From the President, I am privileged to tell the story of the 100th anniversary of the Woocoo Memorial Bridge designed and funded by my grandfather, Laurence Smith. because of the efforts of our members, volunteers and supporters. What's On TICKETS SELLING FAST A SWAGGIE AND A SONG AND A SHEEP… explore and learn at Redland Museum REDLANDS MODEL RAILWAY GROUP By John Burt, Volunteer Above: The Barinia station layout 2018. Barinia railway station, on the bend between Ormiston and Raby Bay, was opened in 1937, closed in 1960 and was demolished soon after. Bob Skinner used to catch the train there to get to school. The Redlands Model Railway Group was formed about 2010. Early members were Andrew Crook, Mel Bugden, and John Burt. Slowly the group grew. Initially the group met at members’ houses, but after a year or so, the group started meeting at Redland Museum. In 2013, the Museum allocated the upstairs room to the group when the textiles group moved to a new location. The first Redlands Model Railway Show, the brainchild of John Burt and Andrew Crook, was held in 2012 at the Cleveland Assembly Hall. The group has run the Redlands Model Railway Shows every year since then except in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions. The group has participated in various Museum events such as Heritage and Harmony Fiesta and school holiday activities, as well as at Museum open days at Cleveland Showground events including camping and caravan shows, rockabilly festivals, and carols by starlight. The group has, over the years, donated funds raised through their shows to the Museum and the Museum has been appreciative of this. Some of the group’s members in 2013 are still present: Bob Skinner, Alan Collingwood, Ken Jensen, Mel Bugden, Wieber Vlasveld, John Burt, Kellie Kingston, Eddie Stavleu and Keith Rose. Below: At the Brisbane Model Train Show May 2021 ORAL HISTORY - work in progress By Jill Tilson, Volunteer I was asked by Librarian, Liz Blumson, if I would like to do this. We met with some of the Group just before Christmas where they handed over some large boxes of photo albums that contained programs and newspaper cuttings. The bones of the history itself is already on their website www.mtcottondrama.com. On our training day in February, I attended the lecture on how to take an oral history conducted by Dr Robbie Mason, cultural historian and Deputy Head of the School of Humanities Languages and Social Science at Griffith University. I learnt a lot from this. I believed that this was going to be a big undertaking so I asked my friend, and fellow Museum volunteer, Michele Wilkinson, if she would like to help. Left: Michele and Jill with the items from the drama group. A few weeks later we had a meeting with Liz and decided that we would interview representatives of the various roles that are involved in putting on a production. These interviews could then be played on a loop or from head phones that would be available when the Museum put on a display for MCDG. I would also look for themes from these recordings and write this up as a hard copy. I contacted Jean, our MCDG contact, to ask prospective interviewees to email the Museum giving me permission to contact them. I then created an Information Sheet and Consent Form along the lines given to us by Robbie. I knew that we needed to do a lot of reading and from this I constructed a list of questions. Once I received my first email request I knew it was important that I find the recording machine and work out how to use it!! Believe it or not it was stored in the Rare Books section of the library! Initially it appeared to be quite a complicated piece of machinery but with help from my son we worked it out. The next day I met with Russell to save the audio that was already recorded on the cd card. I also wanted to know how to save my recordings to the computer so that I didn’t lose any! Now I decided that I had better have a meeting with Michele and talk though the final questions and show her how to use the machine. She arrived with costumes as she thought we should have this final meeting for the drama group dressed appropriately. See photo below!! I have conducted the first interview which was with the founder of the Group. This had to be over the phone as the person now lived in NSW! Just a bit tricky but it seemed to work ok with my phone on speaker. I look forward to hearing from other MCDG members who would like to be interviewed. If you would like to do an oral history, please contact our Librarian, Liz Blumson. excite your imagination at Redland Museum School Curriculum Kits Volunteer Fiona Eastwood (right) who you will often see in the library, has developed School Curriculum Kits - boxes of objects of the past based around a particular theme. These are available for loan to schools and include: Each kit contains teacher's notes, student activities, worksheet templates, and other support materials. Fiona promotes the kits to schools and through her teacher networks. SIGNAGE IN THE TRANSPORT AND MACHINERY SECTIONS By Bevyn Cornford, Volunteer There has been much discussion on signs over the past couple of years and some of these ideas have been adopted. Some of the earlier signs were not easy to read and I spent many hours during COVID lockdown re-writing these using different type faces. They are currently being replaced, with some to go. There are still many items needing signs in the areas mentioned and I continue to write and install them when I am able to attend the Museum. The Museum supplies paper, laminating, ink and backing where required while I supply all other items used to attach these signs to boards or directly to items. This is an ongoing project and one which had it not been for our decision would probably never have commenced. If you see any errors please let me know so that they can be corrected. escape to a different world at Redland Museum WOOCOO MEMORIAL BRIDGE By Bruce Smith, President Recently, the Woocoo Historical Society invited myself, sister and brother, to attend the 100th anniversary of the Woocoo Memorial Bridge, west of Maryborough. The bridge was designed and funded by our grandfather, Laurence S. Smith, as a memorial to the fallen in World War 1. It was built by the Mount Joseph Station hands. On 21 May 1921, Laurence Smith handed it over to the Woocoo Shire Council. It was opened by local clergyman, the Rev James Hardingham, and Mrs A. Brown, whose son had died during the war, unveiled the Honour Roll. The names of nine of the local men who paid the supreme sacrifice appear on one of the north end piers, with the 38 who did return on the opposite pier. The Bridge was used as a public road until a new structure was built in 1972. At that time, my Uncle, Ron Smith, the Woocoo Shire Council Chairman, erected the cairn at the south end explaining the significance of the Bridge. After WW1, with the loss of 60,000 Australians, memorials became a highly visible expression of national grief. It is the only privately erected memorial bridge in Queensland, and possibly in Australia. Brian and Jeannette Douglass of the Redlands Branch of the Queensland National Trust together with Councillor Paul Bishop at the recent entertaining performance by Theatre Redlands of Love Thy Language - MATE! The show was attended by 53 people who also enjoyed a delicious Devonshire Tea prepared & served by our wonderful volunteers! A great way to celebrate the National Trusts' Australian Heritage Festival for 2021! THE LAND GIRL By Jan and Tony Spinks, Volunteers In 2019, as part of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, the Museum auspiced a grant to Jane Bailey, Sunshine Coast artist, for the creation of this sculpture titled The Land Girl. Funding was provided under the Armistice Centenary Grant Program. The sculpture is owned by Redland City Council and is located at the Birkdale School of Arts Hall which is the site of a Women's Land Army Camp. Click the icon above to access our Facebook page! Follow us on Instagram and share with the younger (or the young at heart) members of your family and friends. The editors, Sylvia McGarry and Sharon Vassallo will endeavour to provide you with articles about items in our Collection and historical facts on the Redlands. But we would like to hear from members. What would you like for inclusion? Do you have a story to tell? The newsletter will continue to be sent at the end of each month (except for December which maybe earlier). Editors can be contacted at recollections@redlandmuseum.org.au |