The impending thunderstorm and light show didn’t seem to deter the crowds on Saturday night at Lockhart’s “biggest pool party”.
The pool party was held to give those involved in the documentary, “Going the Distance” a taste of social life in a small town.
There were many events staged over Friday and Saturday, all of which were designed to give the women a feel for country life. Residents of Lockhart joined together to give the five women in the social experience documentary a great weekend in the area.
The women, Natalie Aroyan, Dr Rebecca Reynolds, Amanda Richards, Lara Kilborn and Lisa Philips, from Sydney are taking part in this documentary to show single women dating in Sydney what other areas of Australia have to offer.
Laticia Gibson, producer of the six part documentary said, “I grew up in the country, I really wanted to showcase what country life is about.
“There are so many stereotypes and misconceptions,” she added.
Ms Gibson said that one of the key things she wanted to achieve through the documentary was to show country life beyond the stereotypes. I want people to “understand why country towns survive and often thrive” she said.
Having previously done work for Lockhart Shire Council and the Spirit of the Land festival Ms Gibson said she “fell in love with the place” and that she loves the opportunity to showcase what Lockhart has to offer.
Natalie Aroyan who has dated a few men and had some long term relationships said that what they (the men) were lacking was the desire to commit.
She said that what she loves most about the country so far is the “community spirit. You miss that in Sydney. I don’t even know my neighbours.”
“In the country they (the men) seem to make more of an effort,” she added.
Ms Aroyan said that the biggest thing she has learned so far in their trip - besides shearing a sheep and baking scones from scratch - is that “perception is not reality.”
The documentary’s entourage of 11 people including a psychologist, anthropologist and camera crew arrived in Lockhart on Friday when they were
greeted with high tea followed by a mock picnic race day in the Lockhart Town
Hall.
Local Sue Schneider, who helped organise the itinerary for the time the women spent in Lockhart, was thrilled with the town’s turnout to the public events saying that there were over 100 people at the picnic race day.
Lockhart resident Kylie Healy knows what it is like to move to a small community from a bigger city. She has lived in Lockhart for 14 years and now has three children to her husband who she met in Lockhart.
“I’d much rather live out here than in the city. It is a lot more community oriented and everyone knows you and your kids.”
The five women involved in the documentary will now be travelling to Cowra for a 24 hour visit and the remaining 10 days of their trip will be taking them to Tamworth, Brisbane and other country towns.
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