Know any living legends around here?
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If so, Geoffrey Gowland would like to hear about them.
In an attempt to celebrate the lives of residents who have made a significant contribution to their community, Mr Gowland has launched the Local Living Legend program.
He wants nominations from the community to get the ball rolling, in order to honour and chronicle those stories.
"The idea comes from sitting sometimes at funerals, or reading an obituary, and you finding yourself wishing you'd known that person's story before they died," said Mr Gowland.
"We also know that those people are often a bit humble and don't go around blowing their own trumpet."
The former Tudor House teacher (now at OneSchool in Goulburn) said that the idea has received an enthusiastic response.
"Everyone I mention it to seems to know someone who would be a living legend," he said.
"The Rotary and Lions Clubs have been very positive and are keen to be on board."
Mr Gowland has a vision of building a "living history", where someone alive tells their story to their grandchildren, and the grandchildren can tell that story when they're old themselves.
"We want to be able to tell that history now and keep it," he said.
He is also keen to involve schools in the program, giving students the opportunity to produce multi-media projects on the lives of the inspiring people around them.
Mr Gowland wanted to stress that the program is not a competition.
"The Local Living Legends goal is inclusive - to get as many stories as possible, rather than a competition with a winner," he said.
"We'll evaluate the nominations and have an annual ceremony to recognise those who have been added."
The nominee must live in the Wingecarribee Shire, and have made a contribution (which could be some time in the past) to their community of some significance.
Nominations can be made online at www.locallivinglegends.com.
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