The Remembering Minto (RM) Project was initiated by residents of the Minto Public Housing Estate in response to the redevelopment announcement in 2002. Initial reactions to the news that people would have to leave their community (their place) included confusion, sadness, and feelings of profound loss. Many were frustrated that their experience of their community was not being valued or told.

Residents set about recording conversations, collecting images, and planning events and projects, to capture peoples’ stories and memories.

The RM Group and St Vincent de Paul’s Animation Project approached Western Sydney arts and cultural organisation, Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) to partner on the project. They worked together on a proposal for a book and website that would be developed through a community cultural development process, providing an opportunity for residents to come to terms with the changes in their lives, and collectively creating a repository of shared histories. The Department of Housing

provided support and many organisations have contributed to the RM Project.

An underlying principle of the project is that is should benefit residents of the Minto estate through their involvement in all stages of the process. It is hoped that the community has been strengthened by the many forums, workshops, festivals, interviews, meetings, recordings and reflections that have taken place. And that, participants can take something positive from Minto at a time when there has been so much uncertainty and disruption. In the process a valuable resource has been produced for residents, government, planners, schools, educators and other public housing communities.