Cooktown’s War: final exhibition in one of the nun’s cells at James Cook Museum, Cooktown. Photo: Ewen McPhee.

Like many museums across Queensland, James Cook Museum received funding from the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program. Designed to showcase the museum’s First World War collections, the grant also included time for Ewen and I to provide onsite advice, reconfigure the gallery space and install the exhibition.

When Kate Eastick took over the reins as the museums new curator, however, she decided to refocus the exhibition to tell stories from the home front and the local community, and identified a different space for the exhibition. This change responded, in part, to some of the stories and objects Kate uncovered during her research. An unexpected find, for example, was a hand crocheted square (pictured below). She was also keenly aware of Cooktown History Centre’s Behind the Lines Exhibition, which provides detailed biographies of Cooktown’s soldiers and their wartime experiences.

Cooktown’s War creates an additional narrative layer to Cooktown’s war stories and reveals the impact of the First World War on Cooktown residents. And by working with members of the History Centre, the exhibition demonstrates the benefits of two of Cooktown’s premier collecting organisations pooling resources and knowledge. Shared photos and research have meant that details about rifle clubs, and Chinese business owners and war loans have been placed on display. Difficulties surrounding Indigenous enlistment are explored through archives and portraits of Charles and Norman Baird, brothers who were among Queensland’s Indigenous soldiers from the region.  Stories of  Red Cross fundraising initiatives and women’s patriotic activities have been woven into the exhibition framework through evocative photographs (see below). Kate also included a contemporary story using a uniform and images from the 100 years commemorative march held in Cooktown this year.

Cooktown History Centre’s self funded First World War exhibition,” Behind the Lines.” Photo: Jo Wills.

Bev Shay and Marge Scully, Cooktown History Centre, 2015. Photo: Jo Wills.

Female patriotic group wearing fancy dress at Cooktown, ca.1913. Image: Cooktown History Centre.

Crocheted square – “Success to the Allies”. Collection: James Cook Museum, Cooktown. Photo: Jo Wills.

Cooktown Honour Board, Collection: James Cook Museum, Cooktown. Photo: Jo Wills.

Private Charles Baird. Image: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland, 11 December 1915.

Private Norman Baird. Image: Australian War Memorial.

Private Walter Spearritt, Certificate of Discharge. James Cook Museum.

Changes to the project meant that Ewen and I also had to make adjustments.  The alternative gallery space meant Ewen had to install a new hanging system and different types of framing mounts and matts were required. By coincidence, Cooktown’s timber honour board, already on the display, is located outside the gallery. This, and a poster created to promote the exhibition, created a nice entry to the gallery. I had to remove some photos and posters from damaged frames for conservation and display purposes. I also made a range of different mounts and object supports, and generally extended my sewing skills!  Of course, label making is always a feature for this type of project, but I can advise that the degree of difficulty definitely increases as the temperature and humidity rises!

MDOs have to be fairly versatile and responsive whilst in the field. As James Cook Museum had recently had a serious pest issue in its Indigenous display cabinets, we took time out from the exhibition to reline the cases with unbleached calico and then reinstall all the objects that had been treated prior to our arrival.

Ewen McPhee framing inages for the exhibition. Photo: Kate Eastick.

Jo Wills making a mount for medals. Photo: Kate Eastick.

Kate Eastick installing the Rossville Rifle Association Trophy. Photo: Jo Wills.

Jo Wills, Kate Eastick and Ewen McPhee at the front of James Cook Museum. Photo: James Cook Museum.

Relining cabinets with unbleached calico. Photo: Ewen McPhee.

Indigenous artefacts reinstalled. Photo: Ewen McPhee.

Indigenous artefacts reinstalled. Photo: Jo Wills.

Indigenous artefacts reinstalled. Photo: Ewen McPhee.