Social GainAwe on the African Savannah

Awe on the African Savannah

My Baby Photo

Lockdown Porch Portrait

My Baby Photo

Lockdown Porch Portrait

Awe on the African Savannah

Val Clark shares her photo at a Dubbo Slide Night

Q: Tell us about this photo.
In the foreground, a line of elephants. Behind them, Mount Kilimanjaro at sunrise. Mist rising. It’s breathtaking.

Q: Why did you choose it?
Because of the feeling. I’m not usually emotional, but this trip to Kenya in 2015 opened me up. Every corner revealed more beauty. Four weeks on safari, camping under the stars—one morning, elephants walked across the savannah in silence. No wind, no sound, just awe.

Q: How does it feel now when you look at it?
Like my body expands with joy all over again. That trip changed me.

Val Clark by the way is a local superstar.

Val is an award-winning author, creative writing teacher, and Artistic Director of WestWords West and Dubbo Writers Festival.

Named Cultural Person of the Year, Val has spent decades championing the power of words and stories to shape communities. Through her writing and mentoring, she inspires others to find their voice and share it boldly—proving that storytelling is one of the strongest threads that hold culture together.

Val has spent years championing creativity, mentoring writers, and enriching our region’s cultural life.

Dubbo Slide Night is more than an event—it’s a night of connection through stories.

Here's how it goes: 4–5 locals from all walks of life share a personal photo and answer three simple questions, sparking laughter, reflection, and conversation.

We intentionally bring together a mix of voices from across the community—because when we share stories, we strengthen the ties that hold us together.

No two nights are ever the same, but every one leaves you feeling more connected: to people, to place, and to the power of storytelling. That’s the Social Gain way—building social cohesion, one story at a time.