Whispering in the Wind: A Unique and Contemplative Art Installation in Camden

The whispering wind phone

A new evocative art installation has appeared on the Nepean River Trail, which is home to an art and sculpture trail that inspires the imagination. A wind phone was recently unveiled by Camden Mayor, Cr Theresa Fedeli, on behalf of the Alan Baker Art Gallery and Camden Council, and is the first of its kind in NSW.

The wind phone artwork, called ‘Whispering in the Wind’, was created by Macarthur artist Quinton Laws from locally recycled materials. Laws from Quinton’s Creations has, according to Mayor Fedeli, created an art installation that is ‘thoughtful installation and reflects both sustainability and community spirit’. (Mayor Fedeli, Facebook, 18/6/26)

The wind phone is a first in the Camden Local Government Area, part of the Macarthur region on Sydney’s southwestern urban fringe. The Nepean River Trail is one of many walking paths in the Camden LGA that are great for recreation and fitness, offering contemplative, quiet places to escape the stresses of city life.

Global influence of the wind phone

Around the world, an increasing number of wind phone art installations have been created, 421 in the United States, 126 in Canada and 56 in other countries, that help folk cope with loss and grief. (Dawson 2026)

The original inspiration for the wind phone came from garden designer Itaru Sasaki in Ōtsuchi, Japan. In 2010, following the death of his cousin from terminal cancer, Itaru wanted to continue ‘talking’ to him as a way of reflecting on his loss. He installed a ‘wind phone’ in an old phone box in his garden. (Wikipedia 2026)

Itaru said, ‘Because my thoughts couldn’t be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind’. (Wikipedia 2026)

In 2010, the Tōhoku earthquake and the resulting tsunami caused over 19,000 deaths. Itaru opened his wind phone to the public and has been visited by over 30,000 people. (Wikipedia 2026) He named the booth Kaze no Denwa: The Wind Phone. (Maria 2026)

The wind phone has been immortalised in literature and film. Italian writer Laura Imai Messina’s 2020 novel The Phone Box at the Edge of the World was inspired by a 2011 visit to the Ōtsuchi wind phone. It tells the story of a woman who loses her family in the Tōhoku tsunami. (Wikipedia 2026)

Sydney needs a wind phone

Sydney-based British expat Kate Bowman says she wants to create a Wind Phone in the Sydney area

‘After losing my father in October 2025 and spending many months in the UK surrounded by family and friends, I now find myself back in Sydney alone carrying the quiet weight of grief and a space where my dad once was‘, Kate said. (Bowman 2026)

Kate tells, ‘Some conversations don’t have to end when someone dies. We keep them going in our heads – updates we never got to give, apologies we still carry, gratitude that didn’t find its moment.’ (Bowman 2026)

‘A Wind Phone is a simple concept: a disconnected phone set up in a quiet, natural area where people can “contact” loved ones who have died. You simply pick up the receiver, speak, and let the wind carry your words wherever they need to go. (Bowman 2026)

Camden’s wind phone, a contemplative public art installation

Camden’s wind phone on the Nepean River Trail is a contemplative public art installation. The Camden Council media release said the wind phone offered

‘ a unique and peaceful space for people to honour, remember and connect with loved ones they have lost.  The installation offers a quiet place for reflection and healing in a natural setting, providing space for grief, gratitude, hope and connection in a shared public environment. (Camden Council 2026)

The artwork,‘Whispering in the Wind’, was inspired by Nadine, who lost her own son at one year old, and was responsible for lodging the original expression of interest. The artwork was designed using upcycled materials by artist Quintin from Quinton’s Creations of Campbelltown (Quinton’s Creations 2026), with woodwork by Laurie Smith and metalwork by Dave from Narellan Powder Coating.

Camden Mayor, Cr Theresa Fedeli said

‘The Wind Phone reflected Council’s commitment to creating inclusive spaces that support emotional wellbeing.  Grief is a deeply personal journey and there is no right or wrong way to navigate it,” she said.

Mayor Fedeli said, ‘The Wind Phone provides a peaceful place where people can pause, reflect and express thoughts and feelings they may wish they could share with someone they have lost.

‘Whether it’s speaking words left unsaid, sharing memories or simply spending a quiet moment in reflection, this space is here for anyone who may find comfort in it‘, she said.

 “The location along the Nepean River Trail was carefully chosen for its natural beauty and sense of tranquility. The river corridor provides a beautiful calm and reflective environment that encourages people to slow down and spend time with their thoughts.” (Camden Council 2026)

Sculptor Quintin Laws statement

Sculptor Quintin Laws said, ‘Thank you to everybody who came out yesterday to see me and my newly installed permanent upcycled art creation, the Wind Phone, along the Camden Farm walking trail.

Mr Laws said, ‘This means so much to me, as it represents a turning point in my journey from being a hobbyist to becoming a recognised artist within the community. I am incredibly proud of this piece and what it represents.

‘The Wind Phone was created as a peaceful place where people can sit and talk to loved ones who have passed on, whether symbolically or spiritually. At the heart of the phone, I have installed a glass heart that is connected to different points inside the structure. This heart represents the connection between our world and the afterlife, symbolising the bond we continue to share with those we love‘, he said.

‘I hope this artwork provides comfort, reflection and peace for all who visit it. More than anything, I hope people will enjoy it for many years—perhaps even decades—to come. Thank you again for all of your support. I am truly proud of this work, and all I wish is for everyone to enjoy it,’ said Quintin Laws. (Quintin’s Creations, Facebook, 19 June 2026)

A reflection on a wind phone

According to Maria, ‘The power of the Wind Phone is not in the phone itself, it is in what it represents’. (Maria 2026) She says:

For many, the act of speaking aloud helps untangle thoughts and emotions that feel overwhelming inside. It allows grief to move, rather than remain stuck.

The Wind Phone reminds us that grief is not something to be silenced or hurried. It is something to be honoured. We do not need technology, answers or solutions. Sometimes, what we need most is a place where we can speak freely, remember openly, and feel connected to those we love.

A place where the wind can carry our words. The Wind Phone stands as a gentle, powerful message to anyone who is grieving:

You are allowed to speak.
You are allowed to remember.
You are allowed to keep loving. (Maria 2026)

Conclusion

The wind phone provides an evocative and exciting addition to the public art on the Nepean River Trail in the Camden Town Farm precinct.

Camden’s Wind Phone has an information plaque which provides a thought-provoking message for all, and it says:

Whispering in the Wind’

‘This phone is here for you,

For words left unsaid,

The memories held close,

And the love that lives on.

Let the wind carry your message,

Let this be a place of comfort,

A space for your connection,

A moment of peace.

Final word

The last word on the wind phone rests with Camden Mayor, Cr Theresa Fedeli, who says

‘Grief is a journey we all experience in different ways, and having a dedicated place for reflection, remembrance and connection is a meaningful addition to our community. (Mayor Fedeli, Facebook, 18 June 2026)

Next time you are walking along the Nepean River Trail, stop at the wind phone and think about its inspiration and what it could mean to lots of people visiting the site.

References

Dawson, Amy 2026. My Wind Phone. Bonita Springs, Florida. Online at https://www.mywindphone.com/  Accessed 21/6/26

Bowman, Kate 2026. Listening to the wind: Creating a Wind Phone in Sydney. Palliative Care, Volunteering, Sydney, 26 February. Online at https://volunteerhub.com.au/listening-to-the-wind-creating-a-wind-phone-in-sydney/  Accessed 21/6/26

Camden Council 2026, Camden welcomes NSW’s first Wind Phone. Camden, 20 June. Online https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/media-centre/latest-news/camden-welcomes-nsws-first-wind-phone  Accessed 21/6/26

Maria 2026. The Wind Phone: A Place Where Grief Finds a Voice. Palliative Care NSW, Sydney. Online at https://palliativecarensw.org.au/the-wind-phone-a-place-where-grief-finds-a-voice/ Accessed 21/6/26

Quinton’s Creations 2026, Facebook, 24 May 2025. Online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/141075396032802/posts/3249125331894444/  Accessed 21/6/26

Wikipedia contributors. 2026. Wind phone. In Wikipedia, 14 June. The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 03:16, June 21, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wind_phone&oldid=1359352460