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The 100 Project preserves the history of Australia’s centenarians

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • The 100 Project records and publishes the life stories of Australians aged 100 and older.
  • Bek Hyland interviewed her grandmother, Merle Moore, whose memories included hardship, grief and the arrival of electricity.
  • Filmmakers Ros Walker and John Winter invite families to nominate centenarians and submit interviews for free editing.

Merle Moore remembered a world of horse-drawn transport, kerosene lamps and candles. Before her death at 106, the Australian centenarian also got to watch her own life story on The 100 Project, an online collection of centenarians’ memories.

I've had a sad life, but I've got to overcome a lot of that and think of the good things, not the bad things.

· Merle MooreMoore reflected on the hardships of her life during her recorded interview.

Her granddaughter, Bek Hyland, interviewed Moore after finding the project while planning her grandmother’s 100th birthday party at Depot Beach on the New South Wales south coast. Moore spoke about losing a sister, but also about the simple wonder of switching on a light.

“I’ve had a sad life, but I’ve got to overcome a lot of that and think of the good things, not the bad things,” Moore said. She recalled that nobody had electricity and families relied on kerosene lamps and candles before power arrived. “Unless you’ve been through it, you just don’t know the value of lights.”

Unless you've been through it, you just don't know the value of lights.

· Merle MooreShe described the significance of electricity after growing up with kerosene lamps and candles.

Hyland said the family watched Moore’s recorded story several times because Moore forgot she had made it. “Wow, that was me, yes, that’s my life, that’s so great,” Moore would say, according to Hyland. The recording brought a smile to her face because she knew her life had been captured and would be remembered.

Having the opportunity to simply sit with her and ask her the questions and capture her memories, it's been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.

· Bek HylandHyland described interviewing her grandmother for The 100 Project.

The project was created by filmmakers Ros Walker and John Winter. Families can nominate a centenarian online and either upload their own video, using the project’s tutorials and questions, or have the team conduct the interview. Winter said centenarians often have compelling stories and are eager to tell them. More than 50 profiles appear on the project’s website, and Hyland expects the collection to grow as people live longer.

I've discovered centenarians have great stories to tell and they're very keen on telling them.

· John WinterWinter explained why the project seeks to record the stories of people over 100.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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