Joint Winner
Jenny Steadman
Queensland Women’s Historical Association (Miegunyah House Museum)
Jenny Steadman has been involved as a member of the Queensland Women’s Historical Association (QWHA) since 1990. The Association owns and maintains the house museum, Miegunyah House, a late nineteenth-century home in Bowen Hills, Brisbane.
Since 2008, Jenny has been a cornerstone of the Museum, being actively involved on the committee. She is currently the Vice-President of QWHA, which brings with it many tasks in the physical upkeep of a heritage-listed house and its day-to-day running.
Jenny’s main role within QWHA is that of Collections Manager, a volunteer role in which she has excelled. With a background in Australian history, Jenny quickly realised the significance of some of the items within the collection which were largely hidden in an archive that had been amassed since the 1950s. She was, and still is, passionate about bringing the Museum collection and its comprehensive and astounding archive up to museum standards. This involves not only the cataloguing of the collection but also the conservation and preservation of items of state and national significance.
In oder to give the task her best effort, Jenny enrolled in the Master of Museum Studies post-graduate course at The University of Queensland, graduating in 2014. Her willingness to share her experience and knowledge is inspirational and her devotion to the Museum and its sustainability.
Jenny has made great progress on the cataloguing project. Not only are QWHA members involved in this task, but she also liaises with tertiary institutions and allows university students from relevant courses to become involved. This is a win-win situation, as not only are the students able to use this work as a case study, but Miegunyah also benefits hugely.
Jenny’s latest project has been the Significance Assessment of the collection made possible through her successful application for a Community Heritage Grant from the National Library of Australia.
Finalist
Kylie Bourne
Miles and District Historical Society (Miles Historical Village Museum)
Kylie Bourne has been President of the Miles and District Historical Society since 2009.
Over the past 14 years, Kylie has worked at varying levels with community, regional arts and cultural organisations and facilities; events; local government; and the private sector. Kylie has a particular interest in working with and assisting community, arts and cultural organisations to achieve their full potential. She has a thorough understanding of, and values the importance of, operational planning and policy development which influence the delivery of strategic and innovative projects.
Kylie is a gifted grant writer, securing hundreds of thousands of dollars for community projects. She has organised innumerable functions and events which have not only raised a substantial amount of money to improve facilities but has enabled the community to enjoy the Miles Historical Village Museum and the quality and versatility of its displays. She is involved in many community organisations and has left her mark on countless community projects, from inception to completion.
One of Kylie’s most recent outstanding achievements was to guide the Miles Historical Village Museum committee through a second Museums & Galleries Queensland Standards Review Program. The Society had successfully completed the Review program in 2009/2010 where, under Kylie’s guidance, they delivered a massive Significance Assessment for the whole Village, an undertaking involving approximately 45,000 objects housed in over 30 buildings. This year, with a small group of interested committee members, Kylie reviewed the Society’s Policies and Procedures, Business Plan and other associated governance.
The Miles and District Historical Society is proud to have such a dynamic leader as Kylie as President.
Albert (Buddy) Thomson
Boondooma Museum & Heritage Association Inc.
Boondooma is located in South Burnett region of Queensland.
Buddy Thomson’s parents were the last private owners of the Boondooma complex. Boondooma Station was settled in 1846; was broken up for closer settlement in the early 20th century; and gradually was reduced to 40 acres. In 1975, the property was heritage-listed and purchased by local government, but subsequently the homestead building and adjacent structures fell into disrepair. Buddy had left home in his late teens and then returned to the property in the early 1980s, in total disbelief that such a heritage and historic site could fall into ruins.
It was Buddy’s vision and determination to restore the homestead using the bush skills used in the 1850s and tools such as a broad axe, adze and hand tools; he is one of the very few ‘bushmen’ left who has retained and further developed these skills. A small group who were undertaking minor restoration of an historic stone store in the region also became involved in applying for and obtaining a heritage grant which allowed the restoration of the Boondooma homestead to begin.
The homestead complex is now owned by the South Burnett Regional Council and leased to Boondooma Museum & Heritage Association Inc. Buddy has managed the effective restoration of the homestead and ongoing restoration and maintenance of out-buildings, and the maintenance of the heritage gardens – some of the trees and vines dating from the 1850s. Many of these objects for the Museum collection have been provided by Buddy and he has actively encouraged others to be involved in the classification and recording of the collection.
Buddy has taken a leadership role with the Management Committee to establish the complex as a historic site, community and cultural centre, hosting festivals and many events, to ensure the development and survival of the complex and its financial viability. Approximately 300 people from the group known as Friends of Boondooma.
It has been largely due to Buddy’s motivation and inspiration that Boondooma homestead has become a significant heritage site in the South Burnett Region and is acknowledged as a major tourism attraction for the district.
