WINGHAM and Tinonee museums are part of a collaboration that has scooped a national award that recognises excellent work in exhibition, public programs and sustainability projects.
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The Our Rivers Our History project won a 2016 Museums and Galleries National Award (MAGNA) for Exhibition or Gallery Fitout (Permanent). The award was for the Level 2 category (project budget $20,000 - $150,000).
Museums Australia – Mid North Coast Chapter led the collaborative project which also involved five other volunteer run museums on the lower Mid North Coast: Camden Haven, Mid North Coast Maritime, Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Kempsey museums.
The concept for the project began in 2013, when Museums Australia – Mid North Coast Chapter were awarded a Regional Museum Networking Grant by Arts NSW.
What evolved was a website showcasing an online exhibition and river trails, launched in April 2015.
“The web exhibition uses local museum objects and collections to illustrate the history and stories of the Manning, Camden Haven, Hastings and Macleay rivers,” project manager Debbie Sommers said.
“We are very pleased to see our collaborative efforts and the project’s outcomes recognised by our peers.”
Eighteen museum volunteers, including Wingham Museum volunteers, contributed in excess of 3000 hours hard work to create the ground breaking venture.
“It’s been a very rewarding project and we look forward to completing a second part of the project,” Manning Valley Historical Society president Barbara Waters said.
Judging the awards were Vicki Northey (Parliament House), Helen Walpole (National Sports Museum), and Bernadette McCormack (Queensland Museum).
Some of the judges comments included: “Outstanding project that linked core museum activities to cultural tourism priorities.”
“The tourism network and benefits are obvious. The website and collateral are well designed and play to the strengths of each object.”
“This is a good model for other regional networks and could easily be expanded to other collecting organisations and tourism attractions like keeping places and national parks.”
Our Rivers Our History can be viewed at www.oroh.com.au.