Tanya Regan and Toni Gordon are both filmmakers, digital content creators and Mandurah locals.
The pair decided to create their dream film after connecting over their shared passion for environment and sharing stories of inspirational Mandurah residents.
Our RE change is a short environmental documentary which Ms Regan and Ms Gordon hope will empower audiences by showing simple ways the every day person can make positive environmental changes.
"When people talk about our degrading environment it is easy to slip into fear and dread," Ms Regan said.
"We wanted our audience to feel empowered and hopeful that there are still ways that the everyday person can make positive environmental changes."
The film follows the stories of three Mandurah locals who have implemented environmentally-friendly strategies in their lives - including Ms Regan and Ms Gordon.
"The title is a play on the words 'sea change'," Ms Regan said.
"It is three stories from our sea change town (Mandurah) about locals who repurpose, replant and reuse."
Repurpose
Kane James is a Dawesville artist who makes art and handmade handplanes for surfing by using 100 per cent recycled items he finds along the beach.
When the Mail spoke to Mr James earlier in the year, he said he started making handplanes, items designed to assist surfers in turning and changing directions, out of timber he found while working in the goldmines.
After realising how much waste and rubbish was left along the sandy shores of local beaches, and how many items were designed with the purpose of being thrown in the bin, he decided to adapt his artwork and sculptures to utilise that waste.
Ms Regan said Mr James's story was one that showed the ingenuity that can come with implementing environmentally friendly choices.
"All the art in this story has been made from items found along the beach or used items destined for the bin," she said.
"This story shows the message that we can repurpose rubbish into beauty."
Replant
Ms Regan lives in Seascapes Estate in Halls Head with her young family. When they initially built their home, they planted lawn which never thrived.
This prompted Ms Regan and her family to look into the reasons behind the stifled environment, and to adapt their choices in conjunction with their findings.
"This story questions why we are planting lawns in Australia and how replanting a native Australian garden is beneficial to the environment and to homeowners," Ms Regan said.
Reuse
Ms Gordon lives in Halls Head and has a passion for style and fashion.
She began striving to buy secondhand wherever she could - and soon realised the advantages of thrifting and op-shopping that she couldn't find in a department store.
Ms Regan said Ms Gordon's story would speak to people wishing to adopt more conscious choices when it comes to fashion.
"Reusing textiles instead of sending it to landfill is great for the environment and can allow consumers to create their own unique style," she said.
The exhibition
Our Re Change is currently on display at the Contemporary Art Spaces Mandurah (CASM), as part of the Ambient Art Exhibition.
The aim of CASM's exhibition, which is showcasing local environmental art, is to "change the way we see our world."
The film will be on display at CASM (63 Ormsby Terrace) until October 3, 2021.
On Saturday, September 18, Ms Regan will be giving a free artist talk which will include a question and answer session from 11am to 12pm.
More information on the exhibition can be found via the City of Mandurah website.
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
