Deputy Premier of NSW, John Barilaro visited Wingham Museum on Wednesday, January 16 to announce a funding grant of $45,000 to be given to the Manning Valley Historical Society.
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The funding comes from the state government’s 2018 Office of Environment’s Regional Cultural Fund and, with a further $12,000 grant from the federal government and additional funds and labour donated in kind by MVHS, the amount will allow the Museum to undergo significant changes to improve workspace and storage conditions.
A new work shed will be built for the maintenance volunteers, who currently work in an uncovered car space. Storage space will be increased with the construction of a new store room and installation of a compactus. Lastly, to meet the conservation needs of sensitive materials in the Museum’s collection, the workroom will be refurbished and a new air conditioning system installed.
Work will be completed in three stages, with the first stage estimated to begin in March or April. The entire project is expected to be completed before Christmas 2019.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who is also the Minister for Regional NSW, congratulated MVHS president Neale Greenaway and his team of volunteers.
“Our history is important. As we come close to and approach the celebrations of Australian Day, as a nation we come together and talk about our achievements over this whole life story of this nation,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We’ve always go to make sure that we are focused on our story, our history, our heritage, and in regional NSW I think sometimes we don’t do enough in that space. That’s why we introduced the $100 million Regional Arts and Culture Fund, just for regional NSW.
“To see that sort of investment going to regional NSW alone, not in the city, but into the regions to support projects like this, it might be a $45,000 project or a $2 million project – they are all important and we are going to preserve our history so that our kids and the next generations don’t forget where we come from.
“That’s wonderful out there (in the Museum) and I know how much work goes into that – that’s a lot of work, a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of volunteers.
“The work that you’re going to do is significant and fantastic and I look forward to coming back in the future, not only to see the work you’ve done with this money, but for more future announcements, because we want to make sure you continue to be here for the next 100 years.
“Congratulations everybody, and thank you,” Mr Barilaro concluded.