Tom Haveron Assessment 2 - Transmission Park

This is an audio guided historic walking tour of the business and retail precinct of Hornsby, and it highlights the rich social and cultural past within Hornsby Shire. It is an easy grade walk which takes approximately 90 minutes to complete or can be split into two shorter walks (e.g. the east and the west side of the railway station). We hope you enjoy experiencing Hornsby’s buildings, parks and monuments of significance and learning about some of the stories behind them. All images are from Hornsby Shire Recollects: https://hornsbyshire.recollect.net.au/pages/contact The sound clip of the Hornsby Water Sculpture at stop four belongs to Youtube user eatenbywords: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7XRcJz9Mn0

A walk exploring the stories of water through the perspective of the ankle When you put all your attention to the ankle scale, stories of water are reavealed in their most direct nature. Erosion becomes more apparent, infrastructure systems are easier to distinguish and the failure of planning and designs becomes very apparent. these can all help the walker to experience a walk that offers more in terms of both enjoyment and education.

Sounds around Chatswood train station in Sydney, Australia

This locative audio project links my local train station and the daily commute with reflections on the corona virus outbreak of 2020 and a meditation of the sometimes bizarre and disturbing audio culture of the Sydney Trains PA systems. Don’t take this too seriously, it’s aim is to get you listening, but it might also make you stop and think. Is the language of train announcements in Sydney a reflection of creeping authoritarianism that we have all participated in since September 11 2001 and Australia’s involvement in a 20 year-long war of revenge in Afghanistan and the subsequent civil war in Syria? Does our broad acceptance of stringent lock-downs to control the spread of the virus reflect our fearful and obedient public culture more broadly? Are the liberties that we cherish and that allow us to enjoy the beauty and order of our city under threat? What if we were to succumb to the populist attractions of a Trump, Erdogan, Modi or Putin? Should we pay more attention to our national politics if the voice of our public utilities normalises the insinuations of authority, coercion and control? Enjoy your walk on the platforms and overpass at Normanhurst station, and enjoy your trip!

The aim of this Echoes project is to bring the user on a “tour” style walk around the popular areas of Chatswood. While walking around, the user will encounter the beginnings of Chatswood, the big Westfield shopping center and will depart via the Train Station. The narration of the tour should feel more like a friend over a tour guide as they will guide you around the place and see you off. This tour should allow the user to immerse themselves in the area while also learning about the history of the area. IMAGE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatswood,_New_South_Wales

~Find yourself~ Welcome to Manly Dam, home to the most divine flora and fauna swans. Take a look around and take in the sights and sounds. Perhaps you see a young family having a picnic with the cheekiest of ducks darting in and out trying to grab a snack from one of the laughing children. Or maybe you’ll hear the sounds of birds chirping in the trees, crafting the most harmonious of melodies. Whatever you take in, know it’s the simple joys, so immerse yourself in nature and breathe in… and out… Growing up I’ve always pondered the ideas of the future of humanity, specifically in the realm of the human psyche and our obsession with progress. I’ve had a deep passion for philosophy, which led to often questioning the world and our values. This project further attempts to delve deeper into the psyche of the human mind and begs the question of whether we truly are evolving in the right path… Are we losing our so-called humanity and identity in search of minute pleasure’s? Is the constant demand for society’s approval hindering our originality and desire to be ourselves? These are the questions I ask, as growing up in this modern age creates uniquely significant issues that only Generation Z knows. The pressure to be the best. The desire to be liked. The image you need to portray. All of these ideals are broadcast on a silver screen, and after seeing all these stars shining as bright as the sun, people forget how quickly a fire burns out. Mental health should be focused as a priority in this age, however many youth don’t realise how disconnected from their own minds they truly are. Peaceful but constant mindfulness should help calm their minds. No-one realises how fast they’re truly moving in life until they slow down to reflect. Lying on the grass, lazily watching the sun’s rays reflect off the azure sea like phoenix’s wings, the titters of critters as they forage for food as the scent of petrichor gently wafts through the air… It’s times like this where you find yourself feeling free. Manly Dam is on traditional land of the Indigenous Garigal Clan of the Guringai people. Not only is this reserve a popular spot for picnics and family gathering, but it is also rich with a diverse population of endangered native creatures that have survived on this Earth for thousands of years. This luscious dam deserves to be protected, and knowing this information makes your walk through the wondrous greenery that much more immersive, allowing for contemplation on the beauty of our surroundings. Alan Watt’s speech from ‘The Art of Meditation’ has proved a vital foundational idea for my project, kickstarting my interest in the acts of self-reflection. Specifically all his quotes about the human condition and the concept of ‘overthinking.’ “A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts. So, he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions. By thoughts I mean specifically “chatter in the skull”... perpetual and compulsive repetition of words... of reckoning and calculating.” Alan Watts is truly an inspiration and a figure of wisdom that those should seek out when drawing in their minds. My project is full of ambience and effects recording all throughout the realm of Manly Dam. Utilising the microphone, I attempted to record the noises of the wildlife from duck’s to crows. While in the middle of this action, it hit me how peaceful nature truly is when your mind is focused on your surroundings. My aim for this project is to give the listener the same sense of nonsensical nostalgia that comes out of staying present. My idea of immersion is reinforced by the use of pans and delicate volume control to make the listener feel like they’re living free. And dear listener, there will also be a *surprise* near the end of the project… This jarring sensation was further brought to light through the use of ProTool’s reverb, delay and stretching tools! I feel like this placed more meaning onto the theme of anxiety. In essence, my goal of this project was to draw awareness to the inner self and how much potential you can discover when you discipline your mind. Calm yourself and orientate yourself in the present. I promise you’ll come away from my walk with a faint smile and a deeper outlook on nature and humanity. Remember you don’t need to prove yourself, you’re good enough as you are. Now go! Tell someone close to you how much they mean to you. Their smile will be worth it all. By Nicholas Pang Berto, R. (2005). Exposure to restorative environments helps restore attentional capacity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25(3), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2005.07.001 ‌How Modern Life Became Disconnected from Nature. (2017). Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_modern_life_became_disconnected_from_nature Hultgren, J. (2015, May 31). MindFullyAlive. MindFullyAlive. http://www.mindfullyalive.com/blog/2015/5/30/alan-watts-on-the-art-of-meditation#:~:text=%E2%80%9CA%20person%20who%20thinks%20all,..%20of%20reckoning%20and%20calculating. ‌onsareblog. (2016, November 17). THE IRONY OF LIFE: YOU NEVER KNOW THE VALUE OF A PERSON UNTIL THEY’RE GONE! Onsareblog; onsareblog. https://onsareblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/17/the-irony-of-life-you-never-know-the-value-of-someone-until-theyre-gone/

