Blog Archives
Mackay Museums are Winners!
The 1911 Sugar Strike display, 2011
Congratulations to the five community museums in the Mackay region who received the 2012 Gallery & Museum Achievement Award in the category ‘Organisations: Volunteer Run’ for their joint exhibition Sugar Strike: The Impact of the 1911 Sugar Strike on the Mackay Region.
In 2011 five museums in the Mackay region joined together to tell the story of the 1911 sugar strike including local events which had state and national ramifications. Read the rest of this entry
Mackay’s Heritage Collections
Alan & Rosalea from the Mackay & District Holden Club with their 1973 Holden Torana.
A week in Mackay working on the BHP BMC sponsored ‘Significance Assessment’ project began with Bronwyn, Helen and I enjoying the glorious sunshine and the array of heritage displays at the annual Mackay Heritage Fair at Greenmount Homestead. The event showcases many of the heritage organisations in the Mackay and Isaac regions as well as the historic Greenmount homestead and its contents. With around 7000 people in attendance, its great to see the local community supporting cultural heritage in the region. While there we interviewed 6 organisations about their collections and met many interesting people.
Vicki interviewing Alec from the Pioneer Valley Machinery Preservationists Society.
Then it was off to the Mackay City Library’s Heritage Collection and the Mackay Family Historical Society for Helen and I to conduct Significance and Preservation Assessments. At the Heritage Collection we found some gorgeous glass plate negatives of Mackay’s flora and fauna and aerial photographs of Mackay taken from a Boxkite. Boy they were keen back then!
Meandarra to Mackay
From Meandarra to Mackay…
Finally, I’m snatching a moment to write my first blog entry. It’s been super busy here in the southern inland Queensland region – and have been on the go constantly.
Last week in Meandarra I assisted the Anzac War Memorial Museum install a new exhibition celebrating local RAAF servicemen from World War I to the present. They’re looking forward to opening the exhibition in time for Anzac Day. Great time had by all – particular fun was had dressing the mannequins…
I am now here in Mackay with the northern MDO posse carrying out preservation assessments on an eclectic array of collections as part of the Mackay Showcase project. The trip has reignited my passion for mould and integrated pest management mitigation strategies. I hear you laugh but it’s surprisingly rewarding. It’s amazing what you can do with a blunder trap, if you don’t know check this out
http://qmmdo.com.au/resources/helpful-hints/
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Lyn McDonald, ANZAC War Memorial Museum, in full installation mode
Coastal observations
I am enjoying my time in the south working with Jo and Lydia in Mackay. I have always had a passion for the maritime history of this region and great to see some significant collections in this area. Mackay is located at the southern end of the Whitsunday Island group and with the south easterly trade winds blowing it would make a nice sailing reach to the north.
Jo’s Diary
Mackay calling MDOs…
Undertaking significance and preservation assessments with Lydia and Ewen as part of the ‘Significance Assessments in Central Queensland’ project that Queensland Museum is currently working on, and that is sponsored by BHP BMC.
As well as refining my conservation skills, courtesy of Ms Egunnike, I’ve been indulging my fascination with sugar barracks at Mackay Historical Society Museum, and got to see some WWII gas masks in a private military collection in Mackay. Lots of research value that relates to Cairns Museum’s Cairns 1942 exhibition. Also uncovered a wonderful story about Sister Mary Jane Derrer, a 22 year old nurse from Mackay who served in Egypt during WWI and was one of four Australian nurses who won the military medal.Click here to find out more about this remarkable woman
http://www.awm.gov.au/wartime/50/stewart_nurse/
Also managed to fit in a quick visit to Artspace Mackay where I reunited with Ron Mueck’s ‘In Bed’ installation. Ewen obliged with another photo – I love this installation!
- Take Two: Ron Mueck’s “In Bed” installation at Artspace Mackay Photographer: Ewen McPhee
