Stella Kinsella

Since i joined the social media site I grew Up in East Bentleigh I was fascinated in how much joy, love and fun it seemed to generate. At first it was a bit of a walk down memory lane but one night I logged on and saw a post about my childhood friend who tragically is no longer with us. For days afterward East Bentleigh folk posted  about this event and I realised how significantly we are all still connected despite the journey we have travelled ever since. East Bentleigh stopped being just a place I came from and instead has shown me it's a big part of the person I  am. I decided we needed more than just a social media site, we needed to celebrate our history, and there's lots of it. I have produced and hosted many events that bring music, comedy and personal stories together to create a unique not to be missed niche event (ref Stellavision on FB!). I have also worked in heritage interpretation using audio visual archiving to maintain the past into the present. With your help I'd like to do that for East Bentleigh. It will take a lot of work and some cash to make it happen. In return you will get to take part in the event or if you can't be there in person, an opportunity to help create a digital platform that will elevate the East Bentleigh social media site to a bone fide time capsule on your digital device. 
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Supporters of this project will be part of a unique event celebrating a world, a life a time of flux that made and shaped us for who we are.
Funds will pay for the following:
venue hire and catering costs
band/host fee
equipment hire
production costs
video shoot and editing
photo compilation (and rights usage)
stage management costs
scholarship fund
first stage development of website 
t-shirt run

The challenge for an event like this includes: making sure we have the numbers for the show to work. Performing to a half filled room makes for a self conscious crowd. A full room is a happy room. The next big challenge is to source the live guests and film those who can't attend in person. Putting on a show like this, where there is a lot of good will is a bit like landing a plane in paddock. It's not the best way to do it but as long as everyone is safe and gets there in one piece they will have great story to tell. 
My other challenge is content: i need your photos, your stories and your permission to use them. I might need to come and interview you. Artefacts are good too. It would be terrific to have a few items on display from days gone by. You can contact me  via my website www.archivafilms.com.au or at [email protected] if you have content to provide.
Finally, I am keen to raise funds for two scholarships. Why go to al this trouble if we don't bother with a bit of legacy. In honour of the great sporting legends East Bentleigh has produced and in memory of the local writer Liam Davison who perished in the MH 17 plane crash; I want to start an annual $1000 scholarship each for a worthy (junior) sports athlete and talented writer. Sponsors are very welcome to get in touch.