Time capsule to be opened in 2070

Children living in the year 2070 will get an insight into what life was like in 2020, thanks to a time capsule buried by Central Coast Kids Day Out (CCKDO) in the Leagues Club Park, Gosford.

School children and representatives from local services recounted their experiences from 2020 in personal messages, notes, photographs and drawings, all of which have been placed into a steel box in the park.

Robyn Edmonds-King first suggested the time capsule concept to CCKDO. committee members in the middle of 2020.

The committee took the project on board and encouraged the community to be involved.

Representatives from groups who serve the community – such as Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, SES, and Australia Post – wrote messages to the kids of the future about how their services ran in the present and how they had to change.

CCKDO committee member, Fran Cummings, estimates that over 200 people contributed to the project.

“The time capsule was a good way to allow children to be part of history by giving them a chance to write about it in their own words,” Cummings said.

“It was interesting to see the children’s perspective on the events of 2020, more so when you know kids aged between four and 12 from across the Coast took part in the project.”

“Reading what the kids wrote and seeing them reflect on how they experienced things over the past year was incredible.

“It was inspiring because the kids were able to explain how it was for them and how they responded to the events.

“We saw that the kids had an understanding of what was going on.

“They spoke about what was important to them.

“One thing the kids spoke about often was the importance of socialising.

“We chose a 50-year time frame for the capsule because many things can change dramatically over 50 years; just think back on this past year and how different it has been.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, facilitated and organised the burial of the time capsule.

Cummings said it would undoubtedly be a State Government member who will open the capsule in 2070.

“While we are unsure precisely who will be opening the time capsule in 50 years, we know that they will be delighted and moved when they do,” she said.

Jacinta Counihan