It was standing room only in Wingham Museum on Wednesday, April 17, as a new display was unveiled as part of the Centenary of Anzac commemorations.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The display is only stage one of a two stage facelift of the museum’s war display, made possible by a $1300 grant from the Anzac Community Grants Program.
Stage one comprises of a timeline of major conflicts that Australians have been involved in from Sudan in the late 1800s through to Afghanistan today, and also peacekeeping and border control duties.
In his opening address, museum curator Terry Tournoff talked of the importance of regional museums.
“What we do here is we tell stories. We can put a whole lot of things out on display in cabinets but unless you personalise that with a story it’s just another object. We humanise what we have here,” Terry said.
“Small regional museums like ours, our sister museums in Cundletown and Tinonee, we fill an area that bigger museums don’t. We tell stories that relate to our communities.”
Terry went on to thank the Wingham RSL Sub-branch and Mave and Eric Richardson for their support. Leslie Poulton for her research and Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead and the NSW Office of Veterans Affairs.
“But more than anything I think we should say thank you to the Manning Valley community, because it’s their generosity over the years that has given us all the things that you see around us,” Terry said.
Stephen Bromhead praised the museum, saying “What I can say in all honesty that other members of parliament who have been through here and go all over NSW representing the regional towns themselves always talk about how good this museum is”.
Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie was also on hand to help the museum celebrate the occasion, and echoed Mr Bromhead's praise.
At the moment with the sabres rattling all around the globe, it’s very timely to take a walk through a museum and remember how horrible war can be.
- Dr David Gillespie
“It is an amazing collection of stories and memorabilia and tangible, relatable bits and pieces of life from days gone by. The war section here is actually quite exceptional. We all go to a lot of museums - short of war memorial, this is pretty amazing,” Dr Gillespie said.
“At the moment with the sabres rattling all around the globe, it’s very timely to take a walk through a museum and remember how horrible war can be. Well done, excellent, and the curating here is second to none.”
Stage two of the display, a memorial to all who have served, will be completed in time for Armistice Day in November this year.
Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
