Copy of May 2011 - Lazyfish Technology

May 2011 Kangaroo Valley Voice www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au Page 33
People power
By making things happen
they are making a difference
Pioneer
Museum Park
This column,
despite its single
heading, in fact
continues our
practice of focusing on two community
groups each month.
The Kangaroo Valley Historical Society
and the Kangaroo Valley Pioneer
Settlement Reserve Trust work closely
together in operating the Pioneer Museum
Park (the “museum”).
The Historical Society was formed in 1954,
following “Back to Kangaroo Valley” Week,
to collect and preserve pioneer artifacts.
In 1973 the Society established the museum on
its present site to give a snapshot of life in the
1800s when the Valley was settled first by
cedar timber cutters and later by farmers.
The museum also manages and displays a
collection of artefacts of the original
Indigenous inhabitants of the area - the Wodi
Wodi tribe. As the land is a crown reserve of
the NSW Lands Dept, the Trust is responsible
for the grounds and buildings and the Society
owns and is responsible for the artefacts on
display. These two groups work together
harmoniously to manage
the museum and raise
finances to restore,
conserve and expand the
comprehensive collection.
The large task at present is
to scan and save all
photographs and historical
information
The current trustees are
Elaine Apperley
(President), Joan Good
(Secretary), Gordon
Thomson (Treasurer),
Trevor Ball, Werner
Bayer, Phil Scott and
Sheila Young. The
current officers of the
Society are Garth Chittick
(President), Joan Bray
(Secretary) and Sheila
Young (Treasurer). The Society meets at the
museum at 9.30 am on the third Tuesday of each
month, and all are welcome to attend. The
membership fee is only $5.
The museum is a self-funded voluntary
organisation, and is able to operate only with the
support of volunteers.
In 2002 the volunteer numbers stood at seven on
the Trust, and one of those members opened the
museum for visitors 2-3 times a week.
In 2003 there was considerable reorganisation of
the operational systems and improvement of the
buildings and artefacts, and. community support
for the museum has grown significantly.
There are now 30-40 volunteers, who generously
give their time to staff the office, keep the
Rendell’s cottage
grounds in prime condition and attend working
bees for restoration and improvement works on
a regular basis.
In addition the museum receives support from
local businesses.
In 2006 Lance Brown, local leadlight artist,
donated 170 hours to construct a window for
the War Memorial wall honouring those people
from Kangaroo Valley who were involved in
the Light Horse Troop
during the 1st and 2nd
World Wars. Where
possible Valley
residents also support
the Museum by
encouraging their
guests to visit.
In addition the
museum enjoys the
ongoing support of the
Kangaroo Valley
Tourist Association
and the Shoalhaven
City Council. The
museum’s Heritage
Listing in 2001 has
enhanced its support
from the Council’s
Arts and Heritage
Departments.
Heritage Day, 15 May, will be an Open Day at
the museum: details appear elsewhere in this
issue.
History Alive, launched in 2005 with a grant
from the IMB and the assistance of Nigel
Anderson, another Valley local, lays the
foundation for the ongoing development of
interactive activities at the museum and
provides greater information in an easily
assimilated manner. The Settlers Cottage,
constructed from timbers from Jack
Rebbeck’s farm, is primitive but the video
showing how to train a team of bullocks,
build post and rail fences and many other
pioneering chores creates great visitor
interest.
In the schoolroom, originally Pumpkin
Cottage, current Valley pupils demonstrate
what “going to school” in the 1800s was like.
At present a team of local residents are
producing a series of videos to explain and
show more activities in the life of pioneer
families, such as butter, cheese and candle
making, and operating the telephone switch
board.
The museum proposes to approach some
Valley residents and the NSW National
(Continued on page 39)
This series brought to you this month
by the Kangaroo Valley Voice
as a continuation of our commitment
to community understanding and to
stimulate the particpation of old and new residents alike
In the wide range of activities available.