Legacy Composition with Community
Topology is regularly co-collaborators on large-scale community-led creative work. In 2025, Childers State School and Isis District State High School were involved in a moving community-wide initiative commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 2000 Childers Palace Backpackers fire – an event that remains a significant moment in the region’s history.
John Babbage delivered a series of creative workshops with the students of both schools to co-compose music for the occasion. Supported by IMP teacher Kerryn Haaksma, the students performed their new works with Topology across 3 public and commemorative events in Childers for local residents, overseas family members of the victims and survivors and government officials.
“I have been waiting my whole life for this!” – Childers State School student on hearing the piece performed by the whole school orchestra
The Palace paid tribute to the community and honoured the strength and resilience the town showed through one of its darkest times.
This is not the first time that local Childers students have had their work featured on the national and international stage. In 2019, students from ISIS District State High School co-composed new work to perform with Topology in Childers and Bundaberg. This new work has since been included in Topology’s ongoing statewide tour Queensland Stories.
“While the evening was filled with emotion, it was also a celebration of resilience, storytelling, and unity. You have done an exceptional job of honouring a difficult chapter in the region’s history with both sensitivity and grace”. – Stephen Bennett MP- Member for Burnett
“Hearing the stories told by people from Childers, how they experienced the fire… from my side to live through it… it really struck home actually, and were a lot of moving moments in the storytelling. Tears bubbling up, but it’s exactly how I experienced that night and the days after the fire as well. The storytelling is really moving and they did an extremely good job and it was a beautiful thing to be a part of – to watch”. – Survivor
What a privilege it has been to work with you on this project. I would have to say that this has been the most rewarding experience in my creative life. Thank you for providing such incredible music. The songs are still going around in my head.” – Leanne Hutchings, Choral conductor and repetiteur
