VITAL: Questions of Resilience - event wrap by Cameron Anderson
Dungog, 19th-21st June 2025.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Edwina Richards & MARCUS PIPER
Cameron Anderson (centre) at VITAL, photo by Edwina Richards
So Rhiannon, the administrative powerhouse behind RAA, has kindly asked if I could provide an event wrap of “Vital- Questions of Resilience” held recently in Dungog.. To be fair she did ask me prior to the event if I could and I kindly obliged…. Even knowing full well I wouldn’t be taking a single note as I didn’t need the CPD points. Which brings me to my first point - RAA events are worth far more than CPD; the points are just a nice bonus. Sure, CPD points can be obtained at will online, cost effectively and certificate of attendance obtained, but CPD should be more than just ticking off some learning outcomes to satisfy an annual commitment. And I think that is where CPD generally misses the mark, and events such as VITAL…..well are very much their namesake, vital. I didn’t need the points.. But I needed a connection, I needed inspiration and I needed to put the tools down for a couple of days and see some friends.
Connection. Photo by Edwina Richards
And CPD if you need it. Photo by Edwina Richards
And when I heard that a dear old friend in Janne Ryan and her willing accomplice Peter Salhani were hosting VITAL in Dungog there was no question that I had to attend. I first met Janne when she was imposed on a 4 day tour of country NSW we called Architects Outback. I spent a marvellous few days travelling with Janne from Mudgee to Bourke meeting with people along the way. We have remained in touch over the years. My interest arose when this journo from Bondi casually mentioned from the back seat many years ago that she also ran a serious Angus cattle farm just outside of Dungog in regional NSW. I certainly hadn’t picked it. But my respect grew. Janne had a deep respect for and understanding of life in regional Australia. And she became a great ambassador for regional practice and regional architecture more broadly. So to have Janne host a RAA event in her home town, I was sure it was going to be a well considered program and a nice chance to catch up and experience a new town.
Janne Ryan & Peter Salhani at the farm, photo by Marcus Piper
So I trundled off to Dungog on a Thursday morning armed with podcasts by the good crew at equity mates and a Spotify playlist of Dave Wells sent by Marcus Piper who we were going to experience on the Thursday night. The only reason I know of Dungog is because a good friend constantly reminds me of the fact he was born there so it must be a special place. I had never been there, but I was intrigued to experience a new town.
Daves Wells playing at the Royal Hotel, photo by Marcus Piper
For anyone who attended VITAL, I don’t need to provide a blow by blow account of all the speakers and events. The program was superb and the backdrop perfect. Inspiring to hear about the carbon programs at Janne’s farm, lovely to meet Caroline (Pidcock) at her own house in a truly personal setting and hear amazing storytelling from Dave Wells at the Royal on the Thursday evening.
Delegates gathered at Caroline Pidcock’s home, photo by Marcus Piper
Worimi Elder Andrew Smtih delivering the Welcome to Country, photo by Edwina Richards
The Welcome to Country will stay with me for a long time, but more resounding was experiencing the relationship forged between Andrew Smith and Jason Elsley. I have so much respect for their process and enduring relationship. For many, a side trip to the Murrook Cultural Centre was a pleasing by-product of the formal program. All the speakers on the Friday were incredible and balanced beautifully with the overall program, but for me the power is in the in between at these events; meeting new people at the Tinshed on the Thursday afternoon, sharing a meal with old friends at the Royal, discussing technical specifications over a beer on the Friday afternoon with Brad from Arcpanel and a community dinner and a movie on the Friday were all really special. In between were breakfasts with new friends, coffees with old friends and many other discussions. Special mention to the pastries from The Barn in the Main Street.
Delegates out and about in Dungog, photo by Edwina Richards
It humbles me to see what the RAA has transformed into and I am very proud to have played a small part in the formative years. From little things big things grow. And I look to many more in betweens. Thanks muchly to the incredible RAA committee past and present. A truly valuable regional resource, voice and friend. And to Janne and Peter, I thank you. A memorable, inspiring couple of days in Dungog.
Photo by Edwina Richards
Photo by Edwina Richards
A special RAA thanks to the Technical Experts on hand during the event: Brad Collyer from Arcpanel, Carmen Manney and Ian Harkin from Polyflor, Andrew Savage from Weathertex, Nigel Puckeridge from Paperock and Lachlan Stanton from Viridian. RAA would like to thank them for their commitment to design in the regions.
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