Sue’s Legacy

Sue Salthouse (1949-2020) was a campaigner for human rights, an accomplished advocate for women and, perhaps most importantly, a generous mentor to many in Canberra’s disabilities community.

Sue’s Legacy celebrates this beautiful and courageous woman’s enduring contribution to the Canberra community. Seven members and allies of the ACT disabilities community made a short film exploring how Sue’s mentorship and friendship has impacted their lives. The films were launched one year after Sue passed away.

Supported by local artist Jenni Savigny of Gen S Stories, as well as PhotoAccess photographer Kate Matthews and videographer Sammy Hawker, the Sue’s Legacy participants completed a seven-week intensive workshop. With no prior experience required, they each scripted, storyboarded, researched, narrated and edited a film of 3-5 minutes, drawing on their personal and shared image archives. Sharing memories of Sue, discussing her contribution and supporting each other through coming to terms with her loss was a key aspect of the workshop.

Sue’s Legacy was a partnership project between PhotoAccess, Women with a Disability ACT and Gen S Stories. It was made possible through a generous ACT Government Community Services Directorate Disability Inclusion grant 2020-21.

The resulting Sue’s Legacy collection of films shares seven heartfelt, even emotionally raw and deeply personal, stories about Sue’s impact. There are tears and sadness, but also laughter and determination, and above all a sense of celebrating Sue’s incredible contribution.

Louise Bannister
Joy Easter
Karyn Fearnside
Kerry Marshall
Dianne McGowan
Marylou Minty
Kerry Snell

The Sue’s Legacy collection was formally launched by Ms Emma Davidson MLA, Minister for Disability, on Friday the 30th July 2021 at T2, Kambri Cultural Centre, Australian National University. Penny Grist, PhotoAccess Board Chair, led a Q&A with the film-makers and approximately 120 audience members.

See the launch recorded from our livestream of the event on our Facebook page: https://fb.watch/78nJUX97q9/