On Saturday, actor Camilla Blunden performed her one-woman show, All this Living, which she wrote and directed after many conversations with older women.

The show addresses that feeling of invisibility that many women feel as they age. The character uses a simple set of large boilers arranged on the performance space to provide movement and a focus for her reflections on a life fully lived.

Camilla conducted a Q & A afterwards where members of the audience related their own experiences of feeling invisible as they age.

Deb Foskey, organiser of the weekend, said, “Delegate women are very important in their town.

“They pretty well run the town’s organisations and facilities yet they could still resonate with Camilla’s character.”

On Sunday, a group of about 15 people gathered for a workshop conducted by Camilla where people told stories from local history and their own lives.

Deb Foskey said, “These stories will be typed up and included with stories from the Delegate Progress Association’s CDs of ‘In those days’, interviews published in The Local Rag and Tubbut Tattler and earlier scripts written by Rix Wright and performed by Delegate community in past decades.

“We are still looking for stories so don’t hesitate to contact Penny Judge or me if you think it will make good theatre,” Ms Foskey said.

“Not all the stories will make their way to the stage, but they may appear later in print.

“Our stories define who we are as communities and Delegate needs positive stories as people deal with the fallout of the recent local government amalgamations.

“Across the border in Tubbut, Bonang and Goongerah, the links with Delegate are strong, as funding body East Gippsland Shire Council which supports the project, understands.

“In earlier days everyone went to the Shearers’ Balls and often married people they met at the region’s social events.  

“Now Delegate provides our nearest services as we lack a general store, pub and petrol station.

“It is ‘our town’,” she said.

Borderliners will meet again to choose some stories to perform and mentor.

Director Lis Shelley will work on some ensemble building skills, voice skills, character work and workshop stories in small groups.

“We will come together at the end to show and work them with the whole group.

“In this way we will develop our show, with a tentative first performance in September,” Ms Foskey said.

“We are keen to involve everyone in this project and determined that not only will it develop the community, it is an opportunity for self-development while we create a show to entertain our friends and neighbours,” Ms Foskey said.