Welcome to The Road of Northbridge – Sailors Bay Road. This road is host to many of the great aspects that make up the amazing suburb of Northbridge in the Lower area of Sydney’s North Shore. Take the time to walk from the waterside park of Clive Park to the busy shopping district at the corner of Sailors Bay and Strathallan. In this walk you will pass Northbridge’s captivating blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and community charm. From the enchanting Northbridge Golf Course to the musical richness in the G major guitar studio. Embrace this audible euphoria and connect with the charming suburb of Northbridge. This walk is a representation of local community in this wonderful suburb. This walk takes you inside the cultural hub of Northbridge by showing you the appealing aspects of its splendid natural beauty and cultural richness through the flourishing array of sport, music, community centres and social areas. The walk starts you in Clive Park, the heart of the suburb’s natural beauty with its beach front view of the famous Sydney Harbour and its vast assortment of Australian bush. From Clive Park you will walk past the famous Northbridge golf course. Situated amongst the splendour of Northbridge, The Northbridge Golf Course stands testament to the harmony between nature and sport. This course is home to novices and enthusiasts of the game with an embodiment of panoramic vistas and unwavering commitment to excellence, attesting to the suburbs fostering community spirit and its commitment to sustainability. Next to the illustrious golf course is the Northbridge oval, a synthetic ground hosting leisurely activities as well as many football and cricket matches. Another indication of sustainability in the community, this oval is one of Northbridge’s cultural centres by playing host to teams from all around the city in football and cricket matches as well as training sessions. The multipurpose sporting field is a mantel piece and staple of the many things that create the amazing suburb of Northbridge. Across the road from the Northbridge oval is the G major guitar studio, created by Jimmy Chan in 2012. G major is the hub of musical culture in Northbridge by teaching over 100 students a year and having taught over a thousand students since its opening. From teaching students to putting on concerts, The G major guitar studio is the haven for musical culture and audible euphoria in Northbridge. The studio brings the whole community together and is a staple for cultural richness in the suburb. Up the road from the guitar studio is the shopping district of Northbridge, flourished with café’s, newsagencies, and restaurants. This area is the centre of cultural and social charm in the suburb and is enriched with vibrant tapestry. Northbridge offers an immersive shopping experience that caters to all. This project reflects all the cultural and natural beauty in this wonderful suburb of Northbridge. This walk encapsulates the captivating experience of life in Northbridge, taking you through a vibrant array of sports, music, nature, and shopping. The walk explores the tempestuity of the audible culture in the suburb from beautiful sounds of nature to the loud social environment of the shopping region. In this walk you should take the time to explore each region in which you hear the associated sounds so you can explore more than what you’re hearing and visually explore the amazing suburb of Northbridge. The sounds you are hearing in this walk have been recorded in a variety of places with a variety of lengths. All sounds were recorded from either my mobile phone or my AudioTechnica At2020 condenser microphone. I have mostly used atmospheric sounds to encapsulate the authentic experience of someone walking through this vibrant neighbourhood which makes the walk less fabricated and more acoustically designed. Sounds such as footsteps on gravel has been used to display the change of location and indicates the natural sounds of Northbridge. I’ve also incorporated a decay mod synth to create a sense of euphoria in the walk to elucidate the hauntingly beautiful aspects of this great suburb. This walk truly does encapsulate all the great aspects of Northbridge. On this walk listen out for the natural beauty, cultural richness, and community charm that this great suburb has to offer. Please enjoy your walk down Sailor’s Bay Road – THE Road of Northbridge. Credits Written and composed by: Billy Fennessy Additional Audio Components: Ben Tippett, Ollie Hilliard

A creative circle for people experience a live music performance/ busking experience amidst the bustling street foods and markets.

A remote collaboration between two artists in Cornwall and rural Aberdeenshire. Initially based around the notions of parenthood, whilst also considering personal, geographical and political space. Composition naturally began to accommodate responses to the pandemic as the album was written during the COVID19 lockdown of 2020. The first five tracks use only the voice and audio production techniques, field recordings, and radio excerpts, whilst the final track contains additional instrumentation.