Treasured memories, photos and letters to grandchildren will be preserved for 10 years in a time capsule at the Katherine Museum.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The buried box will store memories and memorabilia from some of Katherine's oldest citizens, who have resided in the town their entire lives.
Their memories date back to a time when Katherine was dotted with tin houses and connected with dirt tracks.
"We're originals of the town, when we were born, there was basically nothing here," Neila Boyle said.
The 82 year old was born in Katherine Hospital in 1937, and excluding six years in Adelaide, close family ties have kept her in the town.
She is part of four generations to be born here and feels strongly about preserving the history.
"Although it is just a short time, we want our grand children to be able to see what our lives were like today, what we were doing, what things cost and how the town is going," Mrs Boyle said.
On a questionnaire she has filled out and included in the box she has documented her favourite things: TV show, book, and hobbies.
As well, she describes Katherine as a place which is "growing with more buildings and people".
To be dug up in 2029, the NT Friendship Senior Citizens group have every intention of being at the ceremonious 'digging up', not too far in the future.
Running the group, NT Friendship and Support community engagement assistant, Amy Oakley, said the 10-year period was enough time to see change.
More Reading:
Technology is changing at a rapid pace, as well the people in the town, the organisations and the issues.
Ten years is also likely to see family members of the senior citizens still residing here.
"We are hoping our grand kids will be able to pull [the time capsule] out of the ground and see who we were as individuals," Noela Polkinghorn said.
"It is less about us seeing change in 10 years, and more about showing our favourite people that we were thinking of them - so they know where they came from and where their roots are."
Too many elderly are left to fall through the cracks in Australia.
But it is groups like the NT Friendship Senior Citizens group, which is keeping them from living disconnected lives, Lorna Riggs said.
She described the group as "keeping her alive" at a time in her life which could be very lonely.
"Life could be very dull, but I am lucky to have friends that will be there at the drop of a hat.
"This group brightens my day," she said.
She has written a letter to her grand children and added it to the box which also has a Whitehouse Furniture catalogue fished from a hand bag - to see the changes in price and technology, as well as a broach beloning to Neila Boyles mother.
More things will be added over the coming days before the box is handed over to be kept safe at the Katherine Museum, on Thursday.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.