Regional Sites 54 Removing dead Humpback Whale from Cheynes Beach. Children developing the skill of dry panning during Paddy Hannan Week. Visitors to the Yamatji travelling exhibition at QFEST <strong>2003</strong>, in Cue. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT <strong>2003</strong>–<strong>2004</strong>
55 <strong>Western</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Museum</strong>–Albany HISTORY DOCUMENTATION The <strong>Museum</strong> continued to encourage local authors to research and record information within their areas of expertise and to publish the resulting work. Stan Austin’s book about Oyster Harbour was launched and has proved very popular, while his book on Eclipse Island is in press with the <strong>Western</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Museum</strong>’s publications department. Kath Gibb’s book Reflections, a collection of stories of the development of the King River, was also launched. Joyce Shiner’s latest book Bread and Jam and Hidings, is nearing completion. The Albany Chamber of Commerce has commissioned the publishing of a commercial history of Albany, The Chamber, from Les Johnson, and this is also with the <strong>Western</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Museum</strong>’s publications department. As part of Women’s History Month, invitations were sent to community groups and through the media, requesting women to come to the <strong>Museum</strong> and tell their stories. Schools, colleges and interested members of the public were invited to come and listen and write the oral histories of participants. Stories included those of war nursing, farming and refugee life. The resulting tapes and transcripts are being housed in the City of Albany Local Studies Center. Several have been broadcast on the ABC, and the <strong>Museum</strong> will use the material as background for future exhibitions and books. EXHIBITIONS Work commenced on the plans for the transferring of the Marine Gallery from the Perth site to the Eclipse Building to become the Sea of Life exhibition. Two major travelling exhibitions from the National Archives in Canberra were hosted, attracted good crowds, and were very wellreceived by the regional community. The Social History of Wine exhibition was supplemented by items from local wine producers. Beacons by the Sea was a perfect adjunct for the Eclipse Optic and other lighthouse artefacts on display in the building. As part of the move to get small travelling exhibitions to remote areas, Albany <strong>Museum</strong> staff transported and set up a <strong>Western</strong> <strong>Australian</strong> <strong>Museum</strong> display on wind@work in Denmark and Esperance. The Austin Healey Car Club of Australia held a large meeting in Albany and placed 62 cars on display in the <strong>Museum</strong> grounds. This event attracted a large crowd, which also visited the <strong>Museum</strong>. Small temporary displays were mounted showing ongoing research into ground parrots and dibblers. Also of interest was a showcase of donated material from the second Shackleton expedition to the South Pole, the recently conserved cupola from the Point King Lighthouse and a rowboat that was used to service both the Eclipse and Breaksea lighthouses. Members of the local Nyoongar community mounted an exhibition of pre-settlement Aboriginal life, and a large collection of crabs and other preserved sea life was put in the ‘Sea and Touch’ area. The <strong>Museum</strong> had a stand and activities at the Albany Show, which was visited by 1,128 people. All exhibitions together with the two whale strandings that occurred in the region during the year attracted excellent media coverage locally, nationally, and, in the case of the Hectors beaked whale, internationally. EDUCATION More than 2,500 schoolchildren from 67 schools participated in activities at the <strong>Museum</strong>. This was an improvement on last year. The appointment of a part-time Education Officer has resulted in greater awareness of the <strong>Museum</strong> throughout the local education community through writing to and visiting schools and offering new curriculum-based programs. Holiday activities were held in July (The Ultimate Challenge Trail), October (Explorers Escapades), at Christmas (Night-Light & Flight/ Traditional Japanese Origami & Kite-Making), and in the Easter school holidays (Dynamic Dinosaurs). They were well-patronised. WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT <strong>2003</strong>–<strong>2004</strong>
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