STORIES OF experience: learning from the environmental experiences of older Australians

We have recently published a book of 24 short stories celebrating the practices, innovations and wisdom of older people…stories about surviving hardship and self-sufficiency. Mend and make do, thrift and sharing were a major part of life well before recycling, environmentalism and plasma television sets. Up-to-date environmental information with each story suggests a change or action all of us can make. Stories of Experience costs just $10 – including postage please click here for an order form If you would like more information about this project please click here: Stories of Experience info

Growing up by the Bay

Growing up by the Bay is a collection of stories based on oral history interviews of people who grew up around Jervis Bay in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. The stories were collected in 2007 by a team of volunteers from the Lady Denman Heritage Complex, led, trained and supported by Meg Bishop from Real Options. A total of 30 people were interviewed for this project. Many others will be interviewed in future as a continuation of Growing up by the Bay and for new projects of the Lady Denman. The exhibition will be shown periodically at the Lady Denman and also travel to other regions. A book was also produced. This book provides an enduring memento of the younger lives of the people who shared their stories of Growing up by the Bay. The exhibition was opened on 9 February 2008 with around 150 people attending on a wet and wild day. Real Options are able to work with museums, local history groups or others to develop and manage similar projects. We have skills in oral history collection, digital recording and curating exhibitions. If you are interested to discuss a project please contact us. The book and the DVD are available from the Lady Denman Heritage Complex. Woollamia Rd & Dent St, Huskisson Ph 44415675 ladydenman@shoalhaven.net.au

About us

Real Options is a small, successful consultancy based in Huskisson at Jervis Bay on the South Coast of New South Wales. Much of our work is in the areas of community services and natural resource management. The company was established in 1997 by principals Meg Bishop and Graeme Gibson.

Graeme has experience and qualifications in adult and community education and training, action research and community participation. He has many years experience in working with young people and has recently built a bure in Fiji where he hopes to spend time writing.
To see information about our bure in Fiji click here

Meg has experience and qualifications in education, training and social research. She has been a teacher, a farmer, an environmental educator and has a strong interest in community development.
to see Meg’s CV click here.

Our approach

At Real Options we take pride in providing a professional, flexible and realistic approach. We will work with you to:

• identify your needs
• consult with your target audience
• develop submissions and apply for funding (where appropriate)
• design a program that works for you and has stakeholder support and ownership
• evaluate and report on the work done

Along with providing professional and successful programs this approach will help to develop your organisations skills base and increase your capacity and efficiency.

We balance experience, theory, practice and creativity to produce programs based on community development, sustainability and action learning. Our values are trust, respect, sharing, celebrating difference and an ethical approach.

We feel our best jobs are where we can work together with our clients and their stakeholders to produce work that is both worthwhile and makes a difference. Last but certainly not least we believe that an important outcome is to have fun while we learn.