story of my journey more or less shows my family what I believe, that I’m not scared, that I do the best I can.
“The hard times, the disappointing times become rather unimportant as you go along.
“I want it to be uplifting and I’m very excited about recording my life story now.”
