These are our stories.

Darcy Stockdale slides into the editor's chair to pen a fitting introduction to this special issue.

Mar 12, 2023

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In a world so busy and full of young aspiring creatives, sometimes it can be hard to find a voice, but Gippslandia found us. To many, Zoom calls may be reminiscent of years of online schooling or remote work – unpleasant memories, to say the least. But for the students involved in the Gippslandia Mentorship Program, facilitated by Regional Arts Victoria, the experience of working with the team at Gippslandia has reshaped our impressions of these calls, turning a once-dreaded experience into an opportunity for valuable training and personal development.

In the production of this edition, every rule has been broken. The youth of Gippsland took over and made Gippslandia our own to highlight the revolution of media and storytelling driven by up-and-coming voices in regional spaces. Ours are voices that don’t always receive opportunities to be heard. Youth can be overlooked, and the perspectives of the more experienced and established writers, photographers and illustrators favoured.

By giving this edition over completely to the voices that are often underappreciated in the media landscape, Gippsland’s next generation of creatives has been pulled to the forefront and given an opportunity to shine.

“Without opportunities like this, dreams stay dreams.”
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Gippslandia #30 is a less edited, more personal edition. There is no theme – just the voices of the future sharing what is important to them. What has resulted is that the personal perspectives of these young voices come through in every piece. Whether it’s exploring their relationships to art, or the sentimental value of exploring the vast wilderness Gippsland has to offer, every contributor for this issue has been given the space to tell their own story.

This issue is full of firsts: first interviews, first feature articles, first photo features, first published illustrations and even the first thought of perusing creative industries. Though it may be scary doing something for the first time, the unwavering support provided through specially assigned mentors did more than help, with both industry and personal connections being made along the way.

Without opportunities like this, dreams stay dreams. Passion never finds its place. Luckily for those featured in Gippslandia #30, dreams have come true.