THE Raymond Terrace and District Historical Society is being creative in 2020 and asking you to participate by contributing to their time capsule.

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You can contribute to the time capsule which will be opened after five years to view the contrasts between now and then.

The historical society is asking the people of Port Stephens to put pen to paper and tell a short story of what 2020 means to us as individuals.

They are also asking for our views on what we would like to see changed by 2025.

Submissions will be displayed at Sketchley Cottage, giving anonymity to contributors by only attributing a first name to the contribution.

All contributors will be invited to attend the review in 2025 when the time capsule will be reopened.

The hope is that while there will be reference to COVID-19 that it will not be the only issue highlighted.

Writing can be a healing way to deal with situations and to explore feelings.

Submissions can relate to shopping, business, work, meetings, learning, celebrations, attending events, family visits, it is a matter of what is important to individuals when they put their pen to paper.

Pia Rowland is the curator at Sketchley Cottage, she told News Of The Area, “The plan was to encourage people to not wait 100 or 10 years later but to do something immediate, to preserve the historical value stories are best told by those who experienced the event.

“Initially the plan was to target the younger generation to examine the change in five years and this has now evolved to include all generations and the wider community.

“Young people’s stories are just as important.”

Stories should focus on where we have been, where we will go and what we are doing.

“The time capsule will be housed at Sketchley Cottage – it is a grenade box from the archives, and the war reference seemed very apt – we are not at war at the moment but we are at war against the pandemic,” she said.

All submissions must include your name and surname, suburb, phone number and email and be made before 17 September.

Submissions may be made by email, or you can drop yours into the Cottage on Thursday mornings.

For inquiries contact Pia 0428 886 170. Email ryelandb@bigpond.net.au.

By Marian SAMPSON