Changing Places

I received a copy of this book when lecturing in Sydney in January. The book examines the fundamental issues of the meaning of being Australian with a particular emphasis of the sense of place, which, as you can imagine, varies greatly according to your background culture. The sense of place refers to the way in which people and communities experience and feel meanings, activities and landscapes around them. Urbanisation and globalisation are both major factors, as is immigration. After an introductory section of personal stories, there are essays from four different perspectives: cultural, psychological, spiritual and views from literature and the arts. This makes for a wide range of contributions and experiences. Drawing on Lewis Mumford, Valerie Brown writes about three types of place in Canberra: sites of social safeguards, or spiritual power and for economic resources. Member Stuart Hill contributes an essay on autonomy, mutualistic relationships, sense of place and conscious caring. An interesting implication of his work is that living from an adaptive self rather than a healthy core self implies living reactively by seeking constant stimulation and consumption, which in turn may have environmental implications. He brings together the potential role of therapy with a healthier relationship with nature. By giving up various types of dysfunctional behaviour, we may be to reclaim 'our autonomy, connection, sense of wonder and place, caring and imagination.' One lesson that we can all draw is to make the effort to know and appreciate our own local places.