On Sunday May 15, 10am - 12noon, Paradoxa Collective facilitated a workshop with local Musician & Educator Kate Adam, inspired by & to support the endangered Southern Toadlet in Bunjil Reserve, Panton Hill. Our workshop was designed to foster a deeper connection to nature and develop awareness of the Southern Toadlet and its habitat.

The workshop began with a walk to the site of the activity, the upper seating circle in the Reserve where Anna Farago’s Sharing Contemplation textile work was hung. Susan Wirth gave a short talk with facts and figures and a little performance too, about the Southern Toadlet using a poster artwork as a teaching aid.

Kate played the call of the Southern Toadlet on a speaker as inspiration. Clap sticks were then distributed to participants, who were encouraged to explore the sounds that could be created. Finally, Kate brought everyone together and helped direct and conduct a musical soundscape created around the call of the Southern Toadlet.

Kate lead participants on mindfulness activities with a focus on our senses, using them to immerse ourselves within our natural environment.

This workshop was the first in the Under the Canopy; Making and Shaping series of activities in the Panton Hill Bushland Reserves during 2022 and 2023 curated by Paradoxa Collective and supported by Nillumbik Council & Panton Hill Living and Learning. This activity and the instruments made will inform and support a performance planned for On the Hill Festival in Bunjil Reserve 2023. Participants of the workshop will be invited to be involved